2014 Paul Hobbs 'Beckstoffer Las Piedras' Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 1.5L
We were lucky enough to score BOTH 750s and Magnums of this barnburner of a Cabernet! Suckling loved its “Fabulous aromas of blue fruits and slate. Very perfumed. Full body and polished, velvety yet fine-grained tannins that are lightly austere. Love the Spanish-cedar, cigar-box, tobacco and herbal character. Wonderful finish. Fresh and savory.” What a knockout.
The name Paul Hobbs is synonymous with fine California winemaking. Born into a farming family in New York, Paul borrowed early life experience to reinvent modern winemaking by employing a classical approach that pays the utmost attention to quality farming and treating the fruit minimally so that it can convey a true sense of place. While his uncanny ability to ferret out unique and expressive vineyards and undiscovered regions has only enhanced his reputation, a resume that includes winemaking stints at Opus One and Simi, as well as consulting projects with Peter Michael, Fisher Vineyards and Lewis has helped position himself as one of California's best guiding hands in the cellar. All the wine projects lucky enough to be associated with Paul Hobbs are farmed sustainably. Furthermore, crop yields are kept low to boost flavor intensity, grapes are sorted by hand, juice is turned to wine with the aid of native yeasts and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. Paul's reach spans far and wide, with his own wineries Paul Hobbs and CrossBarn in California, and Viña Cobos in Argentina. Word on the street is that he's even got his hands on grapes from Chile, Uruguay, France and Armenia. He's got us wondering, what will this globetrotting winemaker do next?
James Suckling
Fabulous aromas of blue fruits and slate. Very perfumed. Full body and polished, velvety yet fine-grained tannins that are lightly austere. Love the Spanish-cedar, cigar-box, tobacco and herbal character. Wonderful finish. Fresh and savory
Wine Advocate
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and displaying a deep garnet-purple color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard opens with pronounced crème de cassis, mocha, black forest cake and cloves over lavender, bay leaf and menthol nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated and seductive, it has a gorgeous velvety texture and plenty of freshness lifting the opulent flavors, finishing with a spices and herbs kick.
Wine Spectator
A rich, juicy, pure expression of blackberry, plum, currant and spice flavors, maintaining a supple tenderness along with a firm backbone. Deceptively approachable now, but better to cellar for a few years. Best from 2020 through 2038.