Without a Care

Butter Broiled Lobster Tail and Far Niente Chardonnay

It's Chardonnay season, and Chef Trevor has shared this beautiful recipe with us, sure to tempt (and inspire) your tastebuds. Pair with 2011 Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay and get ready for summer!

Butter Broiled Lobster Tail

Avocado Risotto, Cherry Tomato Confit

Click here for a printable version.

Ingredients:

Lobster Tail:

4 tablespoons melted butter

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon tarragon, chopped

Salt, to taste

1 lobster tail, about one pound

 

Avocado Purée:

2 ripe avocados

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Salt, to taste

White pepper, to taste

 

Cherry Tomatoes Confit:

3 cups vegetable oil

1 small basket mixed cherry tomatoes (about 2 cups)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

Salt, to taste

White pepper, to taste

 

Avocado Risotto:

5 cups vegetable stock

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup Arborio rice

1 large shallot, diced

½ cup white wine

½ cup manchego cheese, grated

¾ cup avocado purée

1 bunch chives, chopped

Salt, to taste

1 tablespoon lemon juice

 

Method:

Lobster Tail:

Melt butter then add lemon juice, parsley, and tarragon. Set aside in a warm place so the butter stays melted.

Bring six cups of water to a boil in a two-quart sauce pot. Add the lobster tail, turn off the heat, and cover with a heavy lid. Allow the lobster to steep for ten minutes. While the lobster steeps, prepare an ice bath. When the lobster has finished steeping, place it in the ice bath for four minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut the tail in half lengthwise. Place the two halves of the tail, meat side up, on a cookie sheet and brush liberally with the herb butter. Place under a hot broiler for three minutes, then remove and set aside.

Avocado Purée:

Remove the skins and the pits from the avocados. Place the flesh of the avocados, the lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon salt in a food processor with blade attachment. Allow the machine to run for several minutes until the avocado is smooth and has no lumps. Stir in white pepper, to taste. Place in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap to prevent oxidation.

Tomato Confit:

In a medium sauce pan, add three cups of vegetable oil. Warm the oil to 350˚F. Set up an ice bath, and keep to the side. Add the cherry tomatoes to the hot oil carefully, and fry for 30 seconds or until the skins begin to peel. Quickly remove the tomatoes from the oil and place in the ice bath for about two minutes. Remove from the cold water and peel away the skins. Place in small bowl and add olive oil and sherry vinegar. Add salt and white pepper to taste. Set aside.

Avocado Risotto:

Bring vegetable stock to a simmer, and have a six-ounce ladle nearby. In a medium sauce pot on medium high-heat, add the olive oil, and then add the rice. Turn the heat down and lightly toast the rice grains. Add the diced shallot, sweat for 30 seconds, then add ½ cup white wine. Let wine cook out, stirring constantly. Continue stirring, and add 12 ounces (two ladles full) vegetable stock, allow to reduce by half. Repeat this process with 12 ounces of stock at a time for about 15 minutes or until the rice is al dente, “to the tooth”, which is a slight resistance when bitten into. Then stir in the manchego, and add the avocado purée, chopped chives, salt and pepper to taste. It may need a squeeze of lemon as well.

Lay out two bowls and spoon the avocado risotto in equal portions. Top with six to eight confit cherry tomatoes and the broiled lobster tail. Enjoy with a glass of Far Niente Chardonnay. Bon appétit!

Serves 2

Click here for a printable version.

Tags: Napa Chardonnay, Recipe, Trevor Eliason

Cave Collection: 1999 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon

Party like it’s 1999? Well, the 1999 vintage of Napa Valley Cabernet was actually one of several from the decade that was crowned the “vintage of the century.” Growing seasons, harvests, farming techniques and winemaking practices conspired to produce a bevy of great wines, and the 1999 was, indeed, a wine to celebrate. 

It would be hard nowadays to acquire a bottle of 1999 Napa Cab unless you have a friend with a great cellar, you’re on the auction circuit or you’re a fan of our Cave Collection. The 1999 Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon is one of several vintages we make available annually from our library. It’s a great way to acquire beautifully aged wines to replenish your cellar, or to revisit an old favorite. 

