2020 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay George Menini Estate, Russian River Valley, USA

Winemaker Notes
Our inaugural release displays pale straw and an elixir of gardenia florals, Asian pear, and baking spice. Flint and lemongrass, with a vibrant sea-salt and crushed rock mineral element. Soft texture, weighty mid-palate, tension, crunchy acidity.

Press
Rated 95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chardonnay George Menini Estate is a barrel sample of a brand new cuvée from Paul Hobbs, from a new vineyard they recently purchased and redeveloped, located in the Sebastopol Hills. A former apple orchard, they planted the sloping Goldridge soils with 37 acres of heritage selection Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. "I have no clue what the oak regimen will end up being," Paul Hobbs muses during our tasting together. "We made it the way we typically make our wines." Winemaker Jennie Murphy, who has been with Paul Hobbs for a decade, explains, "It's a new vineyard for us, so we have to figure out what we have. We will do lots of studies of blocks, clones, barrels, etc." This first look at the George Menini Chardonnay is promising. It offers scents of bruised apples, white peaches, citrus blossoms and new oak spices. Medium-bodied and textural, it has youthfully blocky fruits, integrated freshness and satisfying length. I'm excited to see what this new vineyard will bring to the Hobbs portfolio.