2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate

A huge, inward wine, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate Vineyard has a lot to say, but it is going to need time to tell the full story. Firm tannins and massive overall structure are the signatures. Blue and black stone fruit, cassis, licorice, cloves and menthol meld together in an imposing, tightly wound Cabernet Sauvignon that shows little of the early appeal of the vintage today. This is the first wine Paul Hobbs has made from his new estate vineyard in Coombsville, which he also named after the original founder of the town.

Paul Hobbs has a long and a strong relationship with the Beckstoffer family for their first-growth-quality vineyards. He also works with other sites as well from the cool Coombsville sector of Southern Napa Valley from which emerges the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs. A lot of minerality and wet rocks in addition to copious quantities of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, beautiful purity, a full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannins and adequate acidity, make for a beautiful, opulent Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next two decades.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate is deep, powerful and inky. Iron, graphite, ash and smoke give the Nathan Coombs a distinctly earthy, mineral personality. Here the tannins are a bit grainy and firm, so it will be interesting to see what further barrel aging brings. Expressive savory notes add intrigue. This is the first vintage of the Nathan Coombs Estate Cabernet from Paul Hobbs. It will be interesting to see how things develop once the Hobbs team has full control of farming.