May 5, 2013
Cork Dork Etude: Inspired Wines of the Carneros the Gardener: Got Organic Grapes? Bravium: Relish the Acidity Rivers-Marie: 2010 & 2011 Reflect the Challenges of Farming on the Edge Dunstan Wines from Durell Vineyard Foursight Wines: Family Excels with Pinot COBB Wines: No Wine Before Its Time Sips of Pinot: Wines Tasted Recently Rosé and Chardonnay: Recently Sampled Wines Pinot Briefs
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Paul Hobbs Winery
| Owner(s) | Paul Hobbs |
| Web site | www.paulhobbs.com |
| Link to this site |
Paul Hobbs has a colorful winemaking background. He studied pre-med at Notre Dame University but after joining a wine tasting club, switched to a career in winemaking. After studying at University of California, Davis, he rose to notoriety at Robert Mondavi, Simi and Opus One in the mid 1980s, subsequently made wine in Argentina (Catena), consulted for Peter Michael, Fisher, Lewis and Chalone, and was involved in a winemaking project in Hungary.
He started his namesake label in 1991. In 1998 he planted his estate vineyard, Lindsay Vineyard, located near Graton in the Russian River Valley and named it in honor of his father. The 14-acre Lindsay Vineyard is planted to three rootstocks and five clones of Pinot Noir. In 2003 he built a gravity-flow winery overlooking this vineyard.
In 2004, Hobbs was named "Most Important Winemaker in California" by Robert Parker, Jr.. He currently has a dozen winery clients he consults for in the United States, a half dozen in Argentina, about the same in Chile, a couple in Hungary and has been looking at Ensenada, Mexico and China. He launched Vina Cobos in Mendoza, Argentina in 1999. Today, he consults in Sonoma, Napa, Argentina, Chile, France and even Armenia.
The Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir lineup includes a Russian River Valley appellation blend, a Ulises Valdez Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, a Lindsay Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, and a Hyde Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir. There is also small-lot, vineyard-designated Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. A second label, CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs offers appellation blends at lower prices. Both Paul Hobbs and CrossBarn wineries produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, and are located in Sebastopol for which fruit is grown in both Sonoma and Napa counties.
Paul Hobbs Winery produces about 15,000 cases per year. CrossBarn produces approximately 15,000 cases per year, and Vina Cobos imports approximately 30,000 cases per year to the United States.
The wines are sold primarily through a mailing list. Tours and tasting are available by appointment to mailing list members (707-824-9879x21).
Articles About Paul Hobbs Winery
Reviewed Wines
2011 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.2% alc.,
·
Light golden straw color in the glass.
Aromas of lemon curd, honey, buttered popcorn and oak. Layers of flavors including lemon, white peach,
poached apple, spice and caramel with a dry, lemony finish. Oak is used to an advantage. Very Russian River
Valley in character. Not for mineral-driven Chardonnay aficionados, but rather fruit and oak forward
Chardonnay lovers. I can appreciate the appeal of this style which is very popular. Very good.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.1% alc., 3,000 cases, $25, screw
cap.
·
Light straw color in the glass. Fresh aromas of lemon, pear, banana peel, vanilla, roasted nuts
and sea shells. Slightly creamy on the palate with appealing flavors of lemon pudding, peach skin, and
tropical fruits with a slight nuttiness in the background. A solid wine with reasonable vibrancy and a
smooth finish. Good.
Reviewed October 26, 2012
ARTICLE »
2011 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 4,000 cases, $35, screw cap.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Scents of darker berries, rhubarb and forest floor lead to
flavors of black cherries, blackberries and a sidecar of herbs and oak. Nothing special, but enough richness to
satisfy, and styled with soft tannins for easy drinking. Decent.
Reviewed October 31, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., $35. A blend of vineyards. 14 day total maceration. Aged
12 months in 23% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Perfume of plum sauce,
dark berry jam and seasoned oak. Veers to the riper fruit flavor
spectrum with tastes of plum, blackberrry and ollaliberrry. Full-bodied,
smoothly textured and endowed with a firm tannic structure. The fruit
is quite luscious and will find many fans. Good (+).
