Estate-born from our high-density plantings in the western reaches of the appellation, this vintage displays translucent ruby and entices with freshly picked violets, wild cherry, and scents of sage. The palate is framed by a supple texture and well-integrated tannins that opens with layered notes of crushed pomegranate seeds, blood orange extract, and lightly steeped Rooibos tea. This is an elegant and graceful wine with bright acidity, leading to a long and pure finish.\n \n An attractive nose of ripe red fruit and berries, fresh mint and black licorice. Medium-to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a smooth texture. Bright, citrus-like acidity that adds a lot of life to the flavors of fresh colored flowers and ripe red cherries. Good intensity and balance.\n Producer Information\n Paul Hobbs Winery was founded in 1991 by established winemaking consultant Paul Hobbs. Located in Sebastopol in Sonoma County, the winery specializes in single-vineyard varietal wines made from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay. Hobbs already had an impressive resumé as a consultant before establishing his own winery, which has gone on to receive significant critical recognition. Hobbs started his career working for Robert Mondavi in 1978, and was involved with the creation of Opus One – the collaboration between Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of the Bordeaux first growth Mouton Rothschild. Hobbs consulted with Simi Winery and championed the Argentinian wine industry while at Bodega Catena Zapata. The connections Hobbs made throughout this period allowed his winery project to achieve financing in a difficult period when California was suffering from the effects of phylloxera in the early 1990s. The winery primarily bottles four grape varieties sourced from a number of vineyards in Sonoma County and Napa Valley: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay. It makes numerous single-vineyard wines, along with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from the Russian River Valley and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. The 2002 Paul Hobbs To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded 100 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and the 2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir was named in the top ten of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines in 2010.
