Hahn Family Wines

Articles About Hahn Family Wines

Reviewed Wines

2010 Hahn Winery Monterey Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.71, TA 0.58, $7.99 (full retail is $12). · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Very enticing aromas of crushed black raspberries, black cherries, cardamom and Asian 5-spice, smoky oak, and a floral riff. Delicious sweet black cherry flavor with a hint of oak-derived flavors of vanilla and smoke in the background. Light in weight showing good finesse and a striking cherry-soaked finish. My wife is a cherry freak and loved this wine. The wine was still solid the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Amazing wine for this price. Imagine, a case for less than a C-note. Very good. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »

2010 Hahn Winery SLH Chardonnay

14.0% alc., pH 3.43, TA 0.76, $12. Aged in 18% new French oak. · Light straw color in the glass. Delicate but pleasing aromas of pears, white peaches, cream soda, honey, caramel and pineapple. Very lightly weighted but tasty, with clean and bright baked pear, fig and banana flavors leaving behind an impression of lemon meringue. You won’t find a better Chardonnay at this price in the marketplace. Good. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2010 Hahn Estate SLH Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

14.5% alc., pH 3.47, TA 0.60, $25. 65% Lone Oak Vineyard and 35% Hook Ranch Vineyard. A blend of clones 76 and 96. 100% barrel fermented. Aged in 33% new French oak. · Light straw color and clear in the glass. Aromas of melon, lemon curd, honey and petrichor fading a bit over time in the glass. Reserved, medium-bodied and a bit thin in the middle, but offering tasty baked pear and white peach flavors with a hint of baking spice that linger awhile on the finish. Seamless and easy to drink. Good (+). Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2010 Hahn Estate SLH Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.81, TA 0.62, $35. 65% Doctor’s Vineyard, 22% Smith Vineyard and 13% Lone Oak Vineyard. Clones are Pommard 5, 667, 777, 115 and 2A. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Very enticing nose offering bright aromas of black cherry liquor, sassafras, toasted brioche and oak spice. Delicious essence of fresh black cherries with impressive mid palate presence. Relatively full-bodied with mild dusty tannins. Accents of red velvet cake and cola add interest. Drinking nicely now. Very good. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Hahn Estate SLH Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

14.5% alc., pH 3.53, TA 0.59, $25. Aged in 42% new French oak barrels. · Light straw color and clear in the glass. Fragrant with aromas of golden apples, apple crisp, pears and butter with a heavy nod to oak over time in the glass. Tasty array of flavors including baked apples, pastry cream, toffee and vanilla. A solid drinker. Good. Reviewed May 15, 2011 ARTICLE »

2009 Hahn SLH Estate Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.59, TA 0.62, $35. Aged in 35% new French oak barrels. · Moderately dark purple-red color in the glass. Aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, kirsch, toasted bread and oak char. Moderately rich core of juicy dark red fruits with thick oak flavors. Decent. Reviewed May 15, 2011 ARTICLE »

2006 Hahn Estates Monterey Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $15 ($23 at winery). Sourced from estate vineyards MontereyCounty. The label sports a rooster (“hahn” in German). Aged 10 months in 65% new French oak. · Initially there is a lovely cherry scented nose with accents of earth, clove and smoke. With time in the glass, smoky oak dominates the fruit. Medium-weighted sweet black cherry fruit is accented with raspberry, raisin and even pear. Silky textured and nicely balanced with moderate length to the appealing finish. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »

2006 Hahn SLH Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $25. A mid-tier release aged in 50% new French oak. · On the nose, the toasty oak dominates the fruit and becomes even more oaky with time in the glass. On the palate, the attack features oak-toned cherry and berry fruit of medium weight. The tar and charcoal secondary flavors derived from oak detract from the pretty fruit core. Not anything like I remember when tasted at the 2009 World of Pinot Noir. Decent (-). Reviewed February 15, 2010 ARTICLE »

2005 Hahn Estates Monterey Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 22,000 cases, $23. The Hahn Estates is located on the Monterey Coast in the Santa Lucia Highlands and sources grapes from estate owned vineyards and non-winery owned vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco appellations of Monterey County. Nicolaus Hahn is a Swiss businessman who became enamored with California wine and purchased the Smith & Hook Winery in 1980. In 1991 he created the Hahn Estate brand. In German, Hahn means “rooster,” and the rooster is prominently displayed on the Hahn Estate label. In 2000, the winery and vineyards underwent a large-scale renovation under the direction of president Bill Leigon. The winery’s labels now include Hahn Estate, Smith & Hook, Red Flyer and Cycles Gladiator (HRM Rex Goliath was sold to Constellation Brands in 2005). The current winemaker is Adam LaZarre and consulting enologist is Barry Gnekow. This wine won Best of Class at the California State Fair. Winemaking is traditional and aging is carried out in new and neutral French oak for 10 months. The fruit for this wine came from the Santa Lucia Highlands. · Lovely, clean aromatics of fresh cherries and strawberries. Red fruit driven with deft use of oak, a pillowy texture, and perfect balance. I plan to make this my house Pinot. Astonishing quality at this production level and price point. The 2006 vintage was tasted by another panel and equally well-received. Reviewed December 16, 2007 ARTICLE »