Mild nose, ripe jammy fruits, touch of oak. Bought this on consignment to try a Napa pinot with some age, has held up well and a very likeable wine, but very straight forward.
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a bit of carbonation needs to blow off....in a nice drinking window....a bit of bricking....cranberry, kiwi, spice...still nicely concentrated and complex.
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I forgot about this bottle until a recent inventory - should have drunk it sooner. Ripe fruit nose,a touch of oak, lacking classic pinot noir aromas. Straight out of the bottle, it had a little kick, but it faded fast to a ripe fruit taste with a touch of alcohol or glycerin, not unpleasant, but lacking structure. Based on the I can imagine it would have been good 2 or 3 years ago when it had more tannins or acid.
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Did this one through the Vinturi, which really is like an hour of decanting. I like this wine even though it is anti-Burgundian. The wife is not as much of a fan.
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This is a hard one to score. First, it needs a good decanting. I would say in the neighborhood of an hour. When I popped, I poured a bit and witnessed some of the same characteristics from the other notes. So I let it sit. And sit. After, it was a really interesting wine. I am more of a classic Burgundian style pinot guy, and this was not that. Big, lots of fruit and some secondary notes that are more merlot and cab than pinot (particularly cocoa). Overall, I liked it, but not what I expected (but then what would you expect from a Paul Hobbs pinot if not this?).
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Like going to a carnival in the rain. There's fun to be had but in the end you feel a bit soggy and dirty. Nose has elements of raspberry, cranberry, cake, blue cheese, bitter chocolate and whiskey. A few bubbles cling to the glass. Very sweet on the palate but also cloying, like blue cotton candy. A little velvet but mostly dominated by syrupy flavors with glycerine textures. Just ok and probably won't get any better.
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Nose: Nice typical Cali aromas, though fading. Some earthy and cherry notes and a slight waft of oak.
Palate: Brighter cherry and raspberry flavors mingle with some chocolate and earth.
Things did not smooth out for a while as these flavors seemed gapped and not integrated fully.
At first the wine was a little disjointed but after 1.5 hours it started to come together. I last had this 3 year ago and it was black and blazing in that fruit forward style.
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Very enjoyable - I didn't get the "fizzy" opening that others have described. Big fruit and good acidity made it work very well with goat cheese and beet salad and ricotta ravioli.
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Impromptu b'day dinner - Lee came over (Lisa was Chaparoning the TGIF at the middle school). Jill made lamb shanks - delicious. Nice bottle, but at cellar temp - not showing its best.
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Probably the best Pinot Noir I have ever tasted, but then, I am not much of a Pinot lover. My love is with the California Cabs and the big, bold reds from Bordeaux. That being said, like the other tasting notes here, the nose was very light and there was a "ting'ly" sensation at the tip of the tongue upon opening. This high acid effect dissipated after 90 minutes and the wine REALLY opened up after 2 hours. I did not have the typical big fruit forward taste of most Pinot's. Rasberry, oak, currant on the nose, deep dark dense color - like blackberry blood; initially light with a velvet mouthfeel then a big, deep bold structured taste of deep dark berries, oak and a little chocolate all blended incredibly well that lingered on and on for a fantastic finish. I could drink this wine every day for the rest of my life! Hobbs has renewed my interest in Pinot Noir.
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4th time with this wine all from the same source; poppoed and poured and unlike the other bottles this had a definite fizz when first tasted and over the next half hour or so... what is this in a four year old wine? secondary fermentation seems unlikely/// once this fizz dissipated, the wine does not disappoint; full bodied, remarkably concentrated, plum and cherry, vibrant acidity, cherries and plums, minerals and earth, and a little cola. a beautiful carneros pinot noir that will go on for a few more years at least. but what's with that fizz?
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Great bottle of wine. Flavors of Cherry, Plum and a hint of tabacco. Not a great nose upon opening but this improved with time. We let it sit for 2 hours and it worked perfectly with rare lamb. Loved it. Now I will hunt for more.
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Amazingly Rich, concentrated and full bodied, luscious wonderful example of Pinot Noir. I could have guessed this was Syrah. Paired perfectly with a Filet Mignon. Opened up to reveal more after a few hours.
