PAUL HOBBS. An unerring feeling for the terroir.
Paul Hobbs grew up on a fruit farm specialising in the cultivation of apples, peaches and cherries. It was here that his father taught him how different soils and microclimatic conditions can decisively influence the character of the same type of fruit. It was his father, too, who kindled the love of wine in him early on, when he urged the then 15-year-old Paul to take a sip of 1962 Yquem. This left such a striking impression on his palate that later, during his medical studies, he preferred to go to wine tasting sessions with the Botany professor rather than attend lectures. As his romance with wine started to really flower, he finally broke off his medical studies and
began to study viticulture. After completing his studies, he quickly became a sought-after winemaking consultant. During his time heading up the winemaking team at Opus One, he refined his skills sufficiently to begin his own winery adventure in 1991. Since then, he has lived up to his vision of "making rich, intense, dense wines that have the highest possible levels of finesse, complexity and authenticity, and clearly show the unique personality of each terroir". The wines come from vineyards in Sonoma County and the Napa Valley. In terms of grape production, Paul focuses on the Grand Cru varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay. Minimally invasive cellar methods are his magic weapon. Multiple selection sessions at the sorting table, spontaneous fermentation and no fining or filtration – all this results in wines that taste precisely the way Paul Hobbs prefers them.
A masterclass in Cabernet Sauvignon.
Since the late 1970s, when his career at Robert Mondavi and Opus One began, Paul Hobbs has numbered among the top winegrowers in Napa Valley. His ability to identify exceptional vineyards around the world has brought him the nickname of “terroir hunting dog”. He has been a pioneer in Napa Valley in terms of his focus on individual terroirs. This work is reflected in the taste of every vintage: wines that are delicate, unadulterated elegance in a glass, and a clear expression of their respective origins.
