93 points
Beautifully crafted, this strikes a great balance between richness, complexity, depth and elegance, with ripe, vivid blackberry, wild berry and huckleberry fruit that’s fleshy and concentrated, with a long, persistent finish. There are also lots of spice, pepper and mineral notes. Drink now though 2013.
The Wine Advocate
Robert Parker
174
12/28/2007
(90-93) points
It is an up-front wine with copious fruit and glycerin in addition to blackberry, tar, graphite, and smoked meat-like notes. Best drunk during the first 5-6 years of life.
Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine
Charles Olken
November 2008
88 points
There is no question but that the wines of Paul Hobbs can sometimes push the limits of ripeness and size, and this intense, extremely ripe and full-bodied Syrah goes right to the edge. Rife with sweet oak, redolent of bacon and more than a touch jammy in tone, it makes no concessions to polish, but it backs up its bluster with richness to spare and will need to be paired up with heady and highly flavored roasts and braised meat preparations.
