Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Cuvée Louisa Goldrock Estate West Sonoma Coast 2024

Paul Hobbs’ Cuvée Louisa from his Goldrock Estate is one of the most coveted Chardonnays in California, and the 2024 just earned 100 POINTS from Jeb Dunnuck, and 98 from James Suckling. We were able to secure just 5 cases, and we have a feeling this is about to vanish quickly. Get your hands on this rare bottle before it’s gone!

Paul Hobbs founded his Sonoma winery in 1991, after earlier stints at Robert Mondavi, the original Opus One winemaking team, and Simi Winery. In 2004, he gained some serious prestige when Robert Parker named him the most important winemaker in California. Today, he’s celebrated for wines dripping with site transparency and precision, and the Cuvée Louisa from Goldrock Estate sits near the top of his Chardonnay lineup.

Goldrock is about as remote as you can get in terms of California grape-growing sites. Hobbs acquired the property in 2016, in the northwest corner of the “true” Sonoma Coast near the town of Annapolis, after sourcing grapes from it for more than five years. The vineyard sits in a sheltered vale on the second ridge inland from the ocean, about 5 miles from the crashing waves. At roughly 550 feet in elevation, it’s planted on Goldridge fine sandy loam, and cool Pacific fog and ocean breezes make for slow, careful ripening. Hobbs’ signature approach applies here too… native yeast fermentation, French oak aging, and bottling without fining or filtration.

The 2024 vintage brings with it the new West Sonoma Coast designation, a name that signals the far-coastal, high-acid, mineral-driven style this area is known for. After collecting a perfect 100 points from Mr. Dunnuck, it’s one of the highest scoring California Chardonnays of the vintage. Its personality is decidedly electric – lemon curd, crunchy white peach, and ripe pear laced with oyster shell, wet stone, acacia, and beeswax – with a mouthwatering acidity and accents of Meyer lemon, Golden Delicious apple, quince, and brioche adding richness and complexity. This is pure, powerful, and precise – and demonstrative of the salty coastal site form which it hails. Bring home one of the most sought-after California Chardonnays available and savor every drop of it!

FOOD PAIRINGS: Pan-seared diver scallops finished with brown butter and toasted hazelnuts bring the loveliest elements of nutty richness, sweet caramelization, and salty seafood to complement this coastal wine.