After 18 years this Cab retains it balance. Initially the alcohol comes at you like a charging bull, but with time to air, the fruit appears and is surprisingly fresh. Blackberry and black currant combine with subtle earthy flavors. It does not appear this wine has many years left to improve, but it does not seem likely to deteriorate quickly either. Best to drink now or in the next couple of years.
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Wine Night in Charlotte -- Cork Vault Bottle Share Returns! (Charlotte, NC): A decade later but a world away from the Cask 23. Big but elegant, flavorful but balanced this wine had everything a Napa fan would want from the modern California Cabernet. Flavors of cassis and chocolate with an herbaceous tone. Less complex than the Cask 23 and aged Bordeaux but no lower in quality. An enjoyable top-shelf Napa Cab from a world class winemaker.
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In it's day this was a great bottle of wine. It's day unfortunately has come and gone. Almost all alcohol now, and high too, at 15%, and just a touch of fruit that did emerge more the next day. Threw some sediment but that's okay. I know there is debate if California high octane cabernet made in the early 2000's and beyond had the ability to age like their French counterparts. Based on this one I'd say no or hit and miss.
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- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Polished texture with a long finish - Popped and let air for 30 minutes. Beautiful red fruits and fully integrated between alcohol, fruit, acid and tanin. A well-made wine enjoyable now. I dont see much point in aging any further. This is good to go now.
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Decanted over cocktails and served. This took a couple hours to put on weight and show its stuff. Balanced with notes of caramel, licorice, herbs and white pepper. Long, subtle finish. A very civilized single-vineyard Cabernet.
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Had this bottle next to 2005 Leoville Barton. Preferred the California Cab. Chocolate and cassis dominated the wine which was full bodied. I felt the fruit was a little dry which took away from thoroughly enjoying the tasting. I just expected more due to the price point and reputation of both producer and grower. I would not buy another bottle.
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Big but delicate with everything you'd expect built on a backbone of vegetable chocolate. After a decade you can now see the brick colour emerging before the rim. The more you swirl it, the more great chocolate tobacco emerges.
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2/2 bottles. First bottle consumed almost 3 years ago. While the QPR isn't great, this wine has improved with age. Almost 10 years now and I think it's finally peaking. Very expressive nose, with a detectable heat. Medium length and tannins. Ripe read fruit with noticeable oak and a tad of leather. 7 years was too early, 10 years is much more rewarding
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- Purple color with medium forming legs and aromas of cherry, cedar and vanilla. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of cherry with a medium/full body.
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Not the blockbuster I was expecting nor a 95+ RP rated kind of wine but it was good. Slow to open, it took a good hour for the wine to show glimpses of it's potential. By hour 2 is was humming. Not a strong nose but light floral hints. Light graphite, earth flavor. Overall a pleasant wine but not for what I paid for.
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This was all about the way it reacted and coated the palate. Very complex, so much so that the fruit took a back seat to it. It sort of reminded me, but not in extremes, of Darioush wines. It reacts with the back of the tongue and leaves a potent flavor behind, almost like a byproduct of the wine evaporating or volatizing in ones mouth, sort of like throwing certain liquids on a hot flame and a new aroma arise. Don't get me wrong, I do like it, but this is the closest I can get to describing the effect. I would have liked to drink this over several days to see how it evolved, but the 4th is the fourth (unless it's a fifth!) and it went in one night. Another snapped cork that I salvaged. Believe it or not, there was just a tad left in the bottle since then (I save 'em for the labels) and I'm tasting it right now, almost 2 weeks later. Long finish both upon opening and now. Not certain it deserves the high pro ratings, but a nice well structured cabernet just the same. I might want to drink these sooner that later, even though there seems to be a bit of stuffing here to age; it's the fruit that I don't know about. Recommended.
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Good wine, altough i expected more. Maybe too young yet. Smells like red berries but too alcoholic. Earth and some minerals. The second glass, drunk after one hour decanting was better, as the tannins had softened up, but Still tight and hard to please! I would wait 3 or 4 years to open another bottle, if i had. Too expensive for what it is. I definately wouldn't spend money with another bottle.
