Paul Hobbs Russian River Chardonnay 2020
-
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Crafted with precision from six pedigreed sites comes a wine that beams with pale straw hue. The newest vintage brings wonderful aromatic intensity: candied lemon peel, white florals followed by crisp green apple. A creamy and viscous texture on the palate is buoyed by white nectarine and dried apricot that’s balanced with a vibrant acidity, bringing focus to the wine’s finish that lingers with hints of flinty mineral notes.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Starts off subtle and taut, with crunchy citrus and pear flavors, flinty minerality and peppery white flower aromatics. Gains momentum and torque on the long finish, expanding into lemon zest and more mineral-driven nuances. Drink now through 2035.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is sunny with golden pineapple, Meyer lemon, and wet stone. It has a delicately rounded feel on the palate without being weighted down, with fresh pear, orange pith, and green almond.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chardonnay was matured in 36% new oak for 10 months and five months in stainless steel. It has inviting aromas of baked peaches, guava and jasmine with touches of flint and honey. The medium-bodied palate has a satiny texture and generous, creamy fruit. It offers seamless freshness and a long, flavorful finish. Ripe and lush, it's drinkable straightaway.
Other Vintages
2021-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Guide
Connoisseurs' -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spirits
Wine &
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.