2018 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Community Tasting Notes (12) Avg Score: 93 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Lion's Share's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/3/2024 - Lion's Share Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Fresh and lively, plenty of black and red fruit and a smoothly unctuous mouth-feel. Ground black pepper, licorice root, cast iron, leather and an earthy note lend complexity to the palate. Decanted, brought to 62 degrees and poured. It opened up nicely in the glass.

  2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View La Cave d'Argent's profile
  • Report Issue

  3/23/2023 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Far Niente's 2018 Napa Cab was sourced from multiple vineyards throughout the Valley, combining the fruit with a substantial amount from their estate vineyards in Oakville. A blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 2.3% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Merlot and 0.1% Malbec that was aged for 17 months in French oak (65% new), it is aromatically effusive of dark bramble fruits, cassis, baking spices, bittersweet chocolate, graphite and savory herbs. Deep-to-opaque ruby in color, full-bodied, freshly acidic and without alcoholic heat (14.5%), it delivers flavors mirroring the aromas, adding notes of iron and hazelnuts. The oak and plentiful fine-grained tannins are well-woven and the mid-palate is dense. Long and silky-textured on the back end, this is a seductive Cab that is quintessentially Napa Valley. This particular bottle was Vinturi-decanted and was fully expressive within the first hour in carafe. The structure is in place for it to easily reach its twentieth birthday. Drink now-2038.

  3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View rjquillin's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/26/2022 - rjquillin wrote:

  Not a fan. Decanted 4 hours one day prior to rebottling for a T-day selection that did not live up to the notes I see here. Perhaps an off bottle, but would not purchase again.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Colorado3G's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/20/2022 - Colorado3G Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Solid Napa Cab but needs a bit more time in the cellar. If drinking now, recommend an hour decant as it opens up nicely and pairs really well with a nice steak! At this price, QPR may be a bit off as I’ve had a lot of similarly well done cabs for $20-$40 less.

  2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View KTelaak_Buffalo's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/4/2022 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 92 Points

  My last of 6 and it's really drinking well. Not as exceptional as the Oakville but it's considerably less expensive. This can also age more. Give it an hour now to open up.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

View all 12 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.