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in a word, wow! smells of smoke, raspberries, flowers and meat (in a good way)... this is a big carneros pinot, full bodied but with all the nice pinot character- ripe cherries and plum and other ripe fruit flavors with a touch of cola and earth- definitely not subdued; good backbone and a long finish- this is a great wine from carneros; this will be even better in 3-5 years (it has the structure to last) and it is evolving nicely now after being open for 4 hours.
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Black ruby, lightening to the edge. Viscous in the glass, nose of only heat and oak (with a little dark fruit trying to peek out). The nose is what holds the score down though, as on the palate it's lovely and complex. Strong acidity, round, supple oak, cherry, plum, and spices. Lovely stuff.
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[CH, LBK: grouper] Pleasant on the nose with dark cherries, spice. However, my first few sips were tainted by a little fizz which made me think that the bottle was tainted; it was not stored. Neither the nose nor palate were consistent with a corked bottle, but something was not right--not sure that this experience accurately captured the wine. After ~30mins, the fizz went away but the wine remained subpar. Dark cherries, spice, high acidity, a little heat. KAB agreed.
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2/10/2019 - bradleyrhill Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mild nose, ripe jammy fruits, touch of oak. Bought this on consignment to try a Napa pinot with some age, has held up well and a very likeable wine, but very straight forward.
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5/16/2018 - GeorgeSW wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful Pinot . strawberry, brickish Color. Evolved over several hours
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4/7/2013 - WineHawkeye Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Way over the hill. Purchased as a gamble in aftermarket of unknown provence so perhaps that is the reason.
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4/8/2012 - DesMarteau wrote: 93 Points
a bit of carbonation needs to blow off....in a nice drinking window....a bit of bricking....cranberry, kiwi, spice...still nicely concentrated and complex.
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4/5/2012 - jonnyoro wrote:
Still a little fizz- last bottle - rediscovered- very sweet... Too sweet perhaps...
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10/26/2011 - Rich.Herbs wrote:
I forgot about this bottle until a recent inventory - should have drunk it sooner. Ripe fruit nose,a touch of oak, lacking classic pinot noir aromas. Straight out of the bottle, it had a little kick, but it faded fast to a ripe fruit taste with a touch of alcohol or glycerin, not unpleasant, but lacking structure. Based on the I can imagine it would have been good 2 or 3 years ago when it had more tannins or acid.
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5/18/2010 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: 90 Points
Did this one through the Vinturi, which really is like an hour of decanting. I like this wine even though it is anti-Burgundian. The wife is not as much of a fan.
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1/6/2010 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: 90 Points
Similar notes. Decant, decant, decant!
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12/24/2009 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: 91 Points
This is a hard one to score. First, it needs a good decanting. I would say in the neighborhood of an hour. When I popped, I poured a bit and witnessed some of the same characteristics from the other notes. So I let it sit. And sit. After, it was a really interesting wine. I am more of a classic Burgundian style pinot guy, and this was not that. Big, lots of fruit and some secondary notes that are more merlot and cab than pinot (particularly cocoa). Overall, I liked it, but not what I expected (but then what would you expect from a Paul Hobbs pinot if not this?).
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12/21/2009 - earitt wrote:
Nicest ive had in awhile
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11/29/2009 - Topper wrote: 87 Points
Like going to a carnival in the rain. There's fun to be had but in the end you feel a bit soggy and dirty. Nose has elements of raspberry, cranberry, cake, blue cheese, bitter chocolate and whiskey. A few bubbles cling to the glass. Very sweet on the palate but also cloying, like blue cotton candy. A little velvet but mostly dominated by syrupy flavors with glycerine textures. Just ok and probably won't get any better.
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6/13/2009 - tkoby11 wrote: 93 Points
This 2002 FAR surpasses the previous 2002 I had about 6 wekks prior to this one.
Color: Light purple/red core, pink edges
Bouquet: Rich, deep Pinot: strawberry, mocha-cherry, a touch savory and erathy, some herbal
Palate: Cherry, crushed strawberry, silky smooth tannins, some oak, integrated very well.
Amazing how different this and the other 2002 were - night and day!