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Drinking well but thought it could have been too young. This is a more delicate Hobbs than I'm used to. The fruit is nice but dominated by the structure and doesn't feel harmonious yet. I like the style but it was lacking a bit. Redder fruit peaking though. The nose didn't give as much as I'd like. Spices, some mint and tobacco were there. Didn't wow me for the price.
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Nice nose of dark fruit, followed by integrated flavors of chocolate, vanilla, oak and mint. Very elegant, smooth mouthfeel. Soft tannins, more approachable now than the To-Kalon bottling tasted next to it.
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This bottle is fine, but way overpriced for how it's drinking 6 years in. I was expecting much more character and layers but sadly, no. Drink up, I don't see improvement with longer cellaring.
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COLOR: Purplish garnet w/ruby rim NOTE: Nice red fruit reduction in nose, with cedar, hints of balsamic and a little heat. Mouth is medium+ of raspberry liqueur, pomagranate juice, cherry pipe tobacco, leather. Finish turns more leathery and fruited tobacco than actual fruit, which is not my preference. I don't think this wine is over the hill. I think this is just the way it is, and I totally disagree with Laube on this one. It's way too angular in too many respects. I've had lower-rated Schraders that would blow the boxers off this bottle. I should be seeing freaking angels cry based on the price of this thing! No opulence to be found anywhere, and that's the hallmark of a great wine for me. The end result is a downright decent wine but one of the most awful QPRs in my 10-year history of fine wine consumption.
Initially wood driven with highly toasted cedar, herbal and smoke aromas which are somewhat overbearing. After a lengthy decant the wine mellows to reveal ripe wild berry, mineral caramel and graham cracker flavors which are lively and rich. Ultimately well balanced but there is some heat. This displays sharp focus with enormous energy and power.
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Decanted several hours. Wow. Seamless layers and depth. Tannins really fold into the flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plum and earth. I'm not offended by oak typically unless it becomes too much cedar and in this case it's more vanilla. Drinking great in its youth.
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Dacanted for two hours. A lot of oak initially. Some dazzling loamy currant with some sage. Very dark and layered. The finish is quite long. This is a great Cabernet and is not too hot at over 15% alcohol. Great balnce of acidity and tannin. This would have been 95 - 98 points, if it wasn't for the oak factor. It seems to be French oak, however, it was a little brash on what could have been one of the best Napa Cabs that I've ever had. Either way, it was still a delight. The oak factor will lessen over time - hopefully. Drink 2010 - 2018.
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Very concentrated and ripe California cab. Vanilla is very prominent on the nose, with strong underlying dark fruits. Extremely enjoyable w/ Chateaubriand, but the sweetness/ripeness was slightly overwhelming. The mild tannins make this wine already quite accessible, but it certainly has the stuffing to age well for quite a few year. Will revisit in a couple years.
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4/4/2023 - agebob Likes this wine: 93 Points
After 18 years this Cab retains it balance. Initially the alcohol comes at you like a charging bull, but with time to air, the fruit appears and is surprisingly fresh. Blackberry and black currant combine with subtle earthy flavors. It does not appear this wine has many years left to improve, but it does not seem likely to deteriorate quickly either. Best to drink now or in the next couple of years.
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3/12/2022 - D.Callahan Likes this wine: 95 Points
Took about an hour and a half to open up the nose and palate. Beautiful with structure to last. An outstanding Cab from my favorite vineyard in Napa.
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6/10/2021 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
Wine Night in Charlotte -- Cork Vault Bottle Share Returns! (Charlotte, NC): A decade later but a world away from the Cask 23. Big but elegant, flavorful but balanced this wine had everything a Napa fan would want from the modern California Cabernet. Flavors of cassis and chocolate with an herbaceous tone. Less complex than the Cask 23 and aged Bordeaux but no lower in quality. An enjoyable top-shelf Napa Cab from a world class winemaker.
