2021 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Russian River Valley
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Chardonnay is made with 90% estate fruit, mostly from Paul Hobbs's single-vineyard wines. It opens with some flinty and allspice tones that give way to a core of yellow apples, chamomile and beeswax. The light-bodied palate has a satiny texture and generous, spicy flavors balanced by vibrant acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish. 5,900 cases produced.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Made with Hudson-Wente, Hyde-Wente, Calera, Mt Eden, 72, 76, Montrachet, 548 and Wente clones. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels – 25% new. Bottled in January 2023. 5,900 cases made. Tasted blind. Medium lemon in colour and slightly cloudy. Saline and mineral on the nose, with fresh lemon and orange citrus notes and subtle vanilla. High, bright acidity, well-integrated oak and fresh, zesty citrus with apple and pear. Needs another year in bottle but very well executed in terms of structure and length. (SCJ)
A medium straw/gold hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Russian River Valley offers up fresh and classic aromas of melon rind, lightly toasted baking spices, and ripe apple. The palate is expressive, with a nice balance of ripeness and saline. Softly textured, with notes of crunchy green apple, ripe tangerine, and salty earth, it’s in a great place now and will drink well over the next 5-6 years. Over my first two years as a full-time wine critic, I found the wines of Paul Hobbs to be some of the most pleasurable and surprising. Historically, my experience with these Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines was an opulent style with a fair bit of extract and oak influence. Tasting the wines today, though they certainly are not lacking in concentration, they have a level of refinement, precision, and energy that is undeniable across the range. These are some of the best wines I have tasted from Paul Hobbs and Sonoma to date. Meeting with Paul at his winery in Sebastapol, he acknowledged that there has been a gradual yet steady shift in style and a preference for the wines he enjoys. This self-awareness is one of the unique strengths to their success in fine-tuning the wines over time.
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.