Hundred Acre
Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2012
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2019-2040).
In 2026, the Hundred Acre Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 is at peak, entering its seventh year of prime drinking. Seven years is a meaningful marker for a wine built on the Few and Far Between site's iron-mineral and graphite structure - the muscular tannins that defined this wine on release have now given way to a deeply integrated firmness, and the primary dense blackcurrant and dark plum concentration has deepened toward more complex secondary registers of dried tobacco, smoked meat, and cedar. The 2012 was the first of what became Napa's great drought era - a WS 96 Classic vintage that broke the rain-marred 2011 season and delivered record-sized crops with a tannic spine built for exactly this kind of long, patient aging. Seven years into peak in 2026, the Few and Far Between 2012 is in its most complex phase: the graphite and iron mineral of the site's signature character are fully accessible without any of the primary tannin that once guarded them. With 14 years remaining in the peak window through 2040, there is time to spare - but 2026 is a particularly rewarding moment to open a bottle of this historically significant vintage.
The ‘12 Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon.
Seven years into peak in 2026, the Few and Far Between 2012 emerges from the first of Napa's great drought-era vintages with its iron-mineral backbone fully integrated and 14 years of prime drinking still ahead.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep, impenetrable garnet-black in the glass with the density of a wine that was always going to require patience. Seven years into peak, the 2012 Few and Far Between now opens willingly. Dense blackcurrant and dark plum still lead the nose with full concentration, but they are joined by graphite, dried herbs, and a smoked meat complexity that comes only with bottle age. The iron mineral note that defines this vineyard's identity is present throughout, giving the aromatic profile a taut, driven quality even as the secondary notes emerge. On the palate the wine delivers the structural authority the nose promises: muscular tannins that have moved from their original grip toward a deeply integrated firmness, holding a sustained dark fruit core of cassis, tobacco, and espresso across a finish that is long and imposing. The graphite mineral note on the finish marks this as clearly and specifically the Few and Far Between site rather than any other Napa Cabernet. A wine of uncommon mineral integrity and structural depth.
The 2012 vintage
The 2012 Napa Valley vintage earned a Wine Spectator Classic rating of 96 points and marked a pivotal shift in California wine history: it was the first of what became the great drought-influenced run of vintages that would define the decade. After the difficult, rain-marred 2011 season, 2012 brought a welcome return to warm, dry growing conditions that allowed a record-sized crop to ripen fully and evenly across the valley. Wine Spectator described the vintage as a solid vintage across the board, marked by a tannic spine that will age well, and noted many stars within the broader abundance of high-quality wine. The combination of warm return-to-drought conditions, excellent ripeness consistency, and naturally structured tannins produced wines built for exactly the kind of decade-plus aging that the Few and Far Between site's mineral and graphite character demands. In 2026, those tannins have resolved precisely as the vintage's structure suggested they would.
About Hundred Acre
Jayson Woodbridge's Few and Far Between vineyard has earned a distinct identity within the Hundred Acre portfolio as the estate's most terroir-specific and age-demanding expression - a wine that requires patience in a way the more immediately accessible Kayli Morgan does not. The 2012 vintage presented Woodbridge with an ideal canvas: the first of the great drought years provided riper, more concentrated fruit than the difficult 2011, while the natural tannic structure of the Few and Far Between site gave the wine the backbone needed to age into its graphite and iron mineral complexity. The winemaking approach emphasizes extended maceration with careful punch-down management to extract the site's structural character, followed by aging in new French oak that deepens the iron and espresso notes while preserving the mineral foundation. Production is limited to a few hundred cases per year, available only through the mailing list.
From the cellar: pair with
Smoked Brisket with Espresso Rub
The wine's smoked meat complexity and espresso finish mirror the preparation directly, while the firm integrated tannins provide structure to hold against the brisket's richness without clashing.
Braised Lamb Shoulder with Black Olive and Anchovy
The wine's iron mineral structure and dense dark fruit core complement the umami intensity of olive and anchovy while the muscular integrated tannins match the lamb shoulder's gelatinous richness.
