Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Tasted from 1/2 bottle. They come in handy for dinner for two in many cases, but especially at a restaurant that allows corkage. Most do in California. It is even harder to find vintage champagne in 375ml’s.

The 2018 vintage was good to very good. You need to taste and or read up for its best offerings.

A note, I tasted at the Billecart-Salmon property in later October 2022 with Mathieu Roland-Billecart. As insightful as that was, he was asked other than Billecart Salmon champagnes, what was one of his favorite champagnes? His reply was surprisingly an older vintage Paul Bara he had recently. That’s a producer question that gets asked often. Normally generates a pause with some minor angst to answer.

The nose shows; lemon chiffon/meringue, bruised apple to slightly cider, bruised pear, yellow & white stone fruits, just ripe pineapple, orange citrus blend, lime pulp, tropical melons, whipped, white cream, white spice-ginger, yeasty bread dough, saline, crushed limestone pulp, crumbled chalk, sea fossils, white spring flowers set in yellow lilies.

The palate is round & soft. The mousse is delicate w/ micro oxidation. Ripe; lemon chiffon/meringue, white & yellow stone fruit, slightly bruised apple & Bosc pear, lime pulp, orange citrus rind, some tropical melons, cream, ginger white spice, yeasty bread dough, sea spray, saline, sea fossils, dry crumbled chalkiness, caramel notes, heather honey, warm perfectly toasted toast, graham cracker, nougat w/ nuts, yellow flowers set in a field of white spring flowers, excellent acidity with a nicely; balanced, structured, tensioned, polished finish that lasts a minute and falls on limestone laced with soft, dry, powdery chalkiness.

Photos of; the house of Paul Bara, chalky caves w/ riddling racks, old wood basket press & a vineyard picking party. — 6 months ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.6

Just spectacular!! — 9 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.3

2 different bottles of the same wine. One from an East Coast Importer and one from the West. The one from the East Coast Importer was more fresh and expressive. — 2 years ago

Michael Brown

9.0

Earthy with notes of herbs and stone. — 4 years ago

Nate Bowser

8.9

Picked this up a few months ago from the state store when I saw Louis Dressner. Seems different from the only other fleurie I’ve had. Lots of earth juice with raspberry. — 5 years ago

Michael Flynn

9.2

2016 Spectacular with Morrocan vegetarian meal and then with shrimp the following night — 6 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.2

Smoky Syrah with fine tannins and restrained fruit. Very refined but very young. Long finish. — 7 years ago

with Barbara

Michael Seely

9.0

Held up well. — 9 years ago

with Joe

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This is a very good & fun Cremant. Perfect for summer and only around 8 degrees alcohol. — 9 years ago

Paul J

9.4

Bright gold color. Apple, minerals, stone fruit, and camomile on the nose. Same on the palate. Very rich, deep wine. Drinking well now. — 6 months ago

with Brooke

Christian Fischer

9.1

Nice floral acidity. Very pleasant to drink right now — 8 months ago

with Jonathan

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2014 vintage. Excellent fill and cork. Not decanted. Tasted after 1.25 hours open. The best red I’ve ever tasted from Paul Hobbs (and have had approx 125 samples over the years-including the high-end bleep). In a really admirable place currently between integration and balance, fruit and tannins. Will it improve? Doubtful. Can it hold steady for a spell? Definitely. Not exactly the biggest fan of what consists of To Kalon/Tokalon juice/interpretation these days vs the 60’s/70’s/80’s/earlyish 90’s but this was phenomenal. Medium body with respectable sed. A mullet wine…all business up front with a party on the back palate. Color me surprised and impressed. 11.8.24. — 10 months ago

Rebecca Graham

9.0

Delicious. About $25 from Liner & Elsen — 3 years ago

Stacy S

9.4

Super tasty New Year’s Bubbles — 5 years ago

with Leslie

Eric W Brown

9.0

Delish as usual — 6 years ago

Michael Phillips

9.5

Relatively light with nice dark berries and a hint of strawberries — 7 years ago

Mike Levin

8.9

Perhaps a bit too old for its weight. — 8 years ago

Adam Nakrosius

9.2

Stellar for the price point. The Grenache mellows the Shiraz perfectly. — 9 years ago

Patrick Rousseau

9.0

Complex nose, full mid-palate, med-long finish, balanced. Delish! — 10 years ago

Nicole Daniel

9.5

2012 vintage. Wonderful. — 11 years ago

Hayley Sykes

9.1

A delicious birthday wine gifted by the lambertys — 7 months ago

with Kristi and Arika

romo

9.2

Even better than the real thing. — 7 months ago

Camilo Jaramillo

9.3

241103 finca papá. Muuuy interesante en el cachete. — 10 months ago

Robert B

9.0

There isn’t a better Cote du Rhone for the price. — 2 years ago

Raul Puga

9.4

Just freaking delicious — 5 years ago

Michael Phillips

9.4

Smooth and mature great with herb crusted rack of lamb — 5 years ago

Sage Shimoda

9.1

Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2012
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Paul Hobbs is one of the greatest producers of California pinot noir. Opulent, floral and fruits forward in youth. This is my 2nd bottle of 2012 since 2015. The fruits have somewhat settled down. I remember my first experience with this floral, beautiful wine as clearly as if it had happened just yesterday.
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カリピノの魅力を教えてくれたPaul Hobbsのピノノワール。3年前(2015年)に開けて以来の2本目。香り高く、華やかでフルーツ感が前面に出ていたあのピノは、落ち着いた感じになっていました。このピノに関して言えば、3年前に飲んだ時のあの華やかな香りが忘れられないなー。
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#wine #napavalley #pinotnoir #russianrivervalley #paulhobbs #californiawine #2012 #california #napa #agingpotential #ワイン #カリフォルニアワイン #赤ワイン #ポールホブス #ピノノワール #カリピノ — 7 years ago

Jose Lopez

9.2

Nice smooth with a hint of acidity that won’t let go into jam town. — 7 years ago

Sean Shafik

8.9

Great value burg with age — 9 years ago

Roastmaster General

8.9

Strawberry fields 4evah. Jean Paul Brun ain't nothing 2 fuck with — 10 years ago