Wine Enthusiast:  Rated as Excellent, extremely well made and highly recommended.  "A beautiful Pinot Noir. Plays in the major leagues, with its refined texture and complex flavors of cherries, raspberries, licorice and sandalwood, with a long, spicy finish. The most notable feature is the structure. Feels so lush and fine, so delectable, so dramatic. This is one of the best Pinots available for drinking now." Aug 2010

Winery:  "Dark ruby notes and aromatic with ripe Bing cherry and earth, this is an enticing firmly-structured, fruit-driven
Pinot Noir. Focused flavors of ruddy red berries introduce a svelte palate accented with notes of Earl Grey tea and framed with balanced acidity and supple tannins."

Wired For Wine:  You had us at "one of the best Pinots available"...  Legendary winemaker Paul Hobbs has worked his magic once again in this succulent Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Pinot Noir.  Don't dally winelovers, you are going to want to get in on this one!  Open a gorgeously structured bottle and roll around in your first glass for a while before you bring in the food.  When you do, though, a great match will be tiny lamb sliders slathered with a minty tomato jam.  As for the entree, the myriad of beautifully orchestrated flavors, intense, ripe fruit, spice and earth alike, lovely acidity and velvety tannins all coordinate to marry with choices from duck and salmon to lamb, lean beef, roasted game and more.  A favorite winter meal of ours is braised chicken with smoked ham, chestnuts and ginger.  It is perfect for this Crossbarn.  The salty savor of the ham will be absolutely seductive opposite the ripe fruit nuances in this Hobbs red.  A little dressier, but equally well matched is fig-balsamic glazed duck with a pearl onion-potato hash on the side.  And finally, a lighter meal, or even lunch option to pair with this California Pinot is a mouthwateringly delicious grilled salmon club sandwich with bacon, mayo, tomato, grated lemon zest and fresh basil on sourdough.  Need we say more?  Your diners will refuse to leave their seats, so bring out another bottle or two and offer it with a medium soft French Chevrot goat cheese and a crusty peasant loaf.  "So lush and fine, so delectable, so dramatic."  You won't know whether to date it or drink it...  We say bottoms up!

Bottle:  750ml, screw cap
Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol:  14.3%
Ageing:   11 months in French oak barrels, 30% new
Region:   Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California