Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Sonoma Coast Louisa Goldrock Estate 2021

99 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "For readers who may have been sleeping on the wines of Paul Hobbs and not staying up to date on their shifting style, this one may come as a surprise. Taking on light, flinty wet stone aromatics, with fresh herbs, ripe pear, and fresh apple, the 2021 Chardonnay Cuvee Louisa Goldrock Estate is electric with driving energy on the palate, with loads of saline, ripe fruit, and mouthwatering persistence. This full-bodied white has nothing heavy about it, offering pure fruit that’s a touch tropical, with a hint of ripe papaya and fresh citrus blossoms. An outstanding wine and the best I have tasted from Paul Hobbs to date, this is one of the shining stars from the newly minted West Sonoma Coast appellation. It’s a cellar-worthy Chardonnay that I imagine will develop wonderfully over the next decade or more. Bravo! (7/21/23)"

97 points James Suckling: "Dried apple, apple pie, caramel, and pie crust aromas. Hints of butterscotch. Full-bodied, tight and firm. Lots of flavor at the end but very precise in the finish. Very structured. Needs two or three years. (6/7/23)"

95 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2021 Chardonnay Goldrock Estate Cuvée Louisa is a powerful, nervy white that is going to need time to settle down. Strong mineral notes give this deep, phenolic Chardonnay tons of structural intensity. Far from an easygoing wine, the Goldrock captures the personality of this rugged terrain quite well. Lemon confit, spice, crushed rocks, pineapple and dried flowers linger. Give it a bit of time. Drink: 2023-2031. (Aug 2023)"

94 points Jonathan Cristaldi (Decanter): "Here is a satiny Chardonnay from vintner Paul Hobbs and his Goldrock Estate vineyard in the new West Sonoma Coast AVA of Sonoma County: fragrant white flowers, sea salt, and lemon zest leap from the glass. A deep mid-palate richness is redolent of fresh cream laced with cardamom and coriander, salted lemon peel, and grapefruit zest. The finish is long and spicy. This new AVA was established in 2022 and is west of the town of Freestone and encompasses the Fort-Ross-Seaview AVA. The acid tension kissed with a kind of salty sea spray, is characteristic of grapes grown in this area and sets the wines apart from their riper, full-flavoured, softer Russian River counterparts. Drinking Window: 2023-2028. (Jun 2023)"