Winemaker Notes
A delicate pale straw color in the glass, this wine opens with a bright pairing of fresh citrus peel and crisp Asian pear, evolving into juicy apple and tropical fruit aromas. Expressive gardenia wraps around these layers as they extend into a palate edged with hints of brioche and cream. A vein of savory minerality supports a clean, crisp, and beautifully integrated finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The fruit in this is very beautiful, with sliced apples, cream and hints of stone. Full-bodied with plenty of fruit and a creamy texture that shows tension and intensity. Just the right amount of oak to highlight this. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Bright yellow with a green tinge, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley was raised with 30% new French oak, as were the majority of these wines from Hobbs. In the glass it opens to elegant and ripe aromas of fresh salted pineapple, honeyed citrus, and fresh flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it’s elegant and long on the palate, with a wide window for enjoyment over the next 7-8 years.
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Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is a delight. Tangerine peel, butter, ripe pear, apricot and white flowers open effortlessly. Medium in body and vibrant with terrific depth, the Russian River Chardonnay is a beautiful introduction to the range.
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Wine Spectator
Offers a stylish, sleek mix of tangerine, mango puree and peach preserves, plus a touch of grilled Meyer lemon, all mingling with fresh acidity, with a hint of peaches and cream for a lithe texture.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Chardonnay opens with matchstick scents that give way to baked peaches, apples and honey. The medium-bodied palate offers generous, gently honeyed flavors and integrated, spicy new oak. It has a soft, supple texture balanced by lip-smacking acidity and a long, flavorful finish.
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.