2024 Paul Hobbs - Chardonnay Sonoma Coast CrossBarn (750ml)

Paul Hobbs grew up on a farm in upstate New York, where his father had him taste the same apple variety grown in orchards just miles apart, an early lesson in how much terroir shapes flavor. That insight carried into a career that took him through Robert Mondavi, Opus One, and Simi before he founded Paul Hobbs Winery in 1991. CrossBarn is his more accessible label, built around the same pursuit of site-driven, minimally handled wine.

This Chardonnay draws mostly from estate fruit grown along the true Sonoma Coast, where cold Pacific winds and morning fog slow ripening and preserve natural acidity. Grapes are hand-harvested from select, low-yield vineyard sites, then vinified with a light touch to let the fruit's purity come through rather than layering on heavy oak. The approach favors structure and freshness over overt richness.

The 2024 vintage bursts with lemon zest, green apple, and white florals, framed by a flinty minerality that speaks to its cool coastal origin. A tense midpalate brings out notes of Asian pear and lime, carried by vibrant acidity to a clean, refreshing finish. It's lovely alongside grilled sole, a spring vegetable salad, or fresh chevre.