Situated on gently sloped terrain, this estate Coombsville AVA vineyard produces wine of great character with its moderate climate and unusual soil composition. An inky black color with a vivid purple rim, this wine invites with seductive aromatics of lavender, dried herbs, black cherry and cassis. The palate is vibrant with finely sculpted layers of dark chocolate and blackberry tart interwoven with moist earth and crushed granite. Bold, chewy tannins and balanced acidity complete this wine that offers focus, complexity and powerful structure.\n Aromas of cloves and currants with hints of rose petals. Iodine and oyster shell. Full body and polished and velvety tannins. Very linear and focused. A real backbone of fine tannins and acidity and mineral tension. Pinpoint clarity with immense density. Muscular. Needs time to soften. Fantastic.\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.