Keep an eye on our blog for an upcoming post from our winemaker about the 1999 Cave Collection Cab.

Tags: 1999 Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet, Napa Cabernet

Far Niente Cave Collection: 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon

If you’ve been reading our posts about the Far Niente Cave Collection–our library of Napa Cabernet–you’ll notice that we’ve skipped a vintage. Our last post was about the 1996, and this month we’re writing about the 1998. This speaks perfectly to the nature of the Cave Collection. Although we release a small allocation of vintages from the Cave every January, certain vintages regularly sell out before the next Cave release, and some sell out altogether. The 1997 vintage is of the latter. Not to worry, though, as the 1998 is a beautiful, aged Cabernet still available for you to enjoy.

We are blessed in this valley to experience fairly consistent growing conditions from one year to the next, which are particularly suitable to wine grapes. Some years, though, are more challenging than others, and as often happens, the vintage’s reputation across the valley seems to be made on the weather more than on the quality and potential of the wine. The 1998 growing season experienced a long, cool spring, followed by an almost immediate turn into hot, summer temperatures. While the vines had less time to develop than usual, the weather came into balance and the grapes benefitted from the warmth of the season, coming to full ripeness before harvest. Fifteen years later, collectors who have 1998 Napa Cabs in their cellars know that the vintage has produced a gorgeous wine. 

Keep an eye on this blog to hear Winemaker Nicole Marchesi’s impressions of the 1998 Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon.

To replenish your cellar, you may order online or give us a call at (707) 944-2861.

Tags: 1998 Far Niente Cabernet, Cave Collection, Napa Cabernet, Oakville Cabernet

Live in the Vineyard at Far Niente: Plain White T’s

Saturday was one for the record books. We’ve partnered with Live in the Vineyard for several years and were delighted to continue our connection with the organization this past weekend when we hosted them for a reception and special performance in the Carriage House.  

A somewhat drizzly morning cleared to blue skies just in time for a reception at the Cabernet Grill, which featured Far Niente Cabernet and Chardonnay and EnRoute Pinot Noir  from our sister winery in Russian River Valley. Bites from the kitchen satiated hungry guests (pizzas hot from the pizza oven were extremely popular) before a concert in the Carriage House.

We’ve had the privilege of hosting many talented musicians and performers over the years, and Saturday’s guest artists were no different. Plain White T’s charmed the audience with their friendliness and skill, playing well-known favorites “1, 2, 3, 4” and “Hey There Delilah” and premiering songs off their new EP. (If the song “Should’ve Gone to Bed” doesn’t make you want to move, we don’t know what will.) The band stayed long after their performance to greet guests and take photos, capping off a memorable afternoon.

Here are a few photos from the day, plus a couple that capture a surprise gift Larry Maguire received from Live in the Vineyard on Monday:

Charlie and Dirk Hampson and Karen and Larry Maguire pose on stage before the performance.

Beth Nickel welcomes the guests, along with Live in the Vineyard founders Bobbii Hach-Jacobs and Claire Parr.

Hospitality Administrator and Wine Club Liaison Donna Blevins poses with 2010 Americon Idol runner up, Crystal Bowersox, who was a guest at the concert.

Live in the Vineyard's Sean Walsh Ramm and Jamie Reynolds presented this guitar to Larry Maguire–signed by all the musicians who performed over the weekend. What a great gift!

 

Tags: Crystal Bowersox, Live in the Vineyard, Napa Cabernet, Napa Chardonnay, Napa Events, Plain White T's

Far Niente Gardens in Spring

It's looking a lot like spring around here, with tulips in myriad colors, azaleas just beginning to blossom and new green emerging in our ginkgoes and oaks. If you are planning to visit Far Niente in the next few weeks, you're in for a treat!

Take a look at this short video, where Proprietress Beth Nickel shares the history of the Far Niente gardens.

We hope to see you this spring! Our appointments fill up quickly, so please give us a call well in advance: (707) 944-2861. We look forward to welcoming you!

Tags: Beth Nickel, Far Niente History, Far Niente Video, Napa Cabernet, Napa Valley Winery