Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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.
95+ -
Wine & Spirits
While the dark-toned fruit is round and supple, this wine's structure holds it tight and firm; a juicy cherry flavor lasts with a fine tobacco scent. A pure Napa Valley cabernet, this grows in a prime hillside block at Far Niente's vineyard on the benchlands of western Oakville.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.