Leading off the Chardonnays from Hobbs, the 2017 Chardonnay Russian River Valley comes from multiple sites and spent ten months in 55% new French oak. Its medium gold color is followed by a rich, upfront bouquet of Caramelized pineapple, tangerine, honeysuckle, spice, and a touch of toasted nuts. It's rich, concentrated, has beautiful mid-palate heft, and nicely integrated acidity. It's a rocking wine as well as a great introduction into the wines of this great winemaker.

Powerful and minerally, with hints of white pepper to the baked apple, pear and tangerine flavors. The lively finish is crisp and focused, offering plenty of spice and lightly buttery notes. Drink now through 2022.

The 2017 Chardonnay has a wonderful perfume of apple pie and grated nutmeg with notes of wet hay, honeycomb, cheese rind and peach cobbler plus touches of crushed stone, mushroom and wet bark. The palate is medium to full-bodied, rounded and silky with intense, savory flavor layers and bright acidity kicking in on long the finish.

The 2017 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is pliant, supple and expressive. This open-knit, beautifully textured Chardonnay captures all the natural richness of the year and also retains terrific freshness.