2009 Chardonnay Russian River Valley

The 2009 Chardonnay is a gorgeous, polished wine bursting with rich, varietal fruit. Subtle hints of butter and oak frame the finish. This is a great entry-level wine from Paul Hobbs.

The 2009 Chardonnay is a gorgeous, polished wine bursting with rich, varietal fruit. Subtle hints of butter and oak frame the finish. This is a great entry-level wine from Paul Hobbs. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. This is a dazzling set of Chardonnays and Pinots from Paul Hobbs. The wines are made with native primary and secondary fermentations, aged on their lees and bottled without fining of filtration. Readers may want to check out my video interview with Paul Hobbs on www.eroberparker.com for more details. Vintages 2009 and 2010 are both strong, but I find myself favoring the 2010s for their greater verve and focus. Either way, it is virtually impossible to go wrong with any of these new and upcoming releases. Tel. (707) 824-9879

(50% new oak): Bright gold. Complex, heady bouquet of pear nectar, melon, licorice and ginger, with a smoky mineral undertone. Spicy and precise on the palate, showing gently sweet orchard fruit flavors with complicating notes of anise, buttered toast and white pepper. This complex chardonnay finishes with strong bit and ingering smokiness.