2021 CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 6pk 6x750ml

Paul Hobbs launched Crossbarn in 2000 to honor his family's farming heritage — a tribute to the cross barn that served as a meeting place on his family's 150-year-old fruit farm in upstate New York. What began as a single lot of Cabernet has grown into a portfolio built on sustainable farming and meticulous vineyard selection, all rooted in the values of hard work and integrity that defined Hobbs' childhood.

This Napa Valley Cabernet is drawn from hand-harvested fruit across carefully curated vineyards, each site fermented separately to preserve its distinct micro-terroir. The 2021 vintage delivered textbook conditions: a cool, dry spring gave way to moderate summer warmth, then a cool August that slowed ripening and brought the fruit into optimal phenological balance. Harvest came in with less than 5% deviation from target — the kind of precision winemakers dream about.

The result is a wine that shows vibrant natural acidity alongside ripe, supple tannins. Deep ruby in the glass, it opens with crushed violets, red currant, and black plum, then unfolds into concentrated black fruits laced with dried herbs and cacao. A 5-day cold soak and 24-day maceration — native and select fermentations, minimal new oak — preserved the fruit's purity while building structure. James Suckling awarded it 95 points, calling out its sleek, polished balance and the cool-climate Coombsville fruit that anchors the blend.

Full-bodied but graceful, with fine-grained tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink it tonight or cellar it — the 2021 vintage built wines with both immediate appeal and serious staying power.