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3/9/2021 - pmarlo wrote: 89 Points
In it's day this was a great bottle of wine. It's day unfortunately has come and gone. Almost all alcohol now, and high too, at 15%, and just a touch of fruit that did emerge more the next day. Threw some sediment but that's okay. I know there is debate if California high octane cabernet made in the early 2000's and beyond had the ability to age like their French counterparts. Based on this one I'd say no or hit and miss.
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9/20/2020 - rwstorer wrote: 92 Points
- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Polished texture with a long finish - Popped and let air for 30 minutes. Beautiful red fruits and fully integrated between alcohol, fruit, acid and tanin. A well-made wine enjoyable now. I dont see much point in aging any further. This is good to go now.
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6/15/2019 - Santaliz wrote: 94 Points
Wish I had bought more of this amazing grape vintner combination.
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6/3/2019 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 92 Points
thought it was muted or faded but just needed time in the glass. Ready now.
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8/16/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted over cocktails and served. This took a couple hours to put on weight and show its stuff. Balanced with notes of caramel, licorice, herbs and white pepper. Long, subtle finish. A very civilized single-vineyard Cabernet.
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7/5/2017 - Jimaronson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this bottle next to 2005 Leoville Barton. Preferred the California Cab. Chocolate and cassis dominated the wine which was full bodied. I felt the fruit was a little dry which took away from thoroughly enjoying the tasting. I just expected more due to the price point and reputation of both producer and grower. I would not buy another bottle.
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11/7/2016 - SlimShaney Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big but delicate with everything you'd expect built on a backbone of vegetable chocolate. After a decade you can now see the brick colour emerging before the rim. The more you swirl it, the more great chocolate tobacco emerges.
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3/23/2016 - gabird wrote: 94 Points
FIII at CHR
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8/25/2015 - tkoby11 wrote: 94 Points
Never fails to deliver pleasure, red currants and licorice, cedar, and kirsch.
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1/3/2015 - ptelgenh Likes this wine: 92 Points
2/2 bottles. First bottle consumed almost 3 years ago. While the QPR isn't great, this wine has improved with age. Almost 10 years now and I think it's finally peaking. Very expressive nose, with a detectable heat. Medium length and tannins. Ripe read fruit with noticeable oak and a tad of leather. 7 years was too early, 10 years is much more rewarding
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12/9/2014 - rwstorer wrote: 92 Points
- Purple color with medium forming legs and aromas of cherry, cedar and vanilla. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of cherry with a medium/full body.
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8/14/2014 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not the blockbuster I was expecting nor a 95+ RP rated kind of wine but it was good. Slow to open, it took a good hour for the wine to show glimpses of it's potential. By hour 2 is was humming. Not a strong nose but light floral hints. Light graphite, earth flavor. Overall a pleasant wine but not for what I paid for.
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7/3/2014 - pmarlo wrote: 94 Points
This was all about the way it reacted and coated the palate. Very complex, so much so that the fruit took a back seat to it. It sort of reminded me, but not in extremes, of Darioush wines. It reacts with the back of the tongue and leaves a potent flavor behind, almost like a byproduct of the wine evaporating or volatizing in ones mouth, sort of like throwing certain liquids on a hot flame and a new aroma arise. Don't get me wrong, I do like it, but this is the closest I can get to describing the effect. I would have liked to drink this over several days to see how it evolved, but the 4th is the fourth (unless it's a fifth!) and it went in one night. Another snapped cork that I salvaged. Believe it or not, there was just a tad left in the bottle since then (I save 'em for the labels) and I'm tasting it right now, almost 2 weeks later. Long finish both upon opening and now. Not certain it deserves the high pro ratings, but a nice well structured cabernet just the same. I might want to drink these sooner that later, even though there seems to be a bit of stuffing here to age; it's the fruit that I don't know about. Recommended.
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11/2/2012 - Flamengo wrote: 90 Points
Good wine, altough i expected more. Maybe too young yet. Smells like red berries but too alcoholic. Earth and some minerals. The second glass, drunk after one hour decanting was better, as the tannins had softened up, but Still tight and hard to please!
