05.28.15
Have you ever wondered about the life of Far Niente Chardonnay, before it reaches you in bottle?
Winemaker Nicole Marchesi evaluates 2014 Far Niente Chardonnay
Our winemaker, Nicole Marchesi, tastes the wine regularly during its progression from vine to bottle, but there are two important tastings with each year that help determine the best combination of French oak barrels for the particular vintage. These tastings--or cooper evaluations--occur in February or March, and then again right before the wine is removed from barrel. Since the cellar crew will start sumping out the wine next week, an evaluation team led by Nicole Marchesi and Larry Maguire tasted through 20 coopers this morning, two barrels per wine, to taste what each combination brings to the Chardonnay.
The team scores the barrels low, medium, or high depending on several aromatic attributes (smoke, toast, wood, spice, fruit, and vanilla) and makes notes about how the barrels affect mouthfeel and flavor. What is the barrel adding to the wine? Does it enhance the fruit or mask the fruit? Is it adding length or weight to the palate? Do we like it?
As you can imagine, the evaluation is a wonderful intellectual and sensory challenge and provokes lively discussion. In the end, the time spent thoughtfully tasting the wines ensures that what you have in your cellar is the best representation of Far Niente Chardonnay.
07.29.19
Non-malolactic fermentation. Although the phrase doesn’t roll easily off the tongue, Chardonnays made without it certainly can. And it’s essential to our Far Niente Chardonnay house style.
LEARN MORE03.08.22
Meet Six Women Shaping the Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards.
Two winemakers. One CFO. Two VPs. And the woman who helped launch Far Niente more than 40 years ago. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we sat down to talk with just a few of the women shaping the way we grow, make, sell and share our wines. From the cellar to the board room, these daring innovators and leaders share a passion for human connection and a sense of adventure.
LEARN MORE01.06.22
In anticipation of our annual Cave Collection release, we sat down with Winemaker Nicole Marchesi to talk about Far Niente's Cave Collection and the keys to making age-worthy Napa Valley Cabernet. Read on to hear what she has to say. Then mark your calendars for the January 17 release from Far Niente's Cave Collection. This year’s allocation is one of our most limited to date, with less than 100 bottles available for our most sought-after vintages.
"Each vintage is our opportunity to make our greatest wine. It's what inspires us in the vineyard and winery."
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