Winemaker Notes
2012 was an amazing year for us - not only were we lucky enough to have a great vintage, but we also welcomed our first daughter, Coco Joon, just after harvest! The best growing season we have seen in many years set the stage for the 2012 Hobel Cabernet to be the best wine we have produced thus far. Aromas of cedar, sweet oak, vanilla bean, flowers and spices combine with a medley of boysenberry, cassis and blackberries on the nose. This super-concentrated fruit profile then passes through to the palate and is framed by hints of chocolate, minerals and sweet, round tannin's. There is great length here, and with the density that we are seeing in the wine, we can only imagine the great things to come for "Coco's Vintage" with several years of bottle age.
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.