I would wait 3 or 4 years to open another bottle, if i had. Too expensive for what it is. I definately wouldn't spend money with another bottle.
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4/22/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well but thought it could have been too young. This is a more delicate Hobbs than I'm used to. The fruit is nice but dominated by the structure and doesn't feel harmonious yet. I like the style but it was lacking a bit. Redder fruit peaking though. The nose didn't give as much as I'd like. Spices, some mint and tobacco were there. Didn't wow me for the price.
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3/15/2012 - KeithSurg wrote: 95 Points
Nice nose of dark fruit, followed by integrated flavors of chocolate, vanilla, oak and mint. Very elegant, smooth mouthfeel. Soft tannins, more approachable now than the To-Kalon bottling tasted next to it.
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2/8/2012 - ptelgenh wrote: 90 Points
This bottle is fine, but way overpriced for how it's drinking 6 years in. I was expecting much more character and layers but sadly, no. Drink up, I don't see improvement with longer cellaring.
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10/17/2010 - tp096255 wrote: 93 Points
COLOR: Purplish garnet w/ruby rim
NOTE: Nice red fruit reduction in nose, with cedar, hints of balsamic and a little heat. Mouth is medium+ of raspberry liqueur, pomagranate juice, cherry pipe tobacco, leather. Finish turns more leathery and fruited tobacco than actual fruit, which is not my preference. I don't think this wine is over the hill. I think this is just the way it is, and I totally disagree with Laube on this one. It's way too angular in too many respects. I've had lower-rated Schraders that would blow the boxers off this bottle. I should be seeing freaking angels cry based on the price of this thing! No opulence to be found anywhere, and that's the hallmark of a great wine for me. The end result is a downright decent wine but one of the most awful QPRs in my 10-year history of fine wine consumption.
DECANT: Vinturi + 1 hr
GLASS USED: Bordeaux
TASTE: 9.3
COST: 182
VALUE: 0.5
TRY AGAIN: never, unless it's someone else's bottle!!!
PAIRING: rib eye roast
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3/22/2010 - Oxenham wrote: 94 Points
Initially wood driven with highly toasted cedar, herbal and smoke aromas which are somewhat overbearing. After a lengthy decant the wine mellows to reveal ripe wild berry, mineral caramel and graham cracker flavors which are lively and rich. Ultimately well balanced but there is some heat. This displays sharp focus with enormous energy and power.
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2/24/2010 - EMichels wrote: flawed
Corked
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10/19/2009 - Phin wrote: 96 Points
Decanted several hours. Wow. Seamless layers and depth. Tannins really fold into the flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plum and earth. I'm not offended by oak typically unless it becomes too much cedar and in this case it's more vanilla. Drinking great in its youth.
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9/25/2009 - Matt Scott wrote: 94 Points
Dacanted for two hours. A lot of oak initially. Some dazzling loamy currant with some sage. Very dark and layered. The finish is quite long. This is a great Cabernet and is not too hot at over 15% alcohol. Great balnce of acidity and tannin. This would have been 95 - 98 points, if it wasn't for the oak factor. It seems to be French oak, however, it was a little brash on what could have been one of the best Napa Cabs that I've ever had. Either way, it was still a delight. The oak factor will lessen over time - hopefully. Drink 2010 - 2018.
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3/2/2009 - Stingo wrote: 93 Points
Very concentrated and ripe California cab. Vanilla is very prominent on the nose, with strong underlying dark fruits. Extremely enjoyable w/ Chateaubriand, but the sweetness/ripeness was slightly overwhelming. The mild tannins make this wine already quite accessible, but it certainly has the stuffing to age well for quite a few year. Will revisit in a couple years.
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2/18/2009 - jfkwines wrote:
(From the Grapefield's tasting) Best of the Cab's we tried from Mr. Hobbs, smooth tannins and alot of plum and fruit jam. Mmmm
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