Hundred Acre

Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley

2017

Vintage

Varietal

Cabernet Sauvignon

Peak 2024-2045

Where it is, November 2026

At Peak: inside the peak window (2024-2045), within the full drinking arc.

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.

More wines like this

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.

Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) drinking timeline

Full drinking arcYou are here · at peak, 2026

Storage and bottle condition can shift the experience.

Full drinking arc 2022-2054Peak window 2024-2045

The peak window sits inside the broader full drinking arc.

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. 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.

Pairing suggestions

Cellared suggestions based on the wine and dish descriptions.

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.

Add this bottle Track this bottle Read this guide