Review: HobNob Wines

6Mar/100

Can the French go toe to toe with the Australians at their own game: Putting out cheap and simple varietally-focused wines that consumers will lap up? All that's missing is the animal on the label.

Here's how the five wines of the HobNob label -- sometimes seen as Hob Nob and all hailing from "the sunny hills of southern France" -- stack up.

2007 HobNob Chardonnay - Not drinkable, heavily perfumed with mint and incense. Like licking a belly dancer, and not in a good way. D

2008 HobNob Pinot Noir - Smoky and meaty, this is more harmless than the chardonnay, but a bitter green finish mucks things up. C

2006 HobNob Merlot - Jammy, somewhat easydrinking, but with a big green olive kick. Bizarre, but not horrible. C+

2007 HobNob Cabernet Sauvignon - Extremely light but clearly cabernet, at least -- rare for these wines which defy varietal classification. A lot like the merlot, but with less abrasive components. Harmless. B-

2006 HobNob Shiraz - Plummy but mild. A little chewy, but easy to deal with. Curiously uses the Aussie "Shiraz" name instead of the Francophilic "Syrah." B

$11 each / hobnobwines.com