On the Road with the Grape Guy

International Roundup - September 2015

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Every month I’ll add a number of new International reviews to the website: 

This month California gets the lion's share (16) but you'll also find wines from New Zealand (4), France (4), Chile (6), Argentina (1), Australia (3) and Oregon (3)

Argentina …

Vina Cobos 2013 Malbec, Felino

Australia …

Hardys 2008 Shiraz, Winemakers Rare Release
Hardys 2010 Shiraz, Eileen Hardy
Hardys 2014 Cabernet Merlot, Stamp of Australia

Chile …

Montes 2007 Taita
Montes 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alpha
Montes 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alpha
Montes 2012 Purple Angel
Montes 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Outer Limits
Montes 2014 Cinsault, Outer Limits

France – Burgundy …

Bachelder 2012 Bourgogne
Bachelder 2012 Cote de Nuits Villages, “Aux Montagnes”
Bachelder 2012 Nuits-Saint-Georges, “La Petite Charmotte”
Bachelder 2012 Savigny Les Beaune, “Les Bas Liards”

New Zealand …

Nobilo 2013 Pinot Noir, Icon
Nobilo 2014 Pinot Noir, Icon
Nobilo 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Icon
Nobilo 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Regional Collection

United States – California …

Delicato 2012 Juxtapoz
Etude 2013 Pinot Noir, Lyric
Lucas & Lewellan 2013 Pinot Noir, “High 9”
Marietta Cellars Old Vines Red, Blend No. 62
Marietta Cellars Arme Red Blend, Lot 1
Paul Hobbs 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Paul Hobbs 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Crossbarn
Paul Hobbs 2013 Chardonnay, Crossbarn
Paul Hobbs 2013 Chardonnay, Russian River
Pedroncelli 2012 Zinfandel, Mother Clone
Ravenswood 2013 Besieged
St. Supery 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Trinchero 2010 Merlot, Chicken Ranch
Trinchero 2012 Taken
Waterstone 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Wente 2013 Chardonnay, Morning Fog

United States – Oregon …

Bachelder 2012 Chardonnay, Johnson Vineyard
Bachelder 2012 Pinot Noir, Johnson Vineyard
Bachelder 2012 Pinot Noir, Oregon

Report from: A Meeting with Paul Hobbs

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(June 11, 2015) ... Let's assume for a moment that you have never heard the name Paul Hobbs - if that is indeed the case I'll bet you know some of the wineries where the wines have bore his signature: Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Simi, Peter Michael, Fisher, Lewis, Catena and a multitude of others. Some of these wines he has made directly, others he has consulted on the making of.  He event has his hands here in Ontario (Stratus) - Paul's reach and influence is felt everywhere.

His past is what made him today and his most famous story is how he came to work with Catena: he started consulting in 1989 and Nicolas Catena helped Paul start his own winery in California: "he was a great businessman," said Paul of Nicolas, "I was the wine guy; he helped me with the business side, I helped him make wine."

Today there is the winery that bears Paul's name, his Argentine project, Vina Cobos, and his newest project in his home state of New York with 65 acres on Seneca Lake (opening soon).

Today during the lunch and tasting we tasted wines from the two major Hobbs projects (California & Argentina) and hopefully, the next time he comes through town, he'll have stuff from New York ... Here we go:

Click here to see the pictorial evidence and for reviews of the wines tasted.