Far Niente Chardonnay 2023 Napa Valley
Aromas of citrus, melon and honeysuckle complement hints of white fig, gardenia and toasted hazelnuts on a background of mild toasted oak that adds supportive warmth and richness. A silky palate with a rich texture surrounds a sweet core of melon and citrus, with notes of white floral and toasted vanilla and spice, through to a long bright finish.
Far Niente Chardonnay is a blend of superlative Napa Valley vineyards, many of which are located in a little-known area called Coombsville, a cool growing region nestled in the rolling countryside and protected by the hills east of the city of Napa. Coombsville offers the characteristic climate of Carneros, with less wind, along with deeper, welldrained gravelly loam and volcanic ash soils. The combination of these vineyards results in the subtle, tropical flavours, complex aromas and rich texture.
The grapes were brought to the winery in small bins and sorted by hand to assure the finest quality. Fermentation began in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and 89% was racked into French oak barrels to complete fermentation in the caves and old stone cellars. The wine did not go through malolactic conversion and was aged for 10 months on its fine lees for additional depth, complexity and texture. The maturation took place in French oak barrels (52% new, 48% used once).
| RRP | £95.25 |
| Bottle size | 75cl |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Alcoholic strength | 14.3% |
| Serve with | Seafood, scallops or lobster thermidor |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Napa Valley |
| Grapes | Chardonnay 100% |
| Dry/Sweet value | 2 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Cork |
One of the classic wineries of the Napa Valley, Far Niente derives its name from the Italian phrase 'Dolce Far Niente' - 'how sweet it is to do nothing'. It was founded in 1885 and flourished until the advent of prohibition. Abandoned for over 60 years, the winery was purchased in 1979 by Gil Nickel who started the long process of restoring it. Today, they own 80 hectares of vineyard, across three different sites, of what many consider to be some of the finest viticultural land in the Napa Valley. Since restoration, Far Niente has been dedicated to the production of the finest Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and worldwide demand always exceeds supply.
