Ratings & Tasting Notes:
95 points Jeb Dunnuck
This review highlights the wine’s classic Cabernet character, praising its integrated tannins and structure, noting “a kiss of Pauillac in its nicely integrated acidity, ripe, building tannins.” Jeb Dunnuck, January 2021
95 points James Suckling
The review emphasizes the wine’s texture and precision, describing black fruit and earth-driven complexity and calling it “soft, clean and fine” with a feather-like texture. James Suckling
95 points Wine Enthusiast (Cellar Selection)
Reviewer Virginie Boone notes the wine’s blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec alongside the estate’s signature Cabernet, describing flavors of red fruit, dried herb and clove over a core of youthful tannin and spicy oak. Best from 2028–2038. Virginie Boone, March 2021
94 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Lisa Perrotti-Brown’s review focuses on the wine’s texture and freshness, describing bright fruit and noting “the palate has a real skip in its step.” Wine Advocate
Cult Wines International Notes:
Far Niente stands as one of Napa Valley’s most historic estates, originally founded in Oakville in 1885 by John Benson, a California Gold Rush-era entrepreneur. The winery sat idle through Prohibition until 1979, when it was purchased and revived by Gil Nickel. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon draws fruit from across the valley’s premier appellations — Oakville, Rutherford, Calistoga, and St. Helena — reflecting the estate’s house style of blending across multiple top sites rather than relying on a single vineyard. The 2018 release is composed of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 2.3% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Merlot, and 0.1% Malbec, aged 17 months in French oak, 65% new.
The 2018 growing season across Napa Valley is widely regarded as one of the finest in decades, arriving as a welcome relief after the wildfire-disrupted 2017 vintage. The spring was mild, and through the summer the valley saw very few days above 100 degrees, allowing the fruit to mature gradually and evenly without the stress of extreme heat. Cooling day breezes and brisk, chilly nights gave the ripening curve a slow, steady arc reminiscent of an earlier, more classic Napa era. Harvest ran later than average but proceeded without disruption, giving winemakers an unusually relaxed, unhurried picking season. The resulting wines are widely praised for their balance, freshness, and structure — qualities reflected clearly in this bottling’s combination of ripe, polished fruit and firm, well-integrated tannins.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Outstanding condition.
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