Reviewed February 22, 2012
ARTICLE »
2005 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
A plush wine with a striking mid palate richness
and a gorgeous peacock tail of spices, notably cinnamon, on a never ending finish.
Reviewed March 5, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Paul Hobbs Lindsay Estate Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.8%, $85. The inaugural release from this estate vineyard by well-known
winemaker Paul Hobbs.
·
Deep indigo in color. A brooding nose needs plenty of time to open up. Black cherry fruit and toasty oak are evident with coaxing and carry through to the finish which has an earthy bent. A big-boned wine packed
with fruit trying to get out. Decant or cellar for a year or two.
Reviewed November 12, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Paul Hobbs Lindsay Estate Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., $85.
·
A plush wine with a striking mid-palate richness. Still backward with plenty of tannin at this point.
Reviewed March 5, 2007
ARTICLE »
2004 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., $45.
·
Highly unusual perfumed nose, very
floral with peculiar lacquer and medicine cabinet scents. Moderately weighted redder fruits veer toward raisin.
Slippery tannins and a brisk, slightly citric finish. Tasted twice with similar results.
Reviewed January 1, 2009
ARTICLE »
2011 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.2% alc., · Light golden straw color in the glass. Aromas of lemon curd, honey, buttered popcorn and oak. Layers of flavors including lemon, white peach, poached apple, spice and caramel with a dry, lemony finish. Oak is used to an advantage. Very Russian River Valley in character. Not for mineral-driven Chardonnay aficionados, but rather fruit and oak forward Chardonnay lovers. I can appreciate the appeal of this style which is very popular. Very good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.1% alc., 3,000 cases, $25, screw cap. · Light straw color in the glass. Fresh aromas of lemon, pear, banana peel, vanilla, roasted nuts and sea shells. Slightly creamy on the palate with appealing flavors of lemon pudding, peach skin, and tropical fruits with a slight nuttiness in the background. A solid wine with reasonable vibrancy and a smooth finish. Good. Reviewed October 26, 2012 ARTICLE »
2011 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 4,000 cases, $35, screw cap. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Scents of darker berries, rhubarb and forest floor lead to flavors of black cherries, blackberries and a sidecar of herbs and oak. Nothing special, but enough richness to satisfy, and styled with soft tannins for easy drinking. Decent. Reviewed October 31, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., $35. A blend of vineyards. 14 day total maceration. Aged 12 months in 23% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Perfume of plum sauce, dark berry jam and seasoned oak. Veers to the riper fruit flavor spectrum with tastes of plum, blackberrry and ollaliberrry. Full-bodied, smoothly textured and endowed with a firm tannic structure. The fruit is quite luscious and will find many fans. Good (+). Reviewed February 22, 2012 ARTICLE »
2005 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
A plush wine with a striking mid palate richness and a gorgeous peacock tail of spices, notably cinnamon, on a never ending finish. Reviewed March 5, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Paul Hobbs Lindsay Estate Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.8%, $85. The inaugural release from this estate vineyard by well-known winemaker Paul Hobbs. · Deep indigo in color. A brooding nose needs plenty of time to open up. Black cherry fruit and toasty oak are evident with coaxing and carry through to the finish which has an earthy bent. A big-boned wine packed with fruit trying to get out. Decant or cellar for a year or two. Reviewed November 12, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Paul Hobbs Lindsay Estate Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., $85. · A plush wine with a striking mid-palate richness. Still backward with plenty of tannin at this point. Reviewed March 5, 2007 ARTICLE »
2004 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., $45. · Highly unusual perfumed nose, very floral with peculiar lacquer and medicine cabinet scents. Moderately weighted redder fruits veer toward raisin. Slippery tannins and a brisk, slightly citric finish. Tasted twice with similar results. Reviewed January 1, 2009 ARTICLE »
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