2014 Paul Hobbs, Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena

Paul Hobbs's vineyard-driven philosophy is directly expressed in the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Las Piedras, a revered St. Helena site. The vineyard's notably gravelly, alluvial soils, named "Las Piedras" for their pebbly composition, naturally limit vigor and impart a distinct mineral tension to the Clone 4 Cabernet Sauvignon. Hobbs's winemaking approach emphasizes indigenous yeast fermentation in small, closed-top stainless steel tanks and extended aging for 20 months in primarily new French oak, allowing the wine's inherent power and structural integrity to surface. The 2014 growing season, characterized by consistent warmth and an absence of severe heat spikes, produced a vintage with concentrated fruit, balanced acidity, and refined, polished tannins. This cultivation and technique culminates in a Cabernet Sauvignon exhibiting textural density and a persistent, fine-grained structure, reflective of its unique, stony provenance.