The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is rich, sumptuous and totally striking. It brings together all of the classic Dr. Crane qualities – expressive aromatics, silky tannins and voluptuous fruit, all with the crystalline purity of 2010. Juicy dark cherries, roses, sweet spices and crushed rocks are layered into the expressive finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. (Not yet released) One of the greatest attributes of the Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignons is their ability to deliver incredible pleasure throughout their entire lives. I tasted a wide range of wines this year with Paul Hobbs and winemaker Megan Baccitich, including several past vintages of the flagship To Kalon, which confirmed that view. In particular, the 2001 and 2002 To Kalon Cabernets remain stunning, and the straight 1999 Napa Valley Cabernet was equally impressive. Tel. (707) 824-9879

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is a plush, seamless wine graced with exquisite purity in its dark red fruit, violets, tar, spices and minerals. All of the elements are beautifully in place in this super-elegant, refined Cabernet Sauvignon. Today the 2010 Dr. Crane comes across as a bit subdued relative to what its ultimate upside appears to be. The 2009 is Clone 337, with a dollop of Clone 4. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2022. I tasted a wide range of stunning wines with Paul Hobbs and winemakers Megan Baccitich and Jason Valenti. I will report on the Sonoma Chardonnays and Pinots in Issue 199. In the meantime, readers will find no shortage of fabulous choices among these 2009 and 2010 Cabernets. After tasting the Hobbs Pinots, it is impossible to miss the clear link between those wines and his Cabernets, especially when comparing those wines to the other Cabernets being made by other producers from the same sites. These are some of the most impeccable, polished, Pinot-like Cabernet Sauvignons readers will come across. The wines are fermented with natural yeasts and are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Crossbarn is Paul Hobbs’ second label and is included here for ease of reference. Hobbs describes 2010 as a very late harvest that was especially hard on cooler, more marginal regions for Cabernet Sauvignon. There will be no 2010 (or 2009 for that matter) Cabernets from Stagecoach or Hyde. The best fruit from those sites may end up in the 2010 Crossbarn or the Napa Valley bottling, but the selection will be severe.Tel. (707) 824-9879