2014 Far Niente - Chardonnay
Napa Valley (California)
Retail: $50 - $67
Director of Winemaking: Dirk Hampson
Winemaker: Nicole Marchesi
I heard of Nickel and Nickel Vineyards and while shopping one day I noticed that they make Far Niente wines. Given the price, I purchased a bottle of Far Niente for a special occasion. We were invited over to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary also a dear friend’s birthday so I brought along a bottle to share. I quietly went to the bar and opened it. Once someone saw the bottle, it was like moths to a front door porch light being turned on in the darkest night! Smiles all around and glasses extended outwards to be filled! I knew quickly that I picked a winner. I was lucky I absconded with the bottle before it was gone so I could write this review.
Does the wine live up to the great reaction from our friends? This Chardonnay is from grapes that were first harvested in 1979 in Oakville, California. The wine is a bright light gold color that is nice for a Chadonnay and the wine is filtered. The first aromas or the nose is of floral, citrus, cedar and honey. I found a scent of rose, peach, lemon and caramelized honey all blended together.
The bouquet of the wine is clean and fresh. There are no fermentation smells and some woodsy element that is likely from barrel aging in 58% new French oak and 42% once used oak. To note that we think nearly 60% new French oak and only using barrels one other time brings the wine a creaminess and richness. We should mention that using this combination of barrels is expensive and as you can see worthwhile. The winemaker uses sur lie method of fermenting the wine for ten months to remove tannins, add complexity and creaminess to the wine.
The body of this wine is a medium body wine that I found powerful in the front and mid palate, making this wine a heavy hitter of taste enjoyment. The legs or tears on the side of the glass after swishing the wine is slow which means to us a higher amount of alcohol (14.3%).
The wine has excellent balance and complexity. We found there to be citrus fruit of peaches and freshness of green melon. The vintner’s tasting notes say the wine “opens with light tropical aromas alongside melon, juicy citrus and a layer of toasted oak and mineral.” Perhaps it was me but I found cedar wood flavoring. The alcohol feel of the wine was hot and we think it has a high acidity due to no malolactic fermentation. The Chardonnay grapes have some natural acidity that gives the wine a refreshing tartness.
We like to talk about how long a wine lingers, and this one to us lasted a wonderful full 25 seconds. This is what you should expect from a heavy hitter complex wine. Overall, and excellent wine. I am happy to say that we too will be like moths to a light when we see a bottle of 2014 Far Niente Chardonnay being opened!
http://farniente.com/wines-vineyards/napa-valley-chardonnay/
Number of cases: Not disclosed
Food pairing: Crab cakes, steak, Caribbean food with fruit sauces, grilled veal, hazel nut crusted chicken, and Cheddar cheese. Please avoid Thai and tomato based sauces.
Vineyard source: 100% estate
Vineyard certification: Not disclosed
Harvest dates: August 21 – September 26, 2014. “Early harvest with beautiful, warm weather that allowed steady, even ripening”.
Vintage notes: According to winery website, depending on the bottle size and with proper cellaring, Far Niente Chardonnay can be enjoyed for 5-to-10 years beyond the vintage date.
Tasting notes: The 2014 Far Niente Chardonnay opens with light tropical aromas alongside melon, juicy citrus and a layer of toasted oak and mineral. The silky entry introduces bright melon and citrus notes complementary to the nose, then progresses to a creamy, structured midpalate. The long, mouthwatering finish has bright acidity with lingering citrus, toasted nuts and wet stone flavors.
Yeast: Not disclosed
Fermentation: No malolactic fermentation
Alcohol: 14.3%
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