Paul Hobbs makes wine from the very best vineyards in California.  Think names like Hyde, Stagecoach, To-Kalon and Dr. Crane.  He has numerous 100 point ratings and has established himself as perhaps the top winemaker and consultant in California and beyond.

But what happens to all of those expensive grapes he buys that don’t quite make the cut for his $100+ wines?  I’ll give you a hint.  He doesn’t just throw them away.  He makes them into his Crossbarn series of wines.  You might call Crossbarn a second wine, but that wouldn’t really do these wines justice.  The Crossbarn series are on par with most wineries top tier productions, but Hobbs just holds himself to a higher standard.

I’ve had a number of vintages of both the Chardonnay and the Cabernet and each impress every time.  For the most recent vintage, 2008 for the Cab and 2009 for the Chard, Hobbs lowered the price and upped the quality.  Both come in under the $30 mark, an impressive feat for a producer whose Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet retails for $139.95!

Parker gave each of these 91 points making them undeniable values – one thing Paul Hobbs isn’t always known for…

Buy Here:  2008 Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon $29.95

Robert Parker 91 points

“A terrific bargain in Napa Cabernet, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon CrossBarn (100% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5,782 cases produced) is a cross Napa Valley blend. It possesses a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a brilliant perfume of smoked herbs, sweet creme de cassis and blackberry fruit, incense and hints of charcoal and herbs. Savory, broad and expansive on the palate, this full-bodied, supple-textured effort is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet that is silky enough to be drunk early in life and over the next 10-15 years.”

Buy Here: 2009 Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Chardonnay $22.95

Robert Parker 91 points

“A stunning bargain is the 2009 Chardonnay CrossBarn, which was aged in 75% stainless steel, was put through 100% malolactic, and 15% was barrel fermented in order to provide a subtle hint of spice. Made in a steely, Chablis-like style, it offers up full-bodied tropical fruit notes intermixed with hints of honeysuckle and crushed rocks. Drink this 4,000-case beauty over the next several years.

This is just one of those outstanding deals of a vintage where the score and the price don’t match up.  Chalk Hill has a fabled history of producing one of Sonoma County’s top Bordeaux Blends. The perfect 2007 growing season, combined with their continuous efforts to find the perfect site/varietal/rootstock combination, have paid off in a major way.  Half Cabernet and a quarter Malbec, make this a unique blend for California, but as Allison Steltzner pointed out, California is a great place to grow Malbec and I applaud Chalk Hill’s liberal use of the varietal.

Buy this wine to drink now or lay it back for 20 years.  Robert Parker and Wine Enthusiast gave it 95 points and Wine Spectator gave it 93.  The lowest price on WineBid.com for a 95 point California Cabernet blend is $70 and this week’s bidding isn’t over.  Like I always tell my wife: If you ever needed the money, you could just sell it for more than you bought it for…

Buy Here: 2007 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red $54.95

Robert Parker 95 points

“Perhaps the finest Estate Red to date is the 2007. Its dense ruby/purple hue is followed by blackberry, cassis, cedar, and licorice characteristics, supple tannins, a more accessible personality, full body, and admirable purity, texture, and length. Drink this beauty over the next 2-3 decades.

This may be the finest portfolio of Chalk Hill wines I have yet tasted. All are super-impressive with beautiful purity, balance, texture, and complexity. There are just under 200 cases of one of the rarest dry white wines readers will find in California. Barrel samples of the 2008 Estate Red and Syrah Estate look nearly as impressive as the 2007s.”

I predict that 10 years from now, Syrah will be right up there with Cabernet Sauvignon in terms of popularity in the United States.  Wine writers have been touting U.S. Syrah for a while, but I think they were a little premature with their predictions.  It takes time for growers to figure out the best locations, rootstock, vine trellising and production methods.  I believe that the U.S. has now figured out the grape that the French and Aussies made so popular before us.  American Syrah has arrived.

