Paul Hobbs Winery

Owner(s)	Paul Hobbs
Web site	www.paulhobbs.com

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Paul Hobbs has a colorful winemaking background. He studied pre-med at Notre Dame University but switched to a career in winemaking. After studying at University of California, Davis, he rose to notoriety at 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 Argentina in 1999.

The 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. 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

Small Sips of Pinot (6.45 11/12/2007)
Small Sips of Russian River Valley Pinot (7.9 1/1/2009)
WOPN: 7th Heaven for Pinot Geeks (6.18 3/5/2007)

Reviewed Wines

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 »