Welcome to the online hub of the Hobo Wine Company. For the better part of my adult life, the Hobo Wine Company and I and more recently, my family, have co-evolved. These wines not only represent my professional life and work, but also reflect my personal life and the things that interest and inspire me. From the beginning, it has been my aspiration to produce memorable wines of distinction and charm.
As best as we can in this busy world, we will update this site with relative information about our wines and what we are doing. For all of my complete ranting and rambling as well as release and event information, please sign up for the email newsletter. Enjoy KL
TASTING ROOM
Hobo, Banyan, and Folk Machine wines along with the Branham Estate wines can be tasted Thursday through Monday 11 am - 6 pm at Downtown Wine, 132 Plaza Street, Healdsburg, California 95448. www.downtownwinecellars.com 707-473-0337
May 12, 2012
Picada y Vino
We will be in Brooklyn, New York pouring a few of our wines. Come join us. http://www.picadayvino.com/index.html
May 17, 2012
Party in NYC
We are throwing a partying with out friends from Banshee and Ross Cobb at Beer Randolph in NYC. Check out our facebook events page for more details.
May 19 & 20, 2012
The Great GoogaMooga
We will be showing our wares and hanging in Brooklyn's Prospect Park for what should prove to be an awesome event. Check out googamooga.com for more info.
June 15, 2012
Ruby Wine
We will be pouring at Ruby Wine on Potrero Hill in SF. If you haven't been here, it's under the new ownership of Aran Healy and looking really great! http://www.rubywinesf.com/
August 25, 2012
Sonoma Zinfandel: The Chronicle Recommends
The Hobo Zins were listed in the SF Chronicle's Zin picks on 5/6/12. Here is the article.
A New Vintage of Winemakers - January 2012
Check out this article by Christina Waters about young winemakers featuring us and a handful of other great winemakers
http://www.metroactive.com/features/silicon-valley-winemakers/kenny-likitprakong.html
Ghostwriter in the Chronicle's 2011 Top 100
Our first hit on this notable list. Have a look.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/wine/top100-2011/page?id=pinotnoir
The Hobo Wine Co. X Dylan Rieder
Santa Cruz Goodtimes August 30, 2011
Check out this little blurp in the Santa Cruz Goodtimes by Josie Cowden.
http://goodtimessantacruz.com/santa-cruz-wine-reviews/2913-ghostwriter.html
Wine Enthusiast October 2011
2009 Ghostwriter Woodruff Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains - 91
Despite the light color and delicate silky mouthfeel, this mountain Pinot Noir is potent in fruit. It explodes in raspberry and cherry pie, red licorice and beef jerky flavors, enhanced with noticeable oak. But then it retreats into a dry, spicy, minerally finish. Firm in tannins and distinguished, it should develop in the bottle over the next six years. -S.H.
2009 Ghostwriter Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz County - 90
With a pale color, modest alcohol and plenty of acidity, this Pinot Noir is made in a more food-friendly style than some of the richer ones around. It's bone dry and sleek, with a minerality undergirding tart sour cherry candy and spice flavors. A lovely, elegant wine that should hang in there for a good six years. -S.H.
2009 Ghostwriter Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains - 87
It's just two years old, but this Chardonnay already is losing fruit, turning nutty and herbal and dry. There still are traces of oranges and pineapples, but they won't last much longer. Drink up. -S.H.
20 top-notch wine values to seek out
San Francisco Chronicle July 24, 2011
Banyan Monterey County Gewürztraminer
Tastes like: $20
What: A finer, lightertake on Gewurz from a skilled hand
Why: Kenny Likitprakong (Hobo Wine Co.) has for years made this priced-to-go Gewurztraminer; the latest 2010 hails from the Ventana Vineyards site in Arroyo Seco. A lengthy 40-day fermentation releases nuanced aromas -pert and aromatic, this is Gewurz on gossamer, with mandarin orange, ginger, white peach and orange blossoms. Often relegated to lists at ethnic restaurants (Likitprakong is part Thai), Banyan deserves a deeper look.
Wine Enthusiast September 2011
2009 Folk Machine "The Crooner" Pinot Noir, Potter Valley - 88
A very good Pinot Noir out of Potter Valley, one of inland Mendocino's cooler spots, made by Kenny Likitprakong, who also makes the Hobo and Banyan wines. This cinnamon and red cherry-tinged Pinot opens up with aplomb, getting more and more Burgundian in nose as it goes and at 13.5% alcohol, will get you pleasantly through a meal. -V.B.
Wine & Spirits Magazine August 2011
2009 Hobo Zinfandel, Branham Vineyard, Rockpile - 92
Kenny Likitprakong started the Hobo label in 2002 without being tied to any winery or vineyards. He started making wine from the Branham Vineyard in 2004, where the original 1994 planting is head trained and dry farmed at an elevation of 1500 feet (80 percent of this wine comes from that block). This 2009 has an elegance and clarity that set it apart, and openness to the zinny sweetness of fruit that is not at all jammy. The red fruit flavors layer over broad tannins with an herbal, savory edge. A robust, earthy zin to serve with grilled lamb.
2009 Hobo Zinfandel, Treborce Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley - 91
Treborce is a recent 10-acre planting of the Buchignani clone, this wine grown on a southwest-facing hillside block. It's cool and sophisticated rather than jammy, with zinny red fruit flavors of persimmon darkening to pomegranate and anise. The roundness of the texture adds to its charm, as does the lasting complexity. A zesty red for fennel sausages on the grill.
2009 Hobo Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley - 89 BEST BUY
Black cherry flavors brighten this wine's tarry scent of reduction. Firm and juicy in the middle, it ends on warm, drying tannins. Brisket or other hearty fare will bring out the sweetness of the fruit.
2009 Hobo Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley - 88 BEST BUY
This wine's texture and weight give it an elegant feel. The flavors edge toward vegetal scents of green beans, mint and black olive. Decant if for braised duck.
A new geography for Santa Cruz Mountains wine
We were included in this article that the San Francisco Chronicle ran on July 17, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/15/FDOI1KA8UN.DTL&type=wine
San Francisco Chronicle July 17, 2011
2009 Ghostwriter Woodruff Family Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
Kenny Likitprakong (Hobo Wine) returned to his Santa Cruz winemaking roots when he took over farming the Woodruff vineyard near Corralitos, and his own effort from this site is supple, huckleberry-filled and delicate. There's spice from using whole grape clusters, plus subtle aromas of coriander, forest floor and lemon rind.
Wine Enthusiast July 2011
2009 Hobo Zinfandel, Branham Vineyard, Rockpile - 91
A lusty, full-bodied, spicy Zinfandel, showing the variety's briary, brambly character and flavors of wild summer raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, white pepper and sandalwood. Fully dry and vigorous in tannins, it defines classic Zinfandel. - S.H.
2009 Hobo Zinfandel, Treborce Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley - 89
Classic Dry Creek Zin, dry tannic and spicy. Shows ripe, jammy flavors of cherries, raspberries and blackberries that finish a little sweet. Drink now with barbeque, Mexican beef dishes or just a great cheeseburger. -S.H.
2009 Hobo Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley - 86
A good Zinfandel, dry and a little rustic. With edgy tannins, it has berry, cherry, spice, tobacco and sandalwood flavors, with a long, sweet finish. - S.H.
2009 Hobo Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley - 88
A very nice price for a Cabernet this good. It's drily tannic and interesting, with berry, currant and herb flavors that offer a degree of complexity. Good grapes went into the making of this wine, and good winemaking too. Drink now. - S.H.
