A Vintage Compilation of Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Vintage Compilation of Far Niente Estate Bottled CLICK ON A VINTAGE BELOW: Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 • 2014 NAPA VALLEY, OAKVILLE 2013 • 2012 You may notice that this isn’t your typical vintage chart. There are no scores, ratings, or vintage-by-vintage guidelines on whether to drink or hold a particular 2011 • 2010 wine. We believe those decisions are truly subjective, and you’ll find that, even among our expert winemaking team, everyone has a different “drink now” window for their wines. 2009 • 2008 We have 33 vintages of experience with Oakville Cabernet, and we’ve collected a rich archive of tasting, vineyard and farming notes over the years. The knowledge that many of our older vintages have found their way into cellars across the globe 2007 • 2006 inspired us to create this 20-year narrative of Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon*. We meticulously tasted through two decades of wine in order to accurately assess how each vintage is drinking today. The result is this interactive compilation of our wines and vineyards, Then and Now. 2005 • 2004 “Every time we taste from our library, there is a tremendous sense of continuity in Far Niente’s House Style,” Director of Winemaking Dirk Hampson says. 2003 • 2002 “Although every wine shows the characteristics of its individual vintage, the texture, flavors, layering and proportions also reflect the personality and strengths of our Martin Stelling Vineyard, the cornerstone of our Far Niente Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.” Some vintages, like 1999 and 2009, were heavily stuffed in their 2001 • 2000 youth and needed time for the fruit and tannin to pull back a bit. There were sleeper vintages, like 2006, which developed an incredible magic over time. Still others, like 2005, had everything going for them right from release, yet 1999 • 1998 they have continued to surprise us with their vibrancy today. We hope you enjoy this storied timeline of our vineyards and vintages. We can’t wait to surprise and delight you with 20, 30 and 50 more years of wine! 1997 • 1996 *Do you have a question about one of our vintages, from 1982 to 1994? 1995 Please contact us at 707-944-2861 or [email protected]. FAR NIENTE • P.O. BOX 327, OAKVILLE, CA 94562 • TEL: (707) 944-2861 • WWW.FARNIENTE.COM 2015 2014 VARIETAL COMPOSITION VARIETAL COMPOSITION 97% Cabernet Sauvignon 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Petit Verdot 5% Petit Verdot 3% Cabernet Franc HARVEST NOTES 2% Malbec CLICK ON A VINTAGE The growing season began with a warm, BELOW: HARVEST NOTES dry January. Budbreak came early and a cool, breezy spring extended bloom and Late winter and early spring rains filled 2015 • 2014 the fruit set was small and concentrated. our reservoirs, and a warm and windy Warm, sunny June, July and August spring brought early budbreak to the months ripened the fruit quickly, and vines, with fruit development about two harvest started early on September 12. weeks ahead of normal. Warm summer 2013 • 2012 By October 1, all of our Cabernet was months led to beautiful, balanced growth in the winery! in the vineyard. Temperatures cooled slightly toward the end of August, and September brought ideal cool nights 2011 • 2010 TASTING NOTES ON RELEASE and warm afternoons. We slowly began Deep, concentrated aromas of chocolate- picking toward the end of September, covered cherries accented by bright floral picking up the pace when a short heat notes. Silky smooth entry with waves wave in early October pushed everything 2009 • 2008 of dark cherry flavors supported with into ripeness. beautifully integrated oak, bright acidity and supple tannins. Finishes TASTING NOTES ON RELEASE long and lush. 2007 • 2006 Beautifully lifted clove, anise, black Click here for availability cherry and blackberry aromatics layered with a hint of rich oak. Round, supple entry and a silky midpalate, with cassis, 2005 • 2004 clove and toasted oak complementing black and red fruit flavors. Fine-grained, age-worthy tannins and a dark, juicy finish. 2003 • 2002 Click here for availability 2001 • 2000 1999 • 1998 1997 • 1996 1995 FAR NIENTE • P.O. BOX 327, OAKVILLE, CA 94562 • TEL: (707) 944-2861 • WWW.FARNIENTE.COM 2013 2012 VARIETAL COMPOSITION VARIETAL COMPOSITION 97% Cabernet Sauvignon 94% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Petit Verdot 5% Petit Verdot 1% Cabernet Franc CLICK ON A VINTAGE BELOW: FAR NIENTE CAVE COLLECTION One of the great pleasures of Far Niente Cabernet is the ability to enjoy favorite 2015 • 2014 vintages from the Cave Collection. Our goal is to keep a 10-year vertical of our Cave Collection Cabernets on hand each year, yet the wines last only until the year’s supply sells out. As the wines age carefully in ideal conditions, they evolve 2013 • 2012 from the exuberance of youth to sophisticated, layered, deeply fruited vintages, revealing wines that are superb for marking a special occasion or complementing a fine meal. Learn more about this year’s Cave Collection offering. 