Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2023

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

Crafted from entirely hand-harvested fruit sourced from carefully selected vineyards within the Sonoma Coast appellation, Crossbarn Pinot Noir showcases vibrant acidity, lingering tension, and subtle complexity—all balanced by pure, concentrated fruit.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested at night, 100% estate fruit, 10% whole cluster fermented, 100% native yeast fermentation, aged 10 months sur lie in French oak barrels and large format puncheons, bottled unfined.

Tasting Note

Brilliant, dark ruby red in color, this wine opens with a bouquet of red cherry, pomegranate, and red apple skin, layered with savory undertones of forest floor and cigar box. On the palate, the wine is lifted and energetic with bright acidity and notable tension, followed by an interplay of wild berries and black tea. Damp earth and red fruit notes persist through the long and lingering finish.

Food matching

Grilled pizza with sausage and mushrooms, bucatinia alla ' Amatriciana, five spice braised pork shoulder.