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One of California's oldest wineries, Far Niente was founded in 1885 by world traveler and entrepreneur, John Benson. The winery flourished until Prohibition, at which time it was abandoned, and fell into complete disrepair.
The stately stone shell of a winery was purchased in 1979 by Gil Nickel, as part of his quest to create a world class wine estate in the Napa Valley. During restoration, the original name, Far Niente, romantically translated to "without a care," was found carved in stone on the front of the building, where it remains to this day. We felt an obligation to preserve the name with the hope that we could recapture a bygone era when life was indeed without a care.
In 1998, Far Niente's link to its past was unearthed in an old Marin County wine cellar with the discovery of a bottle of 1886 Far Niente. This rare find has proven to be the only known bottle from the pre-prohibition years of Far Niente Winery and is reputed to be the oldest bottle of Napa Valley wine in existence today. The detailed pen-and-ink label of grapes in a hammock is significant. It has been attributed to the famous American artist, Winslow Homer, a nephew of John Benson. Since 1979, Far Niente wines carry an intricate 'art nouveau' style parchment label, designed by Marin artist, Tom Rodrigues.
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Aromas of huckleberry, dark cocoa and chocolate are complemented by a touch of vanillan in the nose. Upon entry, this Cabernet is soft and lush, with a dense mid
palate. Flavors of boysenberry and black fruits are supported by tannins that are chewy, yet smooth and lingering. There is a ... more
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| BN#149718 |
Compare to: $436.90 Price:$346.95 $310.95 Save $36.00 (10%) SKUww_100994 |  |
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Bright with ripe, purple fruits, this wine will impress with complex, layered aromas of black licorice and briar patch. The silky entry progresses along the palate and gives way to dense, velvety chocolate and toast. Full-bodied and concentrated throughout, the wine lingers on with a long, layered finish. more
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| BN#265672 |
Compare to: $144.50 Price:$114.75 $94.15 Save $20.60 (18%) SKUww_121068 | |
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This wine offers intense aromas of ripe blackberry and boysenberry layered with baking spices and licorice. The entry is full and juicy with a velvety middle palate. Dark, mocha flavors emerge on the long finish with chewy, coating tannins. more
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| BN#423656 |
Compare to: $138.82 Price:$110.24 $89.95 Save $20.29 (18%) SKUww_112994_08 | |
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The fruit expression of this wine flows from the glass! Very concentrated aromas of black cherry, plum and huckleberry deepen to black currant, spice, tobacco and dusty, toasted oak. The wine's soft entry on the palate leads to notes of licorice and black fruit, a dense mid palate and a ... more
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| BN#165502 |
Compare to: $290.70 Price:$230.85 $197.95 Save $32.90 (14%) SKUww_100995 | |
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Forward aromas of cassis, licorice, anise and tobacco, complemented by notes of black currant, are present on the nose. The plush, silky entry provides an opening to flavors of blackberry and black cherry fruit on the palate, with a dense core of chewy tannin. The fruit darkens on the palate, ... more
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| BN#192717 |
Compare to: $226.10 Price:$179.55 $160.95 Save $18.60 (10%) SKUww_110211 | |
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Aromas of very dark fruit, black currant, dark chocolate, dust/earth, vanillan and perfume are layered behind the ripeness. The wine provides a big and full entry, yet the tannins are balanced and have an underlying silkiness. On the palate, ripe cassis and spice mingle with well-integrated oak and evolve into ... more
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| BN#194775 |
Compare to: $144.50 Price:$114.75 $104.95 Save $9.80 (9%) SKUww_113608 | |
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Notes of dense, black fruit, anise and blackberries appear up front followed by hints of fruit jam and dark chocolate. In the mouth, this wine unfolds in layers, beginning with a round and supple entry, and progressing to a full, weighty structure on the palate. The silky tannins are textured ... more
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| BN#222821 |
Compare to: $144.50 Price:$114.75 $99.55 Save $15.20 (13%) SKUww_116778 | |
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The 1998 Far Niente Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has subtle blackberry and cassias flavors complemented by cedar oak aromas as well as the typical "dusty" components traditionally found among the finest soils of the western vineyards of Oakville. The vintage has produced round California ripeness with a firm core that
maintains ... more
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| BN#264738 |
Compare to: $154.70 Price:$122.85 $116.95 Save $5.90 (5%) SKUww_100988 | |
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The 1999 Cabernet displays substantial cassis and dark blackberry aromas that are mirrored on the palate with the extra density and depth that come from an excellent vintage and low vineyard production. The lush ripeness marries particularly well with the toasty char of the French oak. This wine has all ... more
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| BN#201133 |
Compare to: $185.30 Price:$147.15 $129.95 Save $17.20 (12%) SKUww_100989 | |
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The 2000 offers a perfume and bright raspberries up front with complementary layers of cassis and cedary oak. This vintage has produced a soft, supple wine with moderate tannins that will only become more velvety with further bottle aging. more
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| BN#149570 |
Compare to: $161.50 Price:$128.25 $115.95 Save $12.30 (10%) SKUww_109759 | |
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Aromas of Meyer lemon, toasted nuts and fig are supported by the underlying sweetness of honeysuckle. The entry is honeyed with ripe citrus, light melon and well-integrated nuttiness and a touch of mineral. A rich, full midpalate with balanced acidity draws out into a long finish. more
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| BN#442173 |
Compare to: $67.29 Price:$53.43 $45.95 Save $7.48 (14%) SKUww_7752 | |
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Red Wine
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White Wine
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Sparkling Wine & Champagne
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Kosher
Wine which is produced and bottled under strict supervision and meets all standards to be certified Kosher.
