Pioneer, Trailblazer, Trendsetter, Prospector These are all words used to describe Paul Hobbs. One of the first California winemakers to focus on single-vineyard wines, Paul Hobbs took the challenge one step further by dedicating himself to crafting unfiltered and unfined wines, fermented with native yeasts. His vision has resulted in exciting, structured wines that are rooted in classic old world techniques and, at the same time, are distinctly Californian in their expression. And, he continues to be a leader of Argentina’s ongoing winemaking revolution. Not bad for a farm boy from upstate New York.

ANTONIO GALLONI RATING: 93

ANTONIO GALLONI REVIEW: The 2014 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is terrific. Bright, nuanced and savory, the straight Russian River Pinot has all the attributes of this strong vintage. Sweet floral notes round out a Pinot that is understated and silky. This is a rare appellation-level Pinot that could use another few years in bottle to fully flesh out. Paul Hobbs describes 2013 as a consistently warm, dry year but without excesses. I remember stopping by in January of that year, and being quite surprised when Hobbs told me he was likely to start irrigating imminently, which is highlyunusual. Then again, the drought was already causing stress in the vineyards. Overall, the 2014s have a touch more natural acidity and as well as more overall brightness and tension. New oak is up in the 2014s, but most wines appear to have the underlying material to support the oak and what is projected to be longer time in barrel. Most importantly, the 2014s show greater delineation of site than the 2013s.

WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 93

WINE SPECTATOR REVIEW: Exhibits a distinctive streak of crushed rock and loamy earth amid the tannic wild berry and savory notes, showing a kiss of oak and transforming into a celebration of licorice and anise elements. Drink now through 2025.