2023 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Crossbarn Sonoma Coast

Growing Season : The 2023 growing season started like a bear awakening from hibernation…slowly. Plentiful winter rains, including several ‘atmospheric rivers’, saturated the soil. This, combined with unusually cold late winter temperatures, delayed budbreak well past ‘normal’. Cool May temperatures, mild frost, and additional rains led to a later and longer bloom period. Despite the cool, and occasionally wet conditions, the fruit set was strong and vine growth followed on pace. However, in August, below-average temperatures and protracted foggy mornings caused an undesirable increase in berry size and cluster weights, requiring significant additional crop thinning to achieve desired phenolic ripeness and concentration. These extremely mild late summer conditions also extended the ripening season well into September. Though the ’23 harvest will mostly be remembered as late and compressed, we tend to forget all that based on the strength of the exquisite vintage it yielded.

Notes: Crystalline pale straw with a faint chlorophyllic tint, the 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay opens with lifted aromas of freshly picked green apple, and is fragrantly perfumed with Meyer lemon zest, gardenia, honeysuckle, and orange blossom. On the palate, notes of Honeycrisp apple lead a well-focused palate punctuated by a burst of fresh guava. Mineral-driven, vibrant acidity accented with a flaky sea salt-like crunchiness is interlaced with a delicate creamy yet firmly structured texture. The finish is pure and clean with good tension and energy through the lingering, expressively juicy finish.