Wine reviews
Decadent in coconut flake and vanilla, this is a fruity vintage of one of Hobbs’ top-of-the-top Cabernets. Soft and structured, the silky tannins deftly managed, it captures the essence of the Napa Valley’s best valley floor grapes at the hands of an expert winemaker, a textbook marriage of beauty and brawn. — VB
One of my personal favorites, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard possesses flinty, wet stone-like characteristics, more rugged tannins and an overall more masculine personality than the Las Piedras. Its concentration is impressive for a 2011, the tannins are ripe, and the wine is beefy and mouth filling. Although it may lack some of the nuances typical for this site, it is definitely a star of the vintage. It should drink well for 10-15 years. – RP
In a similar vein, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is rich, round and immediate. Raspberry jam, cloves, licorice and mint all meld together nicely. This is a lovely Dr. Crane, although it is naturally smaller in size than the 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. (Not yet released) -AG