After the record rainfall in 2017, 2018 was also a wet winter until the end of February. However, the early spring was dry and sunny, which was ideal for fruit set. The summer temperatures were mild and there were no significant long heat waves, resulting in a sufficient yield, so pruning was done four times at different times. The mild temperatures continued into the fall, allowing for excellent phenolic ripeness, and the fruit ripened slowly to full maturity. The result was a harvest about two weeks later than usual, with elegant structure, lively flavors, and naturally balanced acidity. Paul Hobbs began his career as a winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley in 1978. Over the next 25 years, he honed his skills and expertise at Mondavi, Opus One, Simi Winery in Sonoma County, and as a winemaking consultant in Chile and Argentina. During this time, Paul frequently traveled to the major wine regions of Europe, gathering further techniques and ideas. Paul founded Paul Hobbs Winery in California in 1991, Viña Cobos in Argentina in 1999, and Crossburn Winery in California in 2000. Growing up with 11 children, Paul's passion for vineyards began in 1969 when the first grapes were planted on his family's farm in upstate New York. Seeing his dedication to his work, Paul's father quickly made him head of viticulture. Paul's first taste and experience of world wines while attending the University of Notre Dame ignited his passion for his lifelong winemaking career. In 1975, he enrolled in a Master's in Food Science at UC Davis' Enology Department. His master's thesis on oak barrel aging attracted considerable attention from the premium wine community. Paul's knowledge of barrels is still unmatched, and it is no exaggeration to say that he is a master of barrel wines. The late Robert Mondavi recognized Paul's talent and immediately hired him as a research technician. In 1979, Paul was promoted to winemaker at the winery. In 1981, he joined the winemaking team at Opus One, where he remained for four years. In 1985, Paul joined the historic Simi Winery in Sonoma as assistant winemaker. One of his first assignments was to create a new style of Cabernet Sauvignon. By treating the fermentation and fruit with care and gentleness, he created a richer, more supple wine that attracted the attention of critics and consumers alike. In 1989, he became vice president and winemaker, which was his first opportunity to lead the winemaking program of a premium winery in California. In 1991, together with several partners, he founded Paul Hobbs Winery in Sonoma. The winery specializes in craft wines and single vineyard wines from Napa and Sonoma. The winery, designed by a leading architect, was completed in 2003 and is surrounded by 14 acres of its own vineyards, named "Lindsay", planted with Pinot Noir. In 1999, Paul established Viña Cobos Winery in Mendoza, Argentina. The winery produces ultra-premium wines from the highly acclaimed Marchioli Vineyard, made from old vines, as well as value-range wines from the Felino and Bramare. In 2000, he launched the Crossburn brand, and now has a winery in Sonoma, where he teaches young winemakers the know-how of winemaking. Paul was named "Winemaker of the Year" by the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine in December 2000, and "Most important winemaker in California" by The Quarterly Review of Wines in 2004. In 2013, he was named "The Steve Jobs of Wine" by the American economic magazine Forbes. Recently, he has been cultivating Riesling in his hometown of New York's Finger Lakes region.