Paul Hobbs, Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA, 2018

Producer Profile

Raised on a farm on the east coast of the United States, Paul Hobbs grew up in a tee-total household but this did not stop his first taste of wine being Chateau d'Yquem. It is tempting to say 'and the rest is history' and leave it at that, but there is so much more to this man. Paul came to winemaking via studying to be a doctor and this scientific background and attention to detail has helped hone his approach to crafting wonderfully precise, complex wines in California, and around the world. He has famously been called the 'Steve Jobs' of wine by Forbes magazine and it is clear he is a driven perfectionist whose hard work has paid off with numerous 100 points scores from the critics. However, to stop there would do Paul an injustice. Notwithstanding his mainstream winemaking training at UC Davis, Paul is an advocate of low intervention methods. Since the late 1980's, long before it was popular, Paul was using wild yeast to ferment and organic vineyard management techniques to get the best from his vines and protect the land. Like his wines, he is a complicated, multi-layered man and across all his ranges there is an elegance and lightness of touch that makes you realise there is a truly talented winemaker at work here.

Viticulture

With a commitment to sustainably nurturing the vineyards, while using labour-intensive winemaking techniques, Crossbarn wines offer a pure and youthful expression of fruit blended from diverse vineyards within California’s finest appellations. Produced using hand-harvested fruit from carefully selected vineyards within the Napa Valley appellation, Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon offers structure and weight in balance with pure, concentrated fruit.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested followed by a 5 day cold soak and 24-30-day total maceration. Fermented with native yeasts. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, with a small % of new oak. Bottled unfined.

Oak Ageing

18 Months

Tasting Note

Rich and luxurious, this deep ruby-coloured wine displays a lovely purity of fruit, with aromas of blackcurrant and boysenberry leading to notes of blueberry and a touch of dried herbs on the palate. Finely grained tannins and a backbone of graphite balance the plush black fruits, creating a silky mouthfeel with a smooth yet powerful finish. Sourced from select vineyards across Napa Valley, this wine beautifully encapsulates the entirety of the appellation.

Food Matching

Lamb shanks, casserole and game bird.