2021 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate Vineyard Cuvée Agustina

The 2021 Pinot Noir Cuvee Agustina Katherine Lindsay Estate takes on a deep red hue that remains transparent, and while it’s more restrained aromatically, it offers layers of ripe cherry, raspberry, and wild herbs, and hints of peppery spice that unfold seamlessly. On the palate, it displays a firm but ripe structure that will take time to soften, but this is an outstanding wine, with loads of iron-rich, gravelly earth, a sanguine tone of dark black cherry fruit, and balanced notes of tea leaf and flowers on the finish. Drink 2026-2046. Over my first two years as a full-time wine critic, I found the wines of Paul Hobbs to be some of the most pleasurable and surprising. Historically, my experience with these Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines was an opulent style with a fair bit of extract and oak influence. Tasting the wines today, though they certainly are not lacking in concentration, they have a level of refinement, precision, and energy that is undeniable across the range. These are some of the best wines I have tasted from Paul Hobbs and Sonoma to date. Meeting with Paul at his winery in Sebastapol, he acknowledged that there has been a gradual yet steady shift in style and a preference for the wines he enjoys. This self-awareness is one of the unique strengths to their success in fine-tuning the wines over time.