Richard “Dick” Arrowood started his career in wine in the ’60s and by the ’70s became winemaker at Sonoma icon Chateau Ste. Jean.  There, he created arguably Sonoma County’s most famous red wine, Cinq Cepages.  Arrowood went on to found his namesake winery, which he sold in the 90s when the market was hot.  So what does any true winemaker do now?  He starts another winery of course!

Amapola Creek, founded in 2001, lies on the rugged slopes of the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas mountains.  Sonoma’s cooler climate is perfect for the Syrah grape and Dick Arrowood’s extensive skills and experience shine through in this incredible wine.  It pours an opaque purple/black and has an absolutely incredible nose of reduced maple, smoked meat and blueberry.  On the palate, it’s dense, rich and broad with the blueberry flavors continuing though the incredibly lengthy finish.  I made these notes last night and I’m still thinking about the taste this afternoon.  That’s how I know this was a memorable wine.

The 2007 Amapola Creek Syrah is $45 on the winery’s website and it’s allocated to only 3 bottles per person; likely a function of its 94 point score awarded by Robert Parker.  L.A. Wine Co. has it for $36.95 (no allocation limits), the lowest price online and an incredible value for this monumental wine.  I hope there is still some left next time I’m there because I can see this wine becoming one of those mailing list only cult wines.

Buy Here: 2007 Amapola Creek Syrah $36.95

Robert Parker 94 points

“Arrowood has a long history of making Syrah, and his 2007 Syrah from a mountainside estate vineyard organically farmed has a dense purple color and a big sweet kiss of exotic flowers, blue and black fruits, graphite, and subtle smoke. Full-bodied, opulent, fleshy, intense and layered, this is a brilliant Syrah, still very youthful, and best drunk over the next decade or more.

Having sold the Arrowood winery to Jess Jackson, Richard Arrowood has stayed on as a consultant, but this is his own operation, which involves estate Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as purchased Zinfandel from the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard. These are all impressive newcomers, but that’s to be expected from Dick Arrowood, one of the most experienced and highly talented winemakers of the last four decades.”

In my humble opinion, Ridge makes the best Zinfandel in the country.  Plain and simple.  I’m admittedly not a huge Zin drinker because the super high alcohol, sweet style doesn’t appeal to me.  In fact, some Zins are so sweet that I’m sure there is residual sugar, much like dessert wines.  That fact got me wondering why I like the Zinfandel grape at the hands of Ridge’s capable winemaker.  So, I read the label.

Though most modern wine labels focus on pretty pictures (gimmicks), Ridge actually includes useful information on theirs.  There I discovered the answer to my question.  Ridge Lytton Springs only contains 14.4% alcohol.  It’s not uncommon to see Zins above 16%.  It’s also perfectly dry.  Since sugar equals alcohol, the picture is all of the sudden becoming clear.  Reading on, the label actually says that they had to rush to pick their grapes before they got too ripe!  Now, I love ripe wines as evidenced by the fact that I have written numerous times about my fondness of Chris Ringland wines!  But for Zinfandel, a little restraint goes a long way.  Parker agrees.  He gave this one 93 points.

Lytton Springs pours a slightly transparent, but nonetheless dense ruby color.  On the nose blueberry is complemented by vanilla oak flavors.  The palate is incredibly balanced – ripe but with Bordeaux-like restraint.  The Petite Sirah component, which makes up 21% of this wine, adds a beautiful depth and texture.  This is an absolutely delicious wine.

I believe the 2008 is slightly better than the 2007, which was also very good.  If you are a fan of Ridge wines, or like a more retrained style of Zinfandel, I would highly recommend this wine.

Buy Here: 2008 Ridge Lytton Springs $29.95

Robert Parker 93 points

“Striking, intense black cherry and blackberry fruit with some spice and earth jump from the glass of the 2008 Lytton Springs, a blend of 74% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, and 5% Carignan. Dark ruby with a nice tannic overlay, the wine was aged 15 months in American oak. Spicy, impressively rich, with good acids and loads of concentration, this is a beauty to drink over the next 5-7 years. “

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Kendall-Jackson’s $15 Chardonnay from the Grand Reserve series.  Judging by the 33 Facebook “Likes” bestowed upon that post, I’m not the only one who is a big fan of that wine.  I actually saw that Chard on the wine list at Capital Grille in Chicago for $45 and was tempted to order it, even knowing I can buy it for $15.  That’s how good the wine is.  Kendall-Jackson really came out swinging this year, with their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve rivaling the Chardonnay in terms of value and quality.

