Paul Hobbs Night

A single producer wine night for my wine group. Our ten person dinner tried the wines of Paul Hobbs. All the wines were opened 45 minutes before we started drinking them. They were poured one at a time, with each wine getting a new wine glass. By the time the last wine was poured, it had been sitting, open in the bottle for over 2 hours. Only 1 wine was decanted, that was the 2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard. All the others were opened, and sat, uncorked, in the bottle.

We had, in order, the following:
2013 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Edward James Estate
2013 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir
2008 Paul Hobbs Syrah Kick Ranch Vineyard
2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard
2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
and the
2006 Vina Cobos Cabernet Sauvignon Bramare

• 2006 Viña Cobos Cabernet Sauvignon Bramare 92 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo

  Really surprised at this wine, given the most recent CT reviews. I threw it in as a bonus wine and we drank it last, so it had lots of time to breathe. Everyone in my ten person group liked it. It still has fruit left and was starting to develop the secondary flavors of an aged wine.

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• 2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Had it alongside one of the PH Beckstoffer Cabs from the same year, and it probably suffered a bit in comparison. On its own, it may have rated higher. Most of our group felt it compared with Silver Oak and Caymus. Very sweet, fruit forward wine. Dark fruit - blackberry and currants. Smooth tasting with medium depth. Medium-long finish. I have enjoyed other vintages of this wine more than this one.

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• 2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  My second bottle of this, and I enjoyed it just as much this time. We were able to decant it for over an hour before trying it.
  
  This is a big and bold wine. Minerals, dark fruit, licorice, and maybe tar are some of the flavors and aromas I picked up. It went great with a simple sirloin steak. It was the WOTN for me.

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• 2008 Paul Hobbs Syrah Kick Ranch 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Well received by my wine group, I still think it tastes a little syrup-y to merit a higher score.

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• 2012 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  The was actually the 2013 PH PN. I entered the year wrong on CT. Anyway, my group enjoyed it. I found it to be a light, soft, Pinot Noir. Nice notes of black cherry fruit and some medium acidity.

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• 2013 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Edward James Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Last time I had it, I thought it showed too much oak. Not so with this, my final bottle...Tropical notes of pineapple, some peach and baked apples, and some acidity.Medium bodied, and some minerality. Wish I had more.

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The group favorite was the 2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, but it was not unanimous. A few of the group liked the 2008 Paul Hobbs Syrah Kick Ranch Vineyard best. Everyone commented on how much they enjoyed the 2013 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Edward James Estate. None of the wines were disliked, but the least favorite was the 2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. The Vina Cobos was the surprise of the night.

All of the wines were tasted alongside a traditional NYC Steakhouse meal.