Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2024

Producer Profile

Raised on a farm on the east coast of the United States, Paul Hobbs grew up in a teetotal household – but this did not stop his first taste of wine being Chateau d’Yquem!

It is tempting to say ‘and the rest is history’ and leave it at that, but there is so much more to this man. Paul came to winemaking via studying to be a doctor and this scientific background and attention to detail has helped hone his approach to crafting wonderfully precise, complex wines in California and around the world. He has famously been called the ‘Steve Jobs’ of wine by Forbes magazine and it is clear that he is a driven perfectionist whose hard work has paid off with numerous 100-point scores from the critics. However, to stop there would be to do Paul an injustice. Notwithstanding his mainstream winemaking training at UC Davis, Paul was an early advocate of low intervention methods.

Viticulture

Produced using entirely hand-harvested fruit from high-quality, sustainably farmed vineyards within the Sonoma Coast appellation, Crossbarn Chardonnay offers freshness and minerality in balance with pure concentrated fruit.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested at night with shears, 100% stainless steel fermented & aged sur lie, bottle unfined.

Tasting Note

Luminescent pale gold in color, this vibrant chardonnay jumps out of the glass with fresh aromas of white peach and honeydew melon brightened by notes of key lime zest and night blooming jasmine. On the palate, enticing layers of nectarines and fresh orange blossom unfold alongside a whisper of sea spray, with a soft, rounded midpalate lifted by an elegant ribbon of limestone minerality. The finish is long, crisp and mouthwatering.

Food matching

Beautiful with seared or roast shellfish like lobster and scallops.