Coming mostly from Kendall-Jackson’s estate vineyards in Sonoma County, this wine is more Bordeaux-like than many from warmer Napa county.  Rich chocolate and coffee notes define the palate and the finish is firm and long (that’s what she said).  This $20 wine gives many wines triple that price a run for their money, and flat-out beats many of them easily.    Case in point, I recently drank a bottle of 2002 Chateau St. Jean ‘Cenq Cepages’, also a Sonoma Cabernet, and the K-J was easily better.  Impressive, considering you can buy three bottles of the K-J for the price of one Cenq Cepages.

Robert Parker rated this wine 90-93 points out of the barrel and said it’s capable of lasting 15 years.  I would put it at 90 and have every reason to believe it will be drinking great in a decade and a half.  This is one heck of a value.

Buy Here: Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $19.95

Robert Parker 90-93 points

“The 2007 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is superb. Dense creme de cassis notes intermixed with fruitcake, coffee bean, and tobacco leaf are found in this fat, fleshy wine, which displays excellent purity, density, and richness. It should drink well for 15 or more years.

The lowest level of the Kendall-Jackson empire, the Vintner’s Reserve series, goes from strength to strength. For consumers hoping to maximize their dollar value, these serious wines are consistent choices. Their Chardonnay has always been good, but dramatic increases in quality have taken place in the Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon programs.”

If you aren’t on the lookout for Rhone Ranger blends from California, you are missing out on an up-and-coming segment that is providing some great values.  The same grapes that made Sine Que Non an impossible to find cult wine, have remained under the radar for some reason.  Grenache and Syrah blends, and to a certain extent Mourvedre, blend to create interesting, elegant and fun to drink wines.

Paso Robles and Santa Barbara county are producing some of the best, but Grey Stack’s Greywacke Vineyard “The Folly” is from Russian River Valley, of all places.  This Syrah and Grenache blend is an absolute stand out value at $20 and a must try for anyone looking for a departure from the norm of California Cabernet.  I like Syrah, but believe that when blended with Grenache, it really “kicks it up another notch” in the words of that annoying guy from the Food Network.

This blend is aromatic with rose petal notes on the nose.  On the palate, the Syrah contributes smoke and white pepper, while the Grenache rounds things out with rock candy and raspberry flavors.  This is a very polished wine, although Grey Stack’s own website would have you believe otherwise, saying:

“Grey Stack Cellars makes distinctive,
food friendly wines
from unique sites in Bennett Valley.
Honestly, and without a lot of BS.

Grey Stack does not make:
Intellectual wines, grown in obsessively farmed vineyards
each berry polished by a virgin using a shammy
made from sustainably farmed baby seal skins.”

The fact that they have a sense of humor makes a great wine even better.  Even better still, LA Wine Co is once again the lowest price in the country according to Google Shopping.  Another notch: this wine was the February 10th Wine of the Week from the LA Times.

Buy Here: 2009 Grey Stack “The Folly” Greywacke Vineyard $19.95

Landmark’s Overlook Chardonnay is one of those wines that’s just great every year.  It’s nice to have those bottles that, in a crunch or on a restaurant menu, you know will always be good, regardless of the vintage.  Case in point, this Chardonnay has received a 90 or higher rating from one or more of the major publications for every vintage since 2001.  At $20 it’s kind of in the middle price range that wineries avoid- the the high end of daily drinker territory but not splurge territory either.  Don’t let that hold you back.  This is better than many $40 Chardonnays out there.

The ’07 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay strikes a nice balance between malolactic fermentation richness and acidity.  It’s a balance that many winemakers aren’t able to achieve but it’s magic when they do.  The acidity comes through on the nose with bright flavors of green apple and tangerine.  It tastes rich and buttery, if not oaky, and the acid reemerges on the finish, keeping it focused and clean.

