2012 Hobel Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from the Engelhard Vineyard, is a beauty. Well-balanced and pure, it has dense ruby/purple color with lots of créme de cassis and floral notes. The wine is quite long, admirably balancing power and elegance. This full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon should drink well for at least 10-15 years, possibly improving beyond my present point score.

Dark red-ruby. Distinctly darker on the nose than the 2011, offering aromas of blackberry, blueberry and minerals. Sweeter and more densely packed but currently showing less personality. Dark berry flavors are distinctly bound-up and ungiving today, with the tannins cutting off the fruit. But there's excellent material here.

Dark cherries, plums, mocha, licorice, tobacco and cedar jump from the glass in Hobel's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2012 is initially quite rich, layered and voluptuous, all qualities that are typical of the year, but over time, some of the more intensely mineral notes that are typical of this site on Franz Valley School Road emerge. Graphite, pencil shavings and menthol all add complexity on the close. Although the 2012 is striking today, it was a little more open a few months ago, and appears to be going through a bit of a closed phase at the moment.