Organic
Wine which is produced using organic practices and is free of all synthetic chemicals, antibiotics, hormones and pesticides.
Biodynamic
Biodynamic designation is regulated by Demeter, an international certification organization. Biodynamic agriculture is based on the view of a farm as a self-contained organism. Certified organic vineyards must meet Demeter"s additional criteria for a period of one year before earning the designation "biodynamic."
Sustainably Grown
Sustainable practices incorporate organic standards and may exceed them and include ecologically and socially sound business practices such as fair pay for farm workers and energy conservation.
Screw Cap
Wines sealed with a screw cap as opposed to a cork, which experts report protects and preserves wine more effectively than does a cork, while also eliminating the possibility of cork taint.
No Sulfites
All wines naturally contain some sulfites, however wines that contain less than 10 parts per million sulfites are not required to include "Contains Sulfites" on their labels.
Futures
Wines that are still in the barrel and have yet to be bottled. Futures offer the opportunity to invest in a wine before it arrives in our store.
Pre-arrivals
Like futures, pre-arrivals are wines that have not yet arrived on our shelves, however they may or may not be a new release. Pre-arrivals may already be bottled and en route to our store.
Wine Advocate
The Wine Advocate is a bimonthly wine publication featuring the consumer advice of wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. Initially titled The Baltimore-Washington Wine Advocate the first issue was published in 1978. Accepting no advertising, the newsletter publishes in excess of 7,500 reviews per year, utilizing Parker's rating system that employs a 50-100 point quality scale.
Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator is a lifestyle magazine that focuses on wine and wine culture. It publishes 15 issues per year with content that includes news, articles, profiles, and general entertainment pieces. Each issue also includes from 400 to more than 1,000 wine reviews, which consist of wine ratings and tasting notes.
International Wine Cellar
Since 1997, the 100% subscriber-supported IWC has also been available in French and Japanese editions.
Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast Magazine is a lifestyle magazine covering wine, food, spirits, travel and entertaining topics. It was founded in 1988 by Adam and Sybil Strum and reaches 686,000 readers. Its wine ratings, conducted by reviewers in major wine-producing areas of the world, are considered an influential gauge for consumers and professionals in the wine industry.
Wine & Spirits
Wine and Spirits is America's practical guide to the straightforward, enlightened enjoyment of fine wine and and premium spirits. We have for 18 years served customers and marketers alike with a lively mix of wine reviews, features, profiles, food and wine pairings, new product introductions, travel pieces, history, opinion and wine business news.
Burghound
Burghound.com was the first of its kind to offer specialized, and more importantly, exhaustive coverage of a specific wine region. The first Issue was released in January of 2001 and there are now subscribers in more than 50 countries and nearly all 50 states. Allen Meadows spends over four months a year in Burgundy and visits more than 300 domaines during that time.
James Halliday
James is one of the world’s leading authorities on Australian wine, matching intelligent, honest reviews with unparalleled knowledge of, and passion for, the wine industry.
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
For thirty-five years, Connoisseurs’ Guide has been the authoritative voice of the California wine consumer. With readers in all fifty states and twenty foreign countries, the Guide is valued by wine lovers everywhere for its honesty and for it strong adherence to the principles of transparency, unbiased, hard-hitting opinions.
James Suckling
I rate wines using the 100-points scale. I have used this point system for close to 25 years. I still believe it is the simplest way to rate a wine, with its origins from grade school in the United States. A wine that I rate 90 points or more is outstanding (A), and worth buying. If I rate a wine 95 points or more (A+), it is a must buy.
View from the Cellar
View From the Cellar, an electronic wine newsletter published bi-monthly by John Gilman.
Wine Journal
Homepage for wine writer, Neal Martin's, "Diary of a Wine Writer".
Malt Advocate
Malt Advocate magazine is America's leading whisky magazine. It's the number one source for whisky information, education and entertainment for whisky enthusiasts.
All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
