Paul Hobbs Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon, Nathan Coombs Estate 2014 750ml

Vivid and utterly captivating, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate Vineyard is also a wonderfully complete wine that brings together aromatic complexity, unctuous fruit and powerful structure, all signatures of this great Napa Valley vintage. Today, the 2013 is even better than it was from bottle. Drops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot round out the blend in a wine that captures the very best of site and year.

A tight and intense wine with blueberry, asphalt and tar aromas and flavors. Powerful and amazing depth and structure. Great fruit and balance. Pencil shavings. Bright fruit and stones. Remains subtle and great. A hint of cabernet franc and petit verdot. Better in 2019.

Aromas of cloves and currants with hints of rose petals. Iodine and oyster shell. Full body and polished and velvety tannins. Very linear and focused. A real backbone of fine tannins and acidity and mineral tension. Pinpoint clarity with immense density. Muscular. Needs time to soften. Fantastic. Drink in 2021.

From their own estate, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate has a little Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in the blend. This is a beauty with loads of minerality, almost liquefied rock-like character, and plenty of spicy red and black currants moving toward blueberry and blackberry. It is rich, shows some licorice, a layered texture and a long, long finish. This is another 20 to 30-year wine, as are all of these 2013s.

Even better than the 2013 (and this is probably the only cuvée about which I can say that when it comes to Bordeaux varietals), the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate is super-dense, displaying sweet crème de cassis, Christmas fruitcake and spice box notes as well as a long, opulent mouthfeel, crushed rock and lead pencil shavings, and a round, generous, sumptuous mouthfeel. It is a killer effort and a great example of Coombsville viticulture. Drink it over the next 15–20 years. Kudos to Paul Hobbs!

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate Vineyard is the most dynamic and intense of these wines. Stylistically, the Nathan Coombs is most similar to the Piedras in its tannic and structural profile. A rush of dark red cherry and pomegranate punctuate the vibrant finish. I very much like the sense of energy here. I will not be surprised if, over time, the Nathan Coombs becomes the top Cabernet for Paul Hobbs, as it is the only estate vineyard in the range, and being in control of all aspects of production is increasingly critical for winemakers who strive to be at the very top. (Antonio Galloni)

Aromas of dark berry, cherry, rose and plum firm quickly, giving the tannins muscular flex that provides the framework around a dense core of licorice-scented flavors. Best from 2020 through 2034. 499 cases made. (James Laube)

Tight and trim, with a core of dusty, cedary oak and gravel amid a taut core of dried dark berry, anise and licorice, ending with a flinty limestone edge that acts as a cleanser. Drink now through 2030. 552 cases made.