2021 Hobel Cabernet Sauvignon The Cut

Like many of the best Napa Valley vintages, 2021 was marked by high quality and low yields. Throughout the early growing season and into late Spring the entire Valley received almost no precipitation, continuing another year of drought conditions. The vines responded appropriately, setting a small crop load. The silver lining here is that the quality of the fruit on the vines was outstanding, and we had a long harvest window with no inclement weather forcing our hand on when to pick. This resulted in wines which possess great color, depth, power, and complexity.

The Winfield Vineyard also enjoys cooler than average temperatures, greatly benefitting from the cooling afternoon breezes. This site has been in the process of being converted from cordon to cane pruning over the last few years. The goal here is higher, more consistent yields. We have noticed with the cane pruning the clusters are smaller which results in more skin contact in the tank with the end result being darker color and more flavor complexity. Our rows in the Winfield Vineyard were picked overnight on October 8th and the fruit arrived at the winery looking beautiful.

Coming exclusively from the Clone 7 in Block 5 of the Winfield Vineyard, this wine is the most black fruited of our 2021 trio. This northeastern Calistoga site always produces wines with great power, broad shouldered and structured with abundant but ripe tannin. This trait coupled with the natural bigness of the 2021 vintage means this wine will take either a few years to fully unwind or several hours of decanting