The white wine for Sapphire wine club this month is the 2021 Crossbarn 'Sonoma Coast' Chardonnay. Early this year I was lucky enough to be able to attend a lunch and taste through an amazing assortment of Paul Hobbs wines from around the world. The barn pictured about is located in upstate New York on the 150 year old family farm.
“Farm life instills in one a deep sense of respect for family, a love of land and the joys of collaborative effort. Our Crossbarn wines are a reflection of these ideals and of our commitment to sustainable vineyard practices and gentle winemaking techniques. The "cross barn" was nestled in the middle of our one hundred fifty year old family farm in upstate New York. A favorite haunt for my siblings and me, it took on a life of its own and remains in our memories as a place of great mystery and adventure.” - Paul Hobbs
Along with Crossbarn winery, Paul Hobbs is also the owner and winemaker for Sebastopol winery and Paul Hobbs Winery in California, Hillock & Hobbs in the Finger Lakes, New York, he has international ties with Viña Cobos (Argentina), Crocus (France), Yacoubian-Hobbs (Armenia) and Alvaredos-Hobbs (Spain). Paul was an early pioneer in site specific varietals, it may have started when he was a kid on the farm and his father had him taste the same variety of apple grown in different orchards several miles apart, apparently the flavors made an impression and perhaps influenced they way he approaches winemaking.
This straw colored chardonnay hails from the cool Sonoma Coast AVA. This sassy chardonnay is crisp, yet hints of juicy pineapple and pear. The finish is refreshing and finishes clean. This lean bodied would pair beautifully with Oysters.
The red wine selection hails from Eberle winery. This month I am featuring the 2020 'Paso Robles' Zinfandel. Gary Eberle, the founder, went to Penn State University and studied biology, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, he attended Louisiana State University for graduate work in cellular genetics. He earned a National Science Fellowship to Charity Hospital in New Orleans, it was there that one of his professors introduced him to the world of food and wine. It was Bordeaux from France that changed his trajectory - he enrolled in the Enology Doctorate Program at the University of California Davis. In 1973 he co-founded Estrella River Winery and a few years later he started Eberle in 1979 and produced premium, small production wines. He helped found the Paso Robles Appellation in 1983 and he was the first to produce a 100% commercially produced Syrah. The Zinfandel this month is hearty and elegant at the same time. Juicy blackberries and plums flavors are well balanced. There is also a hint of baking spices and tobacco. This banger will pair easily with a wide range of food - The Bad Dad Burger would be my first choice.
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