2016 Chardonnay Ellen Lane Estate Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Orchard fruit, mint, white flowers, minerals and lemon peel are all found in the 2016 Chardonnay Ellen Lane Estate. In this range, the Ellen Lane stands out for its sculpted personality and a level of brightness that these wines don't often have. The Ellen Lane remains one of the most distinctive wines in Paul Hobbs' range.
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
This was called Walker Station. Replanted in 2006 to high density. All Wente clone from Hyde on 114 rootstock. It’s taken a long time to re-establish. 30-year lease. This is a site Hobbs has worked with since 1996, in Green Valley near Forestville. The vineyard is a south-west-facing amphitheatre. They pick fruit from a 30% slope on rocky ground. All their Chardonnay is picked at night by hand. All whole-bunch pressed. Very low SO2 – been like that always – added only after malo. No fining or filtration and wild yeast. Mid to late September harvest (sometimes end October). Much richer than Hobbs’ Argentine high-altitude Chardonnay and yet still lively. (JR)
The 2016 Chardonnay Ellen Lane Estate will give a Grand Cru Chablis a run for its money. Coming from a south-facing amphitheater consisting of rocky, broken soils, and aged in 56% new French oak, it offers more oyster shell, lemon curd, salinity, and seabreeze-like characteristics as well as a fresh, incredibly elegant, medium to full-bodied style on the palate. This chiseled, exotic Chardonnay is going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and cruise for a decade or more. It’s world-class. These latest releases from Paul Hobbs are pretty much sensational across the board and Hobbs’ finds a rare mix of purity and elegance matched to richness and concentration that hits all my sweet spots. Hobbs commented that 2016 was a perfect vintage where everything came together easily, and the resulting wines have a terrific sense of elegance, purity an balance that make them already irresistible, yet will also allow them to age gracefully. In addition, the lineup is easy to understand; Hobbs makes an appellation blend Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and two single vineyards of each variety.
The 2016 Chardonnay Ellen Lane Estate leaps from the glass with electric lemonade, lime cordial and fresh grapefruit scents with touches of yuzu, lightly browned toast, marzipan and peach blossoms. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is seriously zesty with a refreshing backbone and long, chalky finish. 386 cases were made.
About the producer
Paul Hobbs is one of California wine’s biggest names. Twice named Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker, he joined Robert Mondavi in 1977, worked at Opus One and Simi before setting up his eponymous winery in 1991.