1988 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 89.5 points

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  7/15/2012 - TannicBeast wrote: 93 Points

  This is a very beautiful wine and more akin to a fine Bordeaux than your more typical big Napa Valley Cab. It is a testament to the longevity of good Napa Cabs and the benefits of temperature-controlled storage. Ruby to garnet in color, with medium plus intensity. The nose is clean and developing. At first, the oak prevails, but with air the black currant and black plum emerge. The palate is dry, well balanced and integrated, with all the components at a medium level of intensity. Drinking very well now and by no means past its peak. It is ironic that JL in his 1998 retrospective thought it should be consumed through 2002. I would give it through 2014, if it has been properly stored. The current quality of thsi wine is also remarkeable considering that 1988 was rated as a fairly mediocre vintage.

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  8/14/2010 - psmith wrote:

  Warm, dark fruits and cedar notes. Surprisingly streamlined and fine for '88. Medium body. Nice.

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  4/18/2009 - mattjohnson_78 wrote: 86 Points

  upon opening the cork absolutely exploded. took two strains to get all of the cork out. the color a reddish brown, more red than brown with no signs of bricking, but still showing its age. i'm writing this with the first glass still in front of me. i wanted to initially write that this wine was a good four to five years past its prime, but i'm finding different little signs of life with every sip. in fact, my initial score was an 84, but i have since given it 2 more points (in 20 mins). very soft with silky tannins that have integrated nicely with a short to medium finish of about 10-15 seconds. bright red fruits coming through the palate with a nose of sweet raison, plum , smoke, and dust. maybe a little thin on the mid palate but still pretty balanced. would drink again, but probable wont go searching the world for another bottle.
  
  my wife says it tastes like heart burn...that makes perfect sense and no sense at all

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