2022 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast
Hailing from the newly established West Sonoma Coast AVA, this inaugural release displays deep ruby in tint with Bing cherry, wild mountain berry, and an ethereal note of damp earth. Vibrant red and blue fruits dance on the palate, accompanied by oyster shell and a stony tension in character with its coastal influences. A silky texture and uplifted acidity add a sophistication and intensity to this wine, as well as a remarkably long finish.
The name Paul Hobbs is synonymous with fine California winemaking. Born into a farming family in New York, Paul borrowed early life experience to reinvent modern winemaking by employing a classical approach that pays the utmost attention to quality farming and treating the fruit minimally so that it can convey a true sense of place. While his uncanny ability to ferret out unique and expressive vineyards and undiscovered regions has only enhanced his reputation, a resume that includes winemaking stints at Opus One and Simi, as well as consulting projects with Peter Michael, Fisher Vineyards and Lewis has helped position himself as one of California's best guiding hands in the cellar. All the wine projects lucky enough to be associated with Paul Hobbs are farmed sustainably. Furthermore, crop yields are kept low to boost flavor intensity, grapes are sorted by hand, juice is turned to wine with the aid of native yeasts and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. Paul's reach spans far and wide, with his own wineries Paul Hobbs and CrossBarn in California, and Viña Cobos in Argentina. Word on the street is that he's even got his hands on grapes from Chile, Uruguay, France and Armenia. He's got us wondering, what will this globetrotting winemaker do next?
James Suckling
Flowers, pure fruit, sandalwood, and perfume. Medium body, with such lively fruit character. So bright. Spice. Purity of fruit. So much going on here. All about the energy and liveliness here. Lovely length. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast is bursting with pomegranate and briar fruit, and it has loads of fine accents including allspice, licorice, sagebrush, tea leaves and blood orange. The light-bodied palate features nuanced, layered fruit. It has gently chalky tannins, bright acidity and a long finish laced with spice. This boasts a lot of complexity for such a lifted, ethereal frame. 1,600 cases were produced, and it will be released in March of 2024.