Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is a Napa Valley red wine blending 92% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. This vintage earned 92 points from both Wine Advocate and James Suckling, affirming its standing as one of the stronger releases in the CrossBarn lineup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2014  |  Producer: Paul Hobbs / CrossBarn Winery

Production & Heritage

Paul Hobbs, one of Napa Valley's most respected winemakers, launched the CrossBarn label as a more approachable counterpart to his flagship estate wines. The 2014 vintage draws fruit from vineyards spanning St. Helena south to Coombsville, hand-harvested at night to preserve acidity and freshness. Fermentation used a combination of native and selected yeasts, followed by a 27-day total maceration—notably longer than many Napa Cabernets—before aging 20 months in French and American oak barrels with 14% new oak. The blend rounds out at 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep garnet-purple in the glass, the nose opens with spicy cassis and boysenberry, followed by layers of lavender, cedar, tobacco leaf, and pencil lead. Underlying notes of smoked meat and dark chocolate emerge as the wine breathes.

Taste: Full-bodied and concentrated on entry, with inky blue and purplish fruit flooding the mid-palate alongside baking spice, clove, and thyme. Peak-ripe plum and wild berry flavors gain complexity through vanillin and cardamom accents, supported by a firm backbone of grainy tannins that provide structure without overwhelming the fruit.

Finish: The finish is long and juicy, carrying freshness alongside lingering notes of sage, menthol, and spice box. Tannins resolve with a fine-grained texture that suggests further development with cellaring.

How to Drink Crossbarn Cabernet 2014

At over a decade old, this wine drinks beautifully on its own—pour it into a large Bordeaux glass and let it open for 30 to 45 minutes. A classic Cabernet and steak pairing lets the wine's tannic structure shine against charred, fatty cuts. It works well in a structured Bordeaux-style blend tasting flight alongside other Napa Cabernets from the same vintage. For a seasonal option, try it with braised short ribs where the wine's dark fruit and spice mirror the richness of slow-cooked meat.

Best For

• Collectors exploring aged Napa Cabernet at a moderate price tier
• Gifting to a wine enthusiast who appreciates ready-to-drink back-vintages
• Pairing with a special dinner featuring grilled or braised red meat
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Napa sub-regions across the 2014 vintage

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Crossbarn Cabernet 2014 taste like? It is a full-bodied, concentrated Napa Cabernet dominated by dark berry fruit—cassis, boysenberry, and plum—layered with baking spice, cedar, tobacco, and a firm tannic structure. With age, the wine has developed additional complexity through chocolate, menthol, and savory herbal notes.

How does Crossbarn Cabernet compare to the Paul Hobbs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon? CrossBarn is positioned as Paul Hobbs' more accessible Napa Cabernet, using less new oak (14% versus a significantly higher proportion in the flagship) and sourcing from a broader range of Napa vineyards. The flagship bottling typically commands a higher price and is built for longer aging, while CrossBarn emphasizes fruit-forward drinkability at an earlier stage.

Is Crossbarn Cabernet 2014 good for sipping neat? Yes, particularly at this stage of maturity—the 2014 vintage has had time to integrate its tannins, making it an excellent candidate for drinking on its own with brief aeration.

Where is Crossbarn Cabernet made? CrossBarn Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Paul Hobbs Winery in Napa Valley, California, using fruit sourced from vineyards stretching from St. Helena in the north to Coombsville in the southeast of the appellation.

What foods pair well with Crossbarn Cabernet 2014? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's firm tannins and dark fruit. Braised lamb shanks with rosemary echo its herbal and spice notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère match the wine's structure and richness. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa undertones, and roasted portobello mushrooms bring out the savory, earthy elements.

What sizes does Crossbarn Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Crossbarn Cabernet 2014 worth the price? CrossBarn positions as an upper-mid-range Napa Valley Cabernet, sitting well below the Paul Hobbs flagship and estate bottlings while delivering 92-point critical recognition from both Wine Advocate and James Suckling—strong value for aged, multi-vineyard Napa Cabernet at this tier.

Why Crossbarn Cabernet 2014?

The 2014 vintage in Napa Valley was widely regarded as exceptional, and this bottling captures that quality through an extended 27-day maceration that extracts depth without heaviness. Dual 92-point scores from Wine Advocate and James Suckling place it among the best-reviewed wines at its price level in that vintage. The restrained use of new oak—just 14%—lets the vineyard character from St. Helena through Coombsville speak clearly, a hallmark of Paul Hobbs' winemaking philosophy. For anyone seeking a mature, well-structured Napa Cabernet with proven critical backing, this is a serious bottle that over-delivers relative to its position in the Paul Hobbs portfolio.