Unbelievably rich and delicious, this is a joy to drink. It continues the winery’s long record with this vineyard, reaching toward its apex with this 2009. Made from 100% Cabernet and aged in nearly two-thirds new French oak, it’s elaborate, layered and complex, offering juicy notes of blackberry, black currant and dark chocolate, with sweet toast and vanilla flavors that continue onto the spicy finish. If you can keep your hands off it, this will develop over the next 10–15 years. — (11/1/2012) —96

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

The Cabernet Sauvignon Martin Stelling Vineyard has always been one of the cornerstones of the Far Niente cabernets. The dense purple-colored 2007 reveals an exceptionally poised nose of graphite, black currants, blackberries and subtle oak. It appears to be the most concentrated and richest of all these wines, which is saying something given the intensity level they all possess. Powerful as well as restrained and noble, this is a classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next three decades or more. An impressive group of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons from the Gil Nickel family represents an Oakville terroir lesson with the exception of the State Ranch which comes from a vineyard further south in Yountville.Tel. (707) 967-9600