2007 Paul Hobbs Syrah Kick Ranch Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2007 Syrah Kick Ranch Vineyard exhibits an opaque purple color as well as lots of peppery meat juices intermixed with creme de cassis and blackberries. It is a dense, full-bodied Syrah with a voluminous mouthfeel, powerful fruit flavors, and sweet tannins. A great Syrah, it should drink nicely for a decade or more. Readers looking for wines packed with flavor as well as personality can do no better than uber-consultant Paul Hobbs’ line-up of Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Syrahs. All of his bottled wines showed even stronger than they did from barrel tastings. All of these Chardonnays spend between 10 and 16 months in barrel, with the percentage of new oak ranging from 80% (for the Cuvee Agustina), 70% (for the Walker Station), and 55-65% for the Ritchie, Ulises Valdez, and Richard Dinner cuvees. The 2008 Chardonnays, while very good, are not up to the level of the flawless 2007s. The 2008 Pinot Noirs performed well, although they are slightly lower-keyed wines without the structure and density of the 2007s. Paul Hobbs produces Syrah from the Kick Ranch Vineyard, which is in the so-called Petaluma Wind Gap (lots of wind and a cool coastal temperature). Tel. (707) 824-9879; Fax (707) 824-5843
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Saturated purple color. Explosively perfumed bouquet of fresh red and dark berries, flowers and minerals, with a strong cola quality. Showing more vivacious fruit than the 2006, displaying raspberry, boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors and a late note of black pepper. The finish is sweet, juicy and pliant, betraying no rough edges and clinging tenaciously.
About the producer
Paul Hobbs is one of California wine’s biggest names. Twice named Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker, he joined Robert Mondavi in 1977, worked at Opus One and Simi before setting up his eponymous winery in 1991.