2018 is broadly thought-about one of the best classic for Napa cabernet sauvignon for the reason that vaunted 1997 launch, which is maybe why Paul Hobbs was so cautious concerning the timing of this Coombsville bottling, which was saved within the cellar till 2024. Born in one of many coolest components of Napa County, the wine is made out of a mix of grapes from Hobbs’s Nathan Coombs Property and Flat Rock and was aged for 20 months in 69 p.c new French oak.
We have been lucky sufficient to attain a bottle whereas it stays, barely, obtainable to buy.
In case you weren’t satisfied of 2018’s greatness, give this wine a strive. Wealthy with berries and plum notes, it’s by no means overly fruity nor jammy, however moderately a soulful and introspective dive into what makes nice cabernet nice. The cassis is fast and laced with chocolate and vanilla, then later touches of coconut. Sharply acidic because it develops in glass — a shock — the fruitier elements tackle a evenly floral high quality that evokes violets amidst a light-weight layer of baking spice and a pinch of aniseed. Tannins are omnipresent however subdued, tempered by time sufficient in bottle… however certainly to be additional aided ought to the wine face up to one other decade or so in cellar.
Excellent immediately, however come 2030, I can’t even think about.
A / $120 / paulhobbswinery.com
2018 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville
$120
