2012 Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

A great effort from Far Niente in this truly magnificent vintage, with its similarities to 2002, the Far Niente 2012 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon has a dense purple color, plenty of structure and aging potential, and an impressive inner core of sweet crème de cassis fruit, licorice and background vanilla. This wine is still very much an infant in its evolution, and should keep for 20–30 years. Many 2012s are excessively generous, open-knit and fleshy, but this is holding a lot back. And wow, it is “locked and loaded.” I wouldn’t be surprised to see this wine increase in score in about 5–10 years, and actually merit an even higher score. Bravo! -- Robert Parker