The Event: Paul Hobbs lunch and wine tasting June 11/15

The Date and Time:  Thursday, June 11, 2015  1Pm to 3PM

The Event: Paul Hobbs lunch and wine tasting

The Venue: Luma

The Target Audience: wine writers

The Availability/Catalogue: Releases from Paul Hobbs are coming through the Ontario market this summer. In addition to his California winery, Hobbs also owns Vina Cobos in Argentina and has a new wine from Cahors called Crocus (unfortunately, not available for tasting this day).

The Quote/Background: Paul Hobbs asked us if we wanted background or a wine talk. We all chose background, so he talked about his career, mentors, other countries, and his sustainable vineyard practices. He was mainly attracted to winemaking via the chemistry side while at UCDavis. He began to concentrate on aging and extracts, making great strides in Argentina with Catena. He commented on his winemaking practices and the terroir-driven nature of the wineries. The wines we had more-or-less spoke for themselves.

The Wines: Other Vina Cobos wines to be released at vintages include Felino Malbec 2013, Felino Chardonnay 2014 (+119099, $19.95), Bramare Valle du Uco Malbec 2012 (+123729, $44.95) and Cobos Malbec (+119289, $215.95). His California winery will have a whole range of eight wines (cabs, chards, and pinots) by the end of 2015 at Vintages.

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Paul Hobbs Russian River Chardonnay 2013 $54.95 +119073  Oct Vintages

-Paul Hobbs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 +119065  $99.95  Oct Vintages

-Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2012  +118695  $54.95 Vintages

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Chardonnay 2013 $29.95 +235945 Vintages

-Vina Cobos Felino Malbec 2013 +118067  $19.95  Vintages soon

 

The Food: The special 3 course menu included soup or salad with the chardonnays (I had the cream of sweet onion soup), while the main featured a choice: I had the flatiron steak (blue) with the cabernets. Everything showed off just wonderfully.

The Contact Person: nzolis@awsm.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com