Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A fruity red with soft tannins and juicy blackberry, hints of chocolate and vanilla character. Full and round, lots of fruit and a fresh finish. Still prefer 2011 but this is outstanding. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon with the Paul Hobbs moniker is pretty serious wine that could easily win many a tasting. Dense purple in color, with notes of blackcurrants, blackberry, charcoal and incense, the wine is full-bodied, opulent and a big-time winner. This is a stunner that’s drinking well already and yet promises to age well for 15-20 years.
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Wine Spectator
Complete and compelling, with a balanced mix of dark berry, dusty, cedary oak, anise, currant and olive flavors. The finish is long and supple.
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.