One of the reasons Landmark Overlook is great every year is that they don’t restrict themselves to one vineyard or appellation.  This year most of the grapes come from Sonoma with 20% coming from Santa Barbara and Monterey.  Owned by the great granddaughter of John Deere, Landmark follows the same mantra as as the iconic tractor company; quality products at reasonable prices.

LA Wine Co. has the 2007 Chardonnay in half bottles and fulls.  The half bottles are actually half the price of the fulls, which is pretty rare, so pick up an assortment!

Buy Here :  2007 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay $19.95

375 ML $9.95

Wine Spectator 92 points

“Green apple, floral, lime and citrus blossom scents give this full-bodied Chardonnay a distinctive edge. Crisp and flinty, ending with wet stone. Drink now through 2012. 18,000 cases made.”

Robert Parker 90 points

“The 2007 Chardonnay Overlook (most from Sonoma County with about 20% from Santa Barbara and Monterey) offers a beautiful bouquet of peaches, pineapples, and other tropical fruits along with super-purity and focus. Medium to full-bodied, crisp, and pure, with the oak pushed to the background, this beautiful Chardonnay can be enjoyed over the next several years.

The always reliable Landmark winery continues to turn out a bevy of Burgundian-styled Pinot Noirs and impressive Chardonnays. One of the best Chardonnay values in the marketplace is their Overlook.”

The Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast are amazing places.  Napa specifically is a fraction the size of the Bordeaux region, yet grows basically all of the grape varietals of the entire country of France.  The reason?  The Pacific Ocean and Mayacamas Mountains combine to create unique microclimates all over the valley, each uniquely suited to the many varietals that thrive there.

Etude’s Estate Pinot Noir is grown in the Carneros AVA that covers part of Napa and Sonoma counties.  Breezes from San Pablo Bay keep Carneros cooler than the rest of Napa Valley making it perfectly suited to growing Pinot Noir grapes.  Etude focuses on making great Pinot Noir in this region and the 2007 has certainly delivered.  It’s exceptionally fragrant, earthy and complex, with a full bodied texture that I find unique to Carneros and Russian River Valley Pinots versus the lighter version from Santa Barbara to the South.  At 14.4% alcohol, it’s not shy, but it retains a sleek refinement despite its high alcohol level.

Pinot fans will definitely be pleased with Etude’s 2007 Estate release.  Robert Parker gives it 90 points and at under $30 at LA Wine Co. (once again the lowest price in the country), it’s a relative value given the Pinot Price Inflation (PPI- I made that up- watch for it.), caused by that sad but entertaining movie, Sideways.

2007 Etude Pinot Noir Estate- $29.95

Robert Parker 90 points

“Etude’s outstanding trio of Pinot Noirs begins with the dark ruby/plum-hued 2007 Pinot Noir Estate, which offers plenty of sweet cherry, pomegranate, wood spice, and forest floor characteristics in its round, gracious, expansive personality. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. “

La Crema’s Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is one of those rare wines that’s an incredible value year after year.  They make almost 500,000 cases of this particular bottling- nearly 6 million bottles- so it really need to be good, otherwise they are going to have a ton of unsold wine!  Every decent restaurant in the country should have this on their menu because it’s inexpensive and always delivers.

The last few Chardonnays we’ve reviewed on these pages have been the no oak, non malolactic fermentation style.  This is not that kind.  The ’08 La Crema is buttery and full bodied in the traditional California style.  Our last review, the ’07 Vina Robles Huerhuero Vineyard Cabernet, talked a lot about the sense of place in the wine, created because the grapes are all harvested from a single vineyard.  This wine doesn’t have that- the grapes are from various vineyards all over the Sonoma Coast- but that’s exactly what allows it to be such a consistent value.  La Crema can choose the best grapes each year and combine them to make a textbook cool climate Chardonnay.

You know LA Wine Co has a good price on this one because the results that come close in Google Shopping are all half bottles!

