2020 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate Coombsville Napa Valley

Tasting notes

A deep garnet core speaks to the power of this 2020 vintage from our Nathan Coombs Estate. Lush ripe blackberry and black currant aromas are joined by dark chocolate with hints of leather and sweet tobacco on the nose. The vineyard’s signature graphite and anise spice follow on the palate. This is a bold and structured red, complex and layered yet lifted with the freshness and energy of the cool, southern Napa Valley site.

Vintage Notes

A dry winter started the season with less than half the region’s average rainfall leading to a mild spring and early season bud break. Summer began with relatively moderate temperatures resulting in exceptional phenolic development, allowing fruit to ripen and mature slowly on the vine. Consecutive heat spells coupled with a rare mid-August lightning storm accelerated the start of harvest two weeks earlier than average. All fruit was hand-harvested within seven weeks, and although challenging on many fronts, our highly skilled team persevered at every stage and excelled in their meticulous picking, sorting, and barrel selections. While some wines will not be produced as they did not meet our standards for quality, those that were are in very small quantities, ensuring the limited remaining bottlings showcase their full character with great energy, depth of flavor, and focus.

Harvest
 Hand-harvested at night, shears only
 Harvest dates: September 29 & 30

Viticulture

Vineyard

 Clonal selection: 337, 4
 Rootstock: 110r, 3309
 Plant date: 2002, 2004, 2007
 Soil: Guenoc Rock Outcrop Complex, Haire Loam, Haire Clay Loam and Sobranate Loam
 Exposure: up to 35% slope, southwestern exposure
 Trellis and pruning: bilateral cordon

Vinification

Winemaking
 Hand-sorted while still cold from the field
 Indigenous yeast fermentation
 30-day total maceration
 Pumpovers and délestage
 Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel
 Aged 18 months in French oak barrels; 96% new
 Varietal composition: 100% cabernet sauvignon
 Bottled unfined and unfiltered; June 2022