2007 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(15.2% alcohol): Deep ruby with a black tinge. The nose displays a liqueur-like ripeness to the aromas of crushed, wild dark berries, tart black cherry, violet and resiny herbs. On the palate, an urgent, primary thickness of berry fruit is complemented by a high-toned chocolatey quality. This slightly porty yet high-pitched wine is a bit aggressively tannic and warm and still needs time to absorb its baby fat and gain in drinkability. I suspect that it's passing through a sullen phase today.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Opaque purple. Expansive, flamboyantly perfumed bouquet of black cherry, raspberry, cassis and whiffs of incense and licorice. Then sweet, creamy and suave on the palate, offering sappy dark berry preserve and floral flavors that are utterly seamless. Extremely long and gently tannic on the finish, leaving behind sweet berry and floral pastille notes. This wonderfully vibrant, deep, elegant wine will be even better with another five years or so of bottle age but I'd have no trouble knocking one off now, all by myself.
From the amazing Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard, Hobbs’ 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is a slightly more opulent, broader, savory effort that comes close to the perfect 2002. The 2007 has more noticeable tannin than the 2002 did at the same stage as well as more obvious minerality, but notes of graphite, black currant liqueur, licorice, cedar, and spice box are found in this full-bodied, multidimensional, fabulously concentrated wine. It was aged in 100% new Taransaud French oak barrels. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following three decades. This is a brilliant portfolio of Cabernet Sauvignons from Paul Hobbs, one of the wine world’s top consultants whose own California projects are augmented by his superb work in Argentina. Paul Hobbs’ Syrahs, Chardonnays, and Pinot Noirs from outside of Napa will be reviewed in the next issue. Tel. (707) 824-9879; Fax (707) 824-5843
About the producer
Paul Hobbs is one of California wine’s biggest names. Twice named Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker, he joined Robert Mondavi in 1977, worked at Opus One and Simi before setting up his eponymous winery in 1991.