2013 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Bright medium ruby to the rim. Vibrant aromas of cassis, blackberry, violet and graphite minerality. Densely packed, tactile and quite primary, conveying a strong impression of energy to its intense flavors of blue and black fruits, flowers and minerals. Still a bit youthfully blocky and compact today, this very chewy, backward Cabernet finishes with plenty of tannic clout to support a slow evolution in bottle, spreading out nicely on the aftertaste. This wine does not yet show the subtle sweetness of the equally backward 2012 and will need considerable patience. (14.7% alcohol; 3.78 pH; 6.0 g/l acidity)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
This is incredible with blackberries, oyster shell, and iodine. Stones and graphite. Perfect nose. Full-bodied, yet so balanced and dense with terrific subtle fruit and a salty, savory finish. Like sea salt with raw wagyu meat. Perfect.
The second perfect score I have given to a Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (the other was the 2002), the 2013 is as spectacular as his 2002 was. There are 638 cases of this massive wine that comes across like a first-growth Pauillac. Lead pencil shavings, cedar wood, blueberry and blackberry liqueur as well as hints of forest floor and tobacco leaf are all present in this fragrant, sumptuously textured, full-bodied, massively rich yet sensationally well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a finish of well over 55 seconds. This is amazing work, and interestingly, I believe Hobbs was the first to offer a Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is superb. Lavender, mint, violets, cloves, black cherries, plums and dark spices are all beautifully delineated in the glass. The 2013 is opulent, but also intensely mineral, with tons of energy and pure vibrancy. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to like here. (AG) 96+
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.