Hobo Wine Co. - Folk Machine??

WINE TALK
1

I have to thank my local enabler and pal, Matthew Brown, for recommending the 2012 A Simple Machine, Mendocino County (60% Carignane, 24% Grenache, 15% Syrah). It looks and smells mostly like a southern Rhone, but tastes like a southern rhone and beaujolais hybrid. Hey, it ain’t fruit shy, but it has the acidity to make it lip-smacking.

So, can anyone tell me anything the winemaking team behind this wine?

Cheers,
Chris

2

It’s made by Kenny Likitprakong. If you don’t know about him, you should. He makes some very good wines.

3

+1

4

Kenny is one of the young, humble, smart, dedicated talented winemakers.

5

He makes some very good wines

And beer, too, from what I hear.

6

Thanks all. I’ll see what other wines’ of Kenny’s I can find here.

7

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve followed Kenny since his days at Moshin Vyds and have been a fan ever since then.

8

He has several different labels and all are worth seeking out. His Ghost Writer pinots from the Santa Cruz mountains are atypical for CA but capture that terroir quite well. And his skin fermented Chenins under the Jean d’Arc label are very accomplished.
He’s not well known yet but he will be and his total production is climbing fast so the wines will become more available in the future.
Best, Jim

9

I’m as excited about Kenny’s wines as anything coming out of CA.

Under the Hobo label he makes a zin from the Branham vineyard from the Rockpile AVA that is fantastic. Just 13.2% alcohol, complex and savory. Haven’t had a zinfandel like this in years. There is also a grenache from the Sceales vineyard that is (dare I say it) Rayas-like. It’s not Rayas, but the aromatics and balance are like that rather than a powerful version of the grape.

As Jim said, the Ghostwriter wines are his wines from Santa Cruz where he also works the vines. With work colleagues I had a 2011 pinot noir which was fantastic and charmed the table. Just 12.6% alcohol, aromatically complex and finely balanced.

The Folk Machine wines are a wide mix of sources, and the one you mention is a delicious CDR like wine, but with Kenny’s sensibilities.

I can’t recommend his wines highly enough.

Full disclosure: I am part owner of a wine shop that carries Kenny’s wines because I think they are dope.

10

I first learned of Kenny from the movie From Ground to Glass http://www.fromgroundtoglass.com/. Not sure how to put this in words that convey it properly but from the small bits of Kenny in this film I got a sense of where he wants to go with wine more than with any of the other winemakers in the movie. Really expect that some day we will be asking how he stayed under the radar for so long.

11

Wow, a recommendation was post-worthy. Score one for the Kid… [dance2.gif] [dance.gif]

The wholesaler in VA has only been working with Hobo/Folk for about a year, so not sure how far into their book they can get, but we’ve carried their Pinot and Ghostwriter Chard. This Simple Machine Red is the first wine I’ve had in this minimalist/artisan genre from California that truly over-delivers for a very reasonable price. Very exciting stuff.

12

I just got a chance to pick up several of Kenny Likitprakong’s wines: 2011 Hobo Rockpile Branham Vineyard Sonoma County Zinfandel, 2011 Ghostwriter Santa Cruz County Pinot Noir, 2012 Folk Machine Santa Lucia Highlands Riesling, 2011 Folk Machine Mendocino County Chenin Blanc, and 2012 Folk Machine Central Coast Pinot Noir. I’m really looking forward to trying them.

13

Haven’t found any of his wines in Colorado, but will keep looking.

14

I’m a fan of Hobo.

15

I must agree with all those above. Love the Hobo and Folk machine lineup. Also the Ghostwriter -both pinot and chard. Really stunning and unusual. Low alcohol, balanced acidity but no shortage of fruit. Recently had the Amaya Ridge and was very impressed. Went back for more!

16

I can’t believe Kenny isn’t more well known around here and out the wine world. Everything i have had from his cellar has been great. He has a great range of styles and varietals, and they all deliver.

Good dude. Fellow skateboarder.

17

They make a nice Chenin Blanc too

18

Welcome to the neighborhood Jake!

19

Thanks Casey, need to show you what we’re doing up north sometime.