August 24, 2010
Romancing the Dijon Clones Buena Vista: My House Red and White Lenné Estate: 2008s are Best Ever Domaine Drouhin Oregon: Burgundy’s First Footprint in Oregon Spätburgunder Robert Sinskey Vineyards Raiding the Library of the Pinot Carzina: Lane Tanner Pinot Noir, 1988-2007 LIOCO Winery: A Different Path Sta. Rita Hills: California’s Best AVA for Chardonnay? Sips of Pinot Noir Pinot Briefs Doctoring Wine for Optimum Drinking
|
|
Hahn Estates
| Owner(s) | Nicolaus Hahn |
| Web site | www.hahnestates.com |
| Link to this site |
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. Hahn Family Wines now makes wines under Hahn Estate, Smith & Hook, Huntington Wine Cellars and Cycles Gladiator (HRM Rex Goliath was sold to Constellation Brands in 2005) labels.
In 2009, new labels were introduced including Hahn SLH wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation, Lucienne (a high-end Pinot Noir) and Bin 36 (includes Pinot Noir among several varieties).
The winery has about 650 acres of vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands as well as additional vineyard acreage in Arroyo Seco and Paso Robles bringing the total to 1,200 acres. The winery did not have a single Pinot Noir vine in 2000, but is now a leading producer of Pinot Noir and supplier of Pinot Noir to many other wineries. Nicky Hahn basically helped create the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation.
The current winemaker is Paul Clifton. Clifton learned winemaking under veteran Don Blackburn at both Bernardus Winery and Byington Winery. He started at Hahn Estates in 2003 and worked himself up to head winemaker. Winemaking is traditional and aging is carried out in new and neutral French oak for 10 months.
The wines are sold on the website in addition to retail distribution. The tasting room at the winery is open daily (11:00 - 4:00 Monday-Friday and 11:00-5:00 on weekends). Hahn Estates is an excellent value-play Pinot Noir to buy by case. The higher-end line of Pinot Noirs, Lucienne, are outstanding.
Articles About Hahn Estates
Reviewed Wines
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 »
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 »
TRAVEL ALONG THE PINOT TRAIL | PINOT FESTIVALS | PODCASTS AND VIDEO | TESTIMONIALS | GRAPE RADIO | LINKS
© 2003-2009 William Gaffney MD | Contact the Prince: Prince@PrinceOfPinot.com