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1/11/2009 - tkoby11 wrote: 86 Points
Color: Dark Burgundy red with lightening edges
Nose: Nice typical Cali aromas, though fading. Some earthy and cherry notes and a slight waft of oak.
Palate: Brighter cherry and raspberry flavors mingle with some chocolate and earth.
Things did not smooth out for a while as these flavors seemed gapped and not integrated fully.
At first the wine was a little disjointed but after 1.5 hours it started to come together. I last had this 3 year ago and it was black and blazing in that fruit forward style.
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12/22/2008 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
Very enjoyable - I didn't get the "fizzy" opening that others have described. Big fruit and good acidity made it work very well with goat cheese and beet salad and ricotta ravioli.
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11/14/2008 - eastover wrote:
Impromptu b'day dinner - Lee came over (Lisa was Chaparoning the TGIF at the middle school). Jill made lamb shanks - delicious. Nice bottle, but at cellar temp - not showing its best.
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11/9/2007 - DTWOB wrote: 95 Points
Probably the best Pinot Noir I have ever tasted, but then, I am not much of a Pinot lover. My love is with the California Cabs and the big, bold reds from Bordeaux. That being said, like the other tasting notes here, the nose was very light and there was a "ting'ly" sensation at the tip of the tongue upon opening. This high acid effect dissipated after 90 minutes and the wine REALLY opened up after 2 hours. I did not have the typical big fruit forward taste of most Pinot's. Rasberry, oak, currant on the nose, deep dark dense color - like blackberry blood; initially light with a velvet mouthfeel then a big, deep bold structured taste of deep dark berries, oak and a little chocolate all blended incredibly well that lingered on and on for a fantastic finish. I could drink this wine every day for the rest of my life! Hobbs has renewed my interest in Pinot Noir.
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5/19/2007 - MPF wrote: 91 Points
Drank with the Laffertys. Fine example of Hobbs' big, fruit forward style. Great fruit and long finish
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11/17/2006 - jonnyoro wrote:
4th time with this wine all from the same source; poppoed and poured and unlike the other bottles this had a definite fizz when first tasted and over the next half hour or so... what is this in a four year old wine? secondary fermentation seems unlikely/// once this fizz dissipated, the wine does not disappoint; full bodied, remarkably concentrated, plum and cherry, vibrant acidity, cherries and plums, minerals and earth, and a little cola. a beautiful carneros pinot noir that will go on for a few more years at least. but what's with that fizz?
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4/16/2006 - jthielen wrote: 92 Points
Great bottle of wine. Flavors of Cherry, Plum and a hint of tabacco. Not a great nose upon opening but this improved with time. We let it sit for 2 hours and it worked perfectly with rare lamb. Loved it. Now I will hunt for more.
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4/9/2006 - sbwino wrote: 94 Points
Amazingly Rich, concentrated and full bodied, luscious wonderful example of Pinot Noir. I could have guessed this was Syrah. Paired perfectly with a Filet Mignon. Opened up to reveal more after a few hours.
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5/22/2005 - jonnyoro wrote:
in a word, wow! smells of smoke, raspberries, flowers and meat (in a good way)... this is a big carneros pinot, full bodied but with all the nice pinot character- ripe cherries and plum and other ripe fruit flavors with a touch of cola and earth- definitely not subdued; good backbone and a long finish- this is a great wine from carneros; this will be even better in 3-5 years (it has the structure to last) and it is evolving nicely now after being open for 4 hours.
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3/18/2005 - basis wrote: 92 Points
Black ruby, lightening to the edge. Viscous in the glass, nose of only heat and oak (with a little dark fruit trying to peek out). The nose is what holds the score down though, as on the palate it's lovely and complex. Strong acidity, round, supple oak, cherry, plum, and spices. Lovely stuff.
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3/11/2005 - 97mjr wrote: 87 Points
[CH, LBK: grouper] Pleasant on the nose with dark cherries, spice. However, my first few sips were tainted by a little fizz which made me think that the bottle was tainted; it was not stored. Neither the nose nor palate were consistent with a corked bottle, but something was not right--not sure that this experience accurately captured the wine. After ~30mins, the fizz went away but the wine remained subpar. Dark cherries, spice, high acidity, a little heat. KAB agreed.
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