The Hobbs Chardonnays are big wines, buy they are impeccably well-balanced, and to his credit, he keeps the fruit up-front. These are large-scaled Chardonnays that cut a broad swath across the palate.
The least expensive is the Chardonnay Russian River. The 2001 (1,000 cases) is a rich, oily, full-bodied offering revealing notes of caramel, citrus oils, pineapples, and spice. The oak is nicely integrated in this big, chunky, fleshy, lusty white. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.
