Powerful and expansive, the 2014 Martin Stelling Vineyard Cabernet has all the exceptional qualities that we associate with this iconic vineyard. Blackberry and cassis harmonize with flavors of melted chocolate, vanilla and ground spice. French oak adds warmth and texture to the midpalate. Classically elegant with beautiful structure and complexity, the wine’s silky tannins marry with the oak, creating rich layers that continue into a long and seductive finish.
Bale soil series from Martin Stelling Vineyard
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Oakville, Napa Valley
1993
Cabernet Sauvignon
2 acres
Cabernet Sauvignon See clone on 5C rootstock
Vertical shoot positioning (VSP)
The Martin Stelling Vineyard is situated on its own alluvial fan. The combination of proper drainage with the vineyard’s finely grained soils contributes to the vineyard’s incredible consistency. The soil is comprised of clay loam soil from the Bale soil series, which are developed on alluvial fans and flood plains.
The Martin Stelling Vineyard is located at the base of the western hills in Oakville and is the primary vineyard for Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon. Nickel & Nickel is fortunate to farm two acres of this vineyard. The soils are composed of deep volcanic loam with underlying clay and gravel.
October 7, 2014
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
12 days
17 months in French oak
September 2017
1997
We are so blessed to be growing grapes in the Napa Valley. This was another beautiful growing season with an ideal spring that led to an early budbreak and bloom. Despite low rainfall, canopies were very healthy and clusters were full. This vineyard is not overly vigorous, so a little leaf pulling around the clusters was all that was required for adequate exposure. Warm summer days without any real heat spikes offered optimal conditions for flavor development. We night harvested this vineyard in early October and used both open-top and closed-top tanks for fermentation to bring out the best of this vineyard’s unique expression.