Paul Hobbs Nathan Coombs Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

This is a hell of a wine with blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, slate and graphite on the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied, tight and very focused with fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Goes on and on. Subtle, in a Napa way. JS

Having tasted this wine since the inaugural 2012 vintage, one of the aspects I most love about this vineyard is how clearly it stands stylistically apart from Paul Hobbs' St. Helena and Oakville single-vineyard wines-with red fruits entering the mélange, this incredible energy plus a very particular tannin texture-and yet the quality is right up there on the same par. Containing a dollop (2%) of Cabernet Franc, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate has a deep garnet-purple color and a vibrant nose of red currant and red plum compote, blackberry preserves and mulberries with underlying suggestions of garrigue, Mediterranean herbs, damp earth, lavender and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the tannins on this wine are oh-so-finely pixelated, with a refreshing backbone cutting through the intense flavor layers, finishing with an invigorating lift. I could sit down and drink this right now, but it promises much more to come with 10-15 years cellaring and should hold considerably longer. RP

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate sports a very deep purple-black color and is scented of bright red and black currants notes with an earthy undercurrent of underbrush, mossy bark and damp soil, plus suggestions of lavender and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, chewy backbone supporting the muscular fruit, with plenty of earth layers coming through on the long, savory finish. RP