Riley Hubbard. A hubbub in Paso Robles
Clive Pursehouse
Riley ‘Hubba’ Hubbard is the driving force behind Hubba Wines of Paso Robles, crafting wines that are unique in the region. Hubbard sources fruit from up and down California’s temperate, maritime-influenced Central Coast, working with organic and sustainably farmed vineyards that share her philosophy. Her goal, she says, is to make ‘approachable young wines with soft tannins and great aromatics that are at once complex and thought-provoking’.
The California native pursued a Master’s degree at Montpellier in southern France, and her time in Europe has influenced her winemaking, which leans towards ‘pure fruit expression while showing a very European sense of restraint and balance’. Hubba’s Mutha Chardonnay (US$50) is a wine of purity and elegance, with complexity and depth from the considerable time spent in mostly neutral French oak. The fruit shows restraint (12.3% alcohol) with flourishes of richness, and the obvious attention to acid preservation means this wine will go the distance. The Mighty (also $50), a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, highlights the cool-climate Rhône varieties from the San Luis Obispo Coast, with bright red fruits and savoury spice elements delivered by Carmel Valley Cabernet.
Gimblett Gravels: A preview of 2021
Tina Gellie
It’s always a treat to receive the Annual Vintage Selection case from the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association: 12 reds that show why the free-draining alluvial soils in this patch of New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay are so prized. Master of Wine Andrew Caillard curates
