Paul Hobbs Russian River Pinot Noir 2021  £60.38

PAUL HOBBS RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIR 

Raised on a farm on the east coast of the United States, Paul Hobbs grew up in a tee-total household but this did not stop his first taste of wine being Chateau Y'quem. It is tempting to say 'and the rest is history' and leave it at that, but there is so much more to this man.

Paul came to winemaking via studying to be a doctor and this scientific background and attention to detail have helped hone his approach to crafting wonderfully precise, complex wines in California, and around the world. He has famously been called the 'Steve Jobs' of wine by Forbes magazine and it is clear he is a driven perfectionist whose hard work has paid off with numerous 100 points scores from the critics. However, to stop there would do Paul an injustice. Notwithstanding his mainstream winemaking training at USC Davis, Paul has been a long advocate of low intervention methods.

Pinot Noir is grown across various sites and exposures - sandy clay loam, red clay and coarse, gravelly loam soils. Yields are 0.9 to 4.5 tonnes per acre.

Hand‐harvested grapes fermented in small, open‐top stainless steel fermenters with indigenous yeasts with a 5-day cold soak, 16-day average total maceration, and 8% whole cluster inclusion. Direct to press; Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels, aged for around 10 months in small French oak barrels; and around 45% new oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Sourced predominately from estates that are defined by their proximity to the coast and Russian River climate, the wine displays vivid crimson and aromas of violet, Morello cherry, and black tea. Velvet tannins on the palate ride along a juicy backbone of flavours such as cranberry, Blood orange, and Damson plum. The finish is long, powered behind a crisp acidity and appealing red clay-like minerality.

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'state-born from 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 open 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.'

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Delightful with wild mushroom tartine, roast quail, or rosemary-rubbed leg of lamb.