Cave-Aged Gruyere or Aged Cheddar with Walnut
The wine's graphite mineral drive and dense blackcurrant concentration find balance in the crystalline nutty intensity of aged hard cheese, with the walnut bridging the dried herb aromatics.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 45 to 60 minutes in 2026. At seven years into peak, the 2012 Few and Far Between is the most open and evolved of the current Few and Far Between lineup and requires only a brief decant. A 45 to 60 minute decant in a wide-bottomed decanter will lift the blackcurrant, graphite, and smoked meat aromatics and allow the tobacco and espresso secondary notes to emerge fully. Avoid decanting beyond 90 minutes, which risks softening the iron mineral tension on the finish. Serve at 60-64F.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, stored on its side in a vibration-free environment.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Napa Valley, California, USA
Frequently Asked
When is the best time to drink the Hundred Acre Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon 2012?
In 2026 this wine is at peak, entering its seventh year of prime drinking, with 14 years of optimal enjoyment remaining through 2040. The 2012 is the most evolved expression in the Few and Far Between lineup currently available - seven years into peak, the muscular tannins are fully integrated and the graphite, iron mineral, and secondary tobacco complexity is at maximum accessibility. This is the ideal window for those who want the site's mineral character fully revealed without any primary tannin grip. See [Napa Valley wines](/wines/region/napa-valley) for broader context on the WS 96 Classic vintage.
Should I decant the 2012 Few and Far Between before serving?
Decant 45 to 60 minutes in 2026. At seven years into peak, the 2012 Few and Far Between is the most open and evolved version of this label currently available, requiring less aeration than younger vintages. A 45 to 60 minute decant in a wide-bottomed decanter will lift the blackcurrant, graphite, and smoked meat aromatics and allow the tobacco and espresso secondary notes to emerge fully. Avoid decanting beyond 90 minutes, which risks softening the iron mineral tension on the finish that defines this site. Serve at 60-64F.
What foods pair best with the Hundred Acre Few and Far Between 2012?
The 2012's fully integrated muscular tannins, graphite mineral structure, and secondary tobacco and smoked meat complexity make it an ideal partner for smoked brisket with espresso rub, braised lamb shoulder with black olive and anchovy, and aged hard cheeses like cave-aged Gruyere or Cheddar with walnut. The 2012 is the most evolved and food-flexible Few and Far Between in the lineup - seven years of peak age have rounded the tannin edges enough to handle richer preparations while preserving the graphite and iron mineral character that defines the site. See [Cabernet Sauvignon wines](/wines/varietal/cabernet-sauvignon) for broader pairing guidance.
How does the 2012 Few and Far Between compare to other vintages?
The 2012 is the most aged and evolved Few and Far Between in the current peak lineup, seven years deeper into its window than the 2016 or 2017. Compared to the [Hundred Acre Few and Far Between 2014](/wines/hundred-acre/few-and-far-between-cabernet-sauvignon/2014), which is five years into peak and shows the maximum savory complexity of the WS 95 Classic vintage, the 2012 is more evolved and secondary - tobacco and smoked meat have become more prominent than the primary blackcurrant concentration of the 2014. Those who prefer a more primary, structured expression should look to the 2014 or 2016. The 2012 delivers the site at its most evolved in 2026.
How long can I cellar the 2012 Hundred Acre Few and Far Between?
The 2012 has a peak window running through 2040, with hard decline not expected until 2049. In 2026 the wine has 14 years of optimal drinking remaining. Seven years into peak, the 2012 will continue to evolve toward more tertiary complexity through the 2030s - expect the primary blackcurrant to give way further to tobacco leaf, leather, and iron mineral as the decade progresses. Store at 55F, 60-70% humidity, on its side. See also [Hundred Acre Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon 2017](/wines/hundred-acre/few-and-far-between-cabernet-sauvignon/2017) for comparison of this label across a decade of Napa vintages.