The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Martin Stelling Vineyard is another of the darker, more brooding wines in this lineup. Tar, smoke, licorice plums and blackberries are some of the notes that emerge from this powerful, inward Cabernet. It shows fabulous balance all the way through to the pure, tannic finish. The wine’s purity and sheer classiness place it among the very finest wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. Tel. (707) 967-9600

There’s a huge, molten core of blackberry and cherry fruit in this wine, whose grapes source from the primary vineyard for Far Niente, which is Nickel & Nickel’s parent company. It shows its west Oakville pedigree in ripeness, dryness and finesse of tannins, but those tannins are very astringent, typifying the winery’s house style. Give this 100% Cabernet a good six years in the cellar.——S.H.(11/1/2011)—— 92