Hundred Acre
Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2017
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2024-2045).
In 2026, the Hundred Acre Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is at peak, entering its second year of prime drinking. The 2017 Napa vintage was notoriously difficult - wildfires in early October raised concerns across the valley - but wines harvested before the fires demonstrated that the growing season itself had produced exceptional raw material. Few and Far Between, sourced from one of Hundred Acre's most coveted single-vineyard sites, was harvested ahead of the fire events, and the resulting wine shows the concentrated dark fruit, cedar, graphite, and iron-mineral character that defines this label at its best. In 2026 the tannins have fully integrated into the structure, the dark berry fruit is concentrated without being primary, and the smoked earth and dried tobacco notes that emerged with bottle age add a savory complexity that makes each pour a discovery. With 19 years remaining in the peak window through 2045, this wine has time on its side - but opening a bottle in 2026 delivers it at the moment of maximum harmony between fruit and structure.
The ‘17 Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon.
Jayson Woodbridge's rarest single-vineyard Napa Cabernet, the Few and Far Between 2017 navigated one of the valley's most turbulent vintages to produce a wine of extraordinary depth with 19 years of peak drinking ahead.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep, near-opaque garnet in the glass with a concentrated center and narrow ruby rim - the visual signature of a Hundred Acre wine built for serious cellaring. The nose is a layered study in Napa Cabernet at its most compelling: concentrated dark plum, black cherry, and cassis anchor the aromatic profile, while cedar, graphite pencil shavings, and a distinctive iron-mineral undercurrent give the wine its structural spine. Cigar box and dried tobacco emerge with air time, joined by hints of dark chocolate and crushed stone. On the palate the wine is dense and structured but never heavy - the concentration is matched by precision. Dark berry, smoked earth, and dried tobacco carry through the mid-palate, while the ripe, polished tannins weave seamlessly into the texture of the wine without asserting grip. The mid-palate is long and layered, giving way to a finish that lingers with iron, spice, and a slow-fading mineral note. This is single-vineyard Napa Cabernet at the intersection of power and elegance - a wine that rewards patience as much as it rewards an open bottle.
The 2017 vintage
The 2017 Napa Valley vintage is one of the most discussed in recent memory. The season began with hope: drought conditions from the prior year finally broke over winter, producing healthy vine growth and setting up what looked like a strong growing season. The summer was warm and vines responded with concentrated fruit development. Then, in early September, a heat spike pushed ripening hard, condensing the harvest window significantly. The real drama came in early October, when wildfires swept across parts of Napa and Sonoma, raising concerns about smoke taint across the region. Wineries that had harvested before the fires - including most of Hundred Acre's estate vineyards - largely avoided smoke exposure. Wine Spectator awarded the vintage 92 Outstanding points, noting the difficult conditions while recognizing that growers who managed the heat and acted ahead of the fires produced wines of genuine quality and structure.
About Hundred Acre
Hundred Acre is Jayson Woodbridge's ultra-premium single-vineyard Napa Cabernet project, built on the principle that each estate vineyard expresses its own distinct character. The Few and Far Between vineyard, one of the estate's most sought-after sites, produces Cabernet Sauvignon of exceptional concentration and minerality. Woodbridge works with minimal intervention winemaking, using small open-top fermenters, extended maceration, and new French oak aging to coax the vineyard's character forward rather than impose a house style. Production is limited to a few hundred cases annually, and bottles are allocated primarily through a mailing list with a years-long waiting period. The iconic prestige tier and high collectibility score reflect both the rarity and the consistent critical recognition the estate has earned across two decades of production.
From the cellar: pair with
Dry-Aged Ribeye with Bone Marrow Butter
The wine's concentrated dark fruit and polished tannins cut through the richness of dry-aged beef fat while the graphite and iron-mineral undercurrent mirrors the meat's deep umami.
Braised Short Rib with Root Vegetable Reduction
The wine's smoked earth and dried tobacco notes integrate seamlessly with long-braised beef, and the firm structure holds up to the richness of the braising liquid without being overwhelmed.
Aged Cheddar or Manchego
The wine's concentration and firm acid balance aged hard cheeses; the crystalline texture of Manchego complements the iron and cedar notes without competing with the fruit.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 90 minutes to 2 hours in 2026. At only two years into its peak window, the Few and Far Between 2017 still carries structural tension that benefits from extended aeration. The concentrated dark fruit and iron-mineral character open significantly with air time - a wide-bottomed decanter for 90 minutes will bring the aromatics forward and soften the mid-palate without losing the precision that makes this wine distinctive. Serve at 62-64F.
- 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 2017?
In 2026 this wine is at peak, entering its second year of prime drinking. The window extends through 2045, giving 19 years of optimal enjoyment from here. Opening a bottle now delivers the wine at the moment the fruit concentration, tannin integration, and structural complexity have come into alignment. Those who prefer a longer evolution may benefit from waiting until the late 2020s, when savory secondary notes will deepen further. See [Napa Valley wines](/wines/region/napa-valley) for broader vintage and aging context.
Should I decant the 2017 Few and Far Between before serving?
Yes - decant 90 minutes to 2 hours in 2026. At two years into its peak window, this wine still carries structural tension from its concentrated tannin frame and benefits from extended aeration. Use a wide-bottomed decanter to maximize surface area. The dark fruit aromatics, cedar, and graphite open considerably with air time, and the smoked earth and tobacco notes on the palate become more pronounced and integrated. Serve at 60-64F for the fullest expression. Avoid serving straight from the cellar.
What foods pair best with the Hundred Acre Few and Far Between 2017?
The wine's concentration, polished tannins, and iron-mineral finish make it an ideal partner for dry-aged ribeye, braised short rib, and aged hard cheeses like Manchego or aged Cheddar. The smoked earth and tobacco notes that define this wine's mid-palate work especially well with long-braised or slow-roasted meats where similar savory depth has developed. Avoid lighter proteins that would be overwhelmed by the wine's structure. This is a wine built for the richest preparations on the table. See [Cabernet Sauvignon wines](/wines/varietal/cabernet-sauvignon) for pairing traditions across the varietal.
How did the 2017 Napa fires affect the Few and Far Between?
The October 2017 wildfires raised smoke-taint concerns across Napa, but Hundred Acre harvested the Few and Far Between vineyard before the fire events, avoiding exposure. The real challenge of 2017 was the heat spike in early September that compressed the harvest window. Woodbridge and the estate team navigated the season carefully, and the resulting wine shows no sign of the vintage difficulties - it is concentrated, precise, and structurally sound. Wine Spectator awarded the 2017 Napa vintage 92 Outstanding points in recognition of what skilled producers achieved despite the conditions. See also [Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013](/wines/hundred-acre/ark-vineyard-cabernet-sauvignon/2013) for a comparison of how this estate performs across different sites and vintages.
How long can I cellar the 2017 Hundred Acre Few and Far Between?
The Few and Far Between 2017 has a peak window running through 2045, with hard decline not expected until 2054 - meaning it can be held for nearly three more decades from 2026. The wine is built for this kind of longevity: concentrated dark fruit, ripe polished tannins, and the structural backbone provided by extended maceration and new French oak aging all point to graceful evolution over time. Store at 55F, 60-70% humidity, on its side in a vibration-free environment. The wine is at its most harmonious right now in 2026, but serious collectors will find additional complexity developing through the 2030s. See also [Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010](/wines/hundred-acre/kayli-morgan-vineyard-cabernet-sauvignon/2010) to observe how the estate ages.