2023 Post & Beam - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (750ml)

Post & Beam is the newest winery in the Far Niente family. The original Far Niente estate dates to 1885, when John Benson, a gold rush pioneer, built a stone winery in Oakville. It was abandoned during Prohibition, and Gil and Beth Nickel began restoring it in 1979. Launched in 2020, Post & Beam brings that experience to a more approachable range of wines. It is named for the classic timber-frame barns found across rural Napa, including the post-and-beam barns at sister winery Nickel & Nickel. Michael Accurso is the winemaker.

This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon draws on vineyards in several Napa Valley appellations, so it reflects the variety of the valley rather than a single site. The 2023 blend is 92 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 percent Merlot, and 1 percent each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It was aged in French oak, part of it new, which adds structure and spice.

The wine opens with cinnamon and nutmeg, fresh cranberry, ripe blackberry, and plum, with an earthy, mineral edge. The palate is polished and generous, pairing ripe dark fruit with fine tannins and well-integrated oak. It’s ready to enjoy now but has the structure to age. It goes well with grilled steak, braised short ribs, lamb, or aged cheeses.