2011 • 2010 HARVEST NOTES HARVEST NOTES Marvelous growing conditions endured Near perfect weather prevailed. throughout the vintage. Dry, warm March brought heavy spring rains, 2009 • 2008 weather extended into the spring and sustaining the vines through the season. encouraged early budbreak and bloom. Temperatures remained ideal for budbreak, Summer started with a brief heat spike flowering and fruit set. Summer brought 2007 • 2006 in early July; perfect ripening weather warm days and cool nights without followed and September 20th marked extreme weather, and harvest began the first day of our Cabernet harvest. in early October. We slowly brought We enjoyed ideal end-of-harvest in each block at optimal ripeness 2005 • 2004 conditions and brought in red fruit until before the end of the month. mid-October, when cooler night and morning temperatures slowed ripening. TASTING NOTES ON RELEASE Opens with aromas of mixed berry 2003 • 2002 TASTING NOTES — TASTED JAN. 2018 and chocolate-covered cherry, hints Rich aromas of chocolate-covered of graphite and toasted oak. Smooth cherries enhanced by floral undertones. entry, with intense ripe berry notes on the palate. Focused and silky 2001 • 2000 Layered palate with plush ripe berry flavors and notes of toasted oak. Finishes throughout, finishing with broad long and full, with integrated tannins tannins and notes of cedar. and lush fruit flavors. TASTING NOTES — TASTED JAN. 2017 1999 • 1998 Berry, cherry and chocolate aromas Click here for availability accented by subtle notes of graphite and vanilla oak. Classically elegant, 1997 • 1996 with concentrated fruit and layered berry flavors. Broad, silky tannins and a long, progressive finish. 1995 Click here for availability FAR NIENTE • P.O. BOX 327, OAKVILLE, CA 94562 • TEL: (707) 944-2861 • WWW.FARNIENTE.COM 2011 2010 VARIETAL COMPOSITION VARIETAL COMPOSITION 92% Cabernet Sauvignon 97% Cabernet Sauvignon 7% Petit Verdot 3% Petit Verdot 1% Cabernet Franc CLICK ON A VINTAGE BELOW: 2015 • 2014 2013 • 2012 MARTIN STELLING VINEYARD, NAPA VALLEY, OAKVILLE 2011 • 2010 HARVEST NOTES HARVEST NOTES 2009 • 2008 A wet and cool spring with rains and An El Niño winter kicked off the low temperatures extended the time growing season, as the earth soaked up between budbreak and bloom. Crop much-needed rainfall. Spring was cool, yields were low for Cabernet because yet damp, which helped keep frost 2007 • 2006 of the unseasonable weather during set, at bay and slightly delayed ripening. but fortunately this allowed the vines Summer, too, started out mild but more ripening potential during the short warmed in late August. A warm and and cool growing season. Early rains dry start to October helped complete in October and mild fall temperatures Cabernet ripening, and we brought 2005 • 2004 forced a rapid yet extremely selective in the fruit before the fall rains. harvest of all our Cabernet in just 10 days. TASTING NOTES ON RELEASE TASTING NOTES ON RELEASE 2003 • 2002 Boysenberry and rich, toasted oak aromas Tobacco leaf and dark cherry aromas with a hint of espresso. Layered entry with a whisper of floral perfume. Juicy and velvety midpalate with round, red fruit and earth on the midpalate, coating tannins and cherry fruit. 2001 • 2000 with fine tannins and a light briar note Lingering yet youthful finish. lingering on the finish. TASTING NOTES — TASTED JAN. 2016 TASTING NOTES — TASTED JAN. 2018 Rich black current aromas complemented 1999 • 1998 Aromas of dusty cherry, light cedar and tobacco leaf with dried flowers and herb. by hints of soft dried rosebuds and Juicy entry, supple and silky midpalate, cherries. Silky entry with flavors of with fine-grained tannins, red cherry black currant and bramble supported fruit and light cedar on the finish. by classic Cabernet herbal undertones. 1997 • 1996 Finish is long, melting and refined. Click here for availability Click here for availability 1995 FAR NIENTE • P.O. BOX 327, OAKVILLE, CA 94562 • TEL: (707) 944-2861 • WWW.FARNIENTE.COM 2009 2008 VARIETAL COMPOSITION VARIETAL COMPOSITION 97% Cabernet Sauvignon 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 2% Petit Verdot 6% Petit Verdot 1% Cabernet Franc 4% Cabernet Franc CLICK ON A VINTAGE HARVEST NOTES HARVEST NOTES BELOW: A mild spring coupled with a touch Low winter rainfall, followed by a very of late-season rain ensured strong yet dry and cold spring reduced yields and 2015 • 2014 well-balanced vine growth. A small delayed ripening in our vineyards’ heat spike in early July, followed by coldest pockets. Our precision farming temperate summer days, allowed enabled us to identify and isolate these the vines to steadily ripen the fruit. sections. Summer and early fall brought 2013 • 2012 September arrived with the warmest few heat spikes and development was weather of the season. We began slow and steady, ensuring ideally picking the ripest blocks in early evolved flavor and tannin. A cool, dry 2011 • 2010 October before a forecasted storm.