La Crema Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2008- $14.95

Robert Parker 88 points

“There are just under one-half million cases of the 2008 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, which is an excellent value, particularly when one considers it comes from the high rent district of the Sonoma Coast. Elegant white peach, apricot, and lemon blossom notes are present in this medium-bodied, crisp, well-made, barrel-fermented Chardonnay (almost three-quarters is put through malolactic fermentation). The wine possesses good freshness, purity, and depth. It should drink well for 2-3 years.”

If you’re looking for a change from the typical buttery Chardonnay, but still want the high-end complexity, give the Ovation 2006 a try.  A recent trend toward less oak  and no malolactic fermentation in California Chardonnays has brought some high-end players, in this case Joseph Phelps, to this unique style.

The Ovation Chardonnay pours a beautiful golden straw color that’s unique to high-end Chardonnay.  This is likely a result of the winemaker’s choice to bottle without fining or filtering.  It tastes incredibly crisp and acidic with a great nutty scent.  This wine would make a perfect pairing with rich seafood like shrimp or scallops with risotto.  Tonight we enjoyed it with one of my chef brother’s signature dishes, “Knock-out Shrimp”.  Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see how to make this awesome dish that needs a crisp, acidic white to cut through the spicy, rich flavors.

In 1999, Joseph Phelps purchased 100 acres on three different properties, called “Freestone”,  in Sonoma County, to focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.    The wines have been well reviewed across the board.  Keep an eye on this new label to continue producing fantastic wines.  I’m a huge fan of Joseph Phelps’ Cabernet and the iconic Insignia and have no doubt that they will put that kind of care and quality behind this label.

Of course, LA Wine Co. blows away the competition by at least three dollars, making this an even better value.  Here’s the link to purchase:

2006 Joseph Phelps Freestone Chardonnay “Ovation” 2006- $26.95

Knock-out Shrimp

Ingredients:

Tempura mix, peeled and de-veined shrimp, crushed walnuts, mayonnaise, honey, Sriracha, egg whites, oil

This is very simple and would make a great entree or appetizer.

1. Make an egg wash (mix two egg whites with a teaspoon of water).

2. Dip the shrimp in the egg wash and put them into a large bowl with a cup of the tempura mix.  Don’t follow the instructions on the package.  Just use the flour from the mix.  Stir the shrimp until they are lightly coated with the flour.

3. Preheat oil (canola or peanut works best) to 350 to 375 degrees.  Fry the shrimp for 3-5 minutes.  It doesn’t take long!  Don’t put too many shrimp into the oil at once because the oil will cool too much and the shrimp won’t get crispy.

4.  Mix roughly 5 parts mayo with one part honey.  Add Sriracha according to your spice tolerance.  I think it tastes great spicy!

5.  In a large bowl, lightly toss the shrimp with the mayo/honey/Sriracha mix.  Make sure you do this right before serving so the shrimp stay crispy.  Sprinkle the crushed walnuts on top.

That’s it!  If you try this dish or the awesome Ovation Chardonnay, let us know what you think in the “comments” section below.

Robert Parker 92 points

“The 2006 Chardonnay Freestone Vineyard Ovation reveals crisp lemon blossom, white citrus, crushed rock, flower, and orange blossom characteristics, and beautiful texture, freshness, and elegance. It is undeniably a successful Chardonnay in a challenging vintage for this varietal in Sonoma. This can be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years.

The Freestone Vineyard, a 100-acre, cool climate site planted on the Sonoma Coast by Joseph Phelps, is finally coming into production, offering consumers a bevy of different Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. There are three Chardonnay offerings, all of which emphasize the minerality and citrusy characteristics of this varietal with little intrusive oak, despite the fact that they are barrel-fermented and aged primarily in new French oak. The Cabernet Sauvignon program consists of three wines, the Cabernet Sauvignon, their famous proprietary red wine called Insignia, and their single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the western hillsides of Oakville, called Backus. The regular Cabernet is a solidly made, reliable effort usually comprised of about 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot, and occasionally Malbec. The single vineyard offering comes from Oakville’s Backus Vineyard. There are typically 1,500-2,500 cases produced from this biodynamically farmed vineyard.”