FAR NIENTE + NICKEL & NICKEL
NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
WHY BUY:
Volcanic loam, gravelly benchlands, clay-rich alluvial fans: Far Niente’s genius for selecting Napa's most exceptional, single-vineyard vineyard sites is on strutting display in this 4-bottle collection of Cabernets, highlighted by the Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet 2018 and the 96-point Nickel & Nickel C.C. Ranch Cabernet 2017 (in magnum format). Power, finesse, clarity, depth, and length, it’s all here, in this north-to-south taste tour of Napa Valley's most distinctive terroirs. Only wines born of optimal soils and perfect exposure can deliver greatness like this.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
Vinous awarded the Nickel & Nickel C.C. Ranch Vineyard Cabernet 2017 a stellar 96 points, calling it "a classic Rutherford Cabernet with knock-out aromatics, deep fruit and fabulous balance... [and] grand effect. Even with all of its intensity, the 2017 remains vibrant, fresh and full of energy.” The publication went on to note that, “year in, year out, [the Nickel & Nickel] collection highlights the essence of a number of Napa Valley's top vineyards. The wines are rich, bold and very easy to like."
OUR TASTING NOTES:
The Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet 2018 is showing beautiful tension right now: it’s powerful yet precise, with cocoa-powder tannins framing dark fruit that expands rather than fades on the palate. The Nickel & Nickel C.C. Ranch Cabernet 2017 in magnum is textbook Rutherford, a gorgeous array of vibrant and not-too-ripe red fruit married with the district's famous “dust.” The result? A dusty — and dusky — expression that goes down easy. DeCarle Vineyard 2017 perfectly illustrates western Rutherford's hillside influence — it’s darker and more intense than the other two, with pronounced earthy undertones. The Branding Iron 2017 rounds out our collection with its perfectly ripened fruit from the western Oakville bench, where warm days and cool evenings create exceptional balance.
THE STORY:
You want to know the crazy truth about Far Niente? It survived Prohibition, sat abandoned for sixty years, and then was spectacularly resurrected by an Oklahoma nursery owner with no winemaking experience. Gil Nickel — who might well be Napa's most unlikely hero — didn't just carefully restore the crumbling 1880s stone winery; he revolutionized it. While other producers were chasing points with monolithic estate wines, Nickel had that rare flash of insight that changed everything: What if we let Napa's incredible diversity of soils and microclimates speak for themselves? What if each vineyard got its own spotlight? That brilliant question spawned Nickel & Nickel in 1997—possibly the most exciting experiment in Napa terroir since — well, ever. Instead of blending everything together, Nickel & Nickel turned the telescope around, focusing with laser precision on individual vineyards. Not content with famous appellations, they hunted down the magical parcels within those regions, some obvious (like C.C. Ranch adjacent to Rutherford royalty), others hidden. This family-owned juggernaut now crafts the widest and most compelling range of single-vineyard Cabernets anywhere, creating what amounts to a north-to-south taste tour of Napa Valley's most distinctive terroirs. Each bottle is like a love letter to a specific parcel of soil, proof that Nickel's adventurous departure from conventional wisdom wasn't just right — it was revolutionary.
THE SPECS:
Each vineyard in the Nickel & Nickel portfolio receives meticulous — and highly customized — attention, from C.C. Ranch's well-drained hillside knoll with its open canopy management to DeCarle's mountain-influenced western edge with its trademark Rutherford dust. Their state-of-the-art winemaking facilities were purpose-built for small-lot, single-vineyard production, allowing the team to honor each site's distinctive character through careful harvesting, precise fermentation, and judicious aging. A true temple to terroir!
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH:
Cabernets of this robustness and refinement call for a juicy, char-grilled tomahawk steak, an herb-crusted rack of lamb, or a red-wine risotto.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure your bottles today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in AZ, CA, DE, FL, TX, VA, and WA. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025.