2021 Chardonnay Edward James Estate
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Chardonnay Edward James Estate is a powerful, inward Chardonnay. Mineral, floral and savory notes are front and center, while fruit is pushed in the background. The Edward James will appeal most to readers who appreciate subtlety and nuance in Chardonnay. Plenty of textural richness runs through all the wines, but the Edward James is very much on the understated side of things. Give it 6-12 months to soften a touch.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Chardonnay Edward James Estate takes on a lightly savory tone with a delicate perfume of smoky incense, fresh green pear. There’s a silky texture in this medium to full bodied white, with bright notes of preserved lime, ripe white peaches, and fresh flowers, and it has a clean, fantastic finish. Over my first two years as a full-time wine critic, I found the wines of Paul Hobbs to be some of the most pleasurable and surprising. Historically, my experience with these Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines was an opulent style with a fair bit of extract and oak influence. Tasting the wines today, though they certainly are not lacking in concentration, they have a level of refinement, precision, and energy that is undeniable across the range. These are some of the best wines I have tasted from Paul Hobbs and Sonoma to date. Meeting with Paul at his winery in Sebastapol, he acknowledged that there has been a gradual yet steady shift in style and a preference for the wines he enjoys. This self-awareness is one of the unique strengths to their success in fine-tuning the wines over time.
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.