Now that in-person venues are reopening more fully, wine class is back! I’ve signed up to present Monterey wines to 2 different organizations in June back in DC and Northern Virginia. I like to represent as many of our sub-AVAs as I can – and definitely want the Santa Lucia Highlands in the mix. I used a Hahn Pinot Noir in my 2019 class and felt it was about time I went back to do a full tasting. Doggy Grooming Day provided the perfect opportunity. As always, feel free to comment or “like” this post – engagement is welcomed!
We were warmly greeted by Coby Shammas and Bill Anderson in their Carmel Plaza tasting room. Coby worked with me for my 2019 Northern Virginia American Wine Society class and Bill gave us a thorough tutorial on the winery, its vineyards, and the wines. We felt very special!
I am presenting 7 Hahn wines today. Winery vintage and tasting notes come from their website. I encourage you to read more about Hahn here: https://decantingmonterey.com/hahn-inspired-by-the-rhone-blends-of-southern-france/ and on their website.
2020 Hahn Rose, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.2% ABV, $24 (#624)
Vintage Notes: “Vineyards planted in the Santa Lucia Highlands experience a long and dry growing season that results in wines with remarkable depth, complexity and ripe fruit flavors. Hahn’s SLH vineyards – Lone Oak, Doctor’s, Smith and Hook – are planted on a narrow bench at elevations ranging from 200 to 1,200 feet above sea level. Here, plentiful sun and well-drained soils aid concentration and flavor development.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Beautiful bright salmon in color, this Rosé opens with aromas of fresh raspberry, strawberry, citrus blossom, guava and hints of rose petal. Bright acidity highlights flavors of juicy strawberry and Bing cherry, which are complemented with clean mineral notes on a lingering finish.”
My Review: Pink, almost orange in the glass. Sweet citrus blossoms with a hint of tangerine on the nose. Balanced with good Pinot Noir flavors and minerality shining on the back end. Very smooth. I was planning on using this wine in one of my wine classes, but it sold out before I could seal the deal. Now I am looking forward to the 2021 release! February 2022
2019 Hahn Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $25 (#625)
Vintage Notes: “About average winter rainfall provided good soil moisture profile for the start of the growing season. Budbreak started the last week of February, mostly in younger blocks, with the rest popping out mid-March. Canopies were at arm’s length by the end of April with no signs of cap fall until the middle of May. Veraison started slightly later than normally, towards the end of July, which led to a later start of harvest. The weekend of 9/14, we had a heat spike, but after three days the weather returned to normal. The harvest started fast, but overall had a beautiful even pace with cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures throughout the end of season. The quality of the fruit was outstanding, resulting in wine with beautiful color, concentrated flavors, balanced tannins, round mouthfeel and soft acidity.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Lively aromas of citrus, orange blossom with hints of tropical fruit and butterscotch. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied with a silky, smooth mouthfeel and balanced acidity. Flavors of lemon, pineapple and pear, combined with delicate butter notes and creamy minerality, lead to an elegant long finish.”
My Review: Light golden in the glass. Butter, a hint of caramel and grilled pineapple on the nose. Very balanced and not overdone – the toast on the barrels is just right. Minerality on the finish. This would also be a great example of a representative SLH Chardonnay for one of my classes. February 2022
2019 Hahn Winery Selection Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco, 14.5% ABV, $30 (#626)
Vintage Notes: “The fruit for this wine was sourced from our estate Ste. Philippe vineyard in the Arroyo Seco appellation. Located south of the Santa Lucia Highlands, this vineyard lies in a dry riverbed with sandy-loam soils affording excellent drainage. Arroyo Seco river stones, or “Greenfield Potatoes,” named for the adjacent town of Greenfield, CA, are unique to this region and integral to the soil as they store and release heat. Cool winds channeling South from Monterey Bay through the Salinas Valley contribute to an extended growing season, ensuring complexity and intensity of the fruit.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Aromas of red and black cherries, red currant, and strawberry with notes of violet and rose petals. On the palate, layers of red fruit and fresh berries, rhubarb pie with a touch of warm spices complemented by vanilla notes and integrated oak on a long delicate finish.”
My Review: Garnet in the glass. A sweetness on the nose with red raspberries and chocolate. Some good fruit on the palate, with a traditional Pinot Noir finish. We heard this is called “the yummy Pinot.” February 2022
2018 Hahn Winery Selection Grenache, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $35 (#627)
Vintage Notes: “The year started with about a half of the average rainfall amount and most of the pruning was finished by the end of January. March storms brought some more rain and all blocks had some sign of budbreak by the end of the month. Blooming season was longer than average due to cooler weather and heavy marine layer influence. Consistent and mellow summer temperatures ensured slower fruit maturation and provided more time for development of flavors, color and depth, which led to another outstanding vintage in the Santa Lucia Highlands.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “This medium-bodied red is dark ruby in color with aromas of black cherry, strawberry and notes of vanilla and spice. A delicate mouthfeel features further flavors of dark fruits, black currant and strawberry with hints of spice and toasted oak accompanied by silky tannins and a persistent, lengthy finish.”
My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Hint of cranberry and red berry on the nose. Cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry with a tang on the finish – not cloying. February 2022
2018 Hahn Winery Selection Highlands Cuvée Red, Central Coast, 14.5% ABV, $35 (#628)
Vintage Notes: “Varying microclimates and soils throughout the Santa Lucia Highlands naturally make different varietals excel in this remarkable appellation. With this understanding, we set out to craft a true Santa Lucia Highlands blend, featuring superlative varietals within this AVA. This blend of Grenache (72%), Petite Sirah (14%) and Syrah (14%) makes for a full-bodied, perfectly balanced wine.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Enticing aromas of black cherry, strawberry mousse, white pepper and hints of vanilla. A delicate mouthfeel features further flavors of red berries, black cherry and strawberry with a touch of violets and spice on an elegant medium finish.”
My Review: Rich ruby in the glass. Touch of sweet, smoke and spice on the nose, like a BBQ. Rich red and black berries on the palate. We liked this wine and took some home. February 2022
2018 Hahn Malbec, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $30 (#629)
Winery Notes (from our tasting): 100% Malbec grown at 1200 feet in the Sant Lucia Highlands in that sweet spot of the Hook Vineyard, where these other big reds come from. A somewhat surprising spot in the otherwise cooler, shadier Santa Lucia Highlands! 16 months in the barrel, 60% new oak.
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. A subdued nose and super dry on the finish. Smooth and mild. I would have preferred to taste this before the cuvee! February 2022
2018 Hahn Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#630)
Vintage Notes: (See Grenache notes above)
Winery Tasting Notes: “Our 2018 Syrah displays rich and expressive aromatics of dark fruits, blackberries, blueberries, white pepper and violets. The palate mimics the aromas adding rich texture and intrigue with silky tannins and a gentle toasty finish. Rich and luscious, it rounds out with chewy, thick tannins and a long finish.”
My Review: Jammy, plum and yum! We tasted this wine at home. This is a surprisingly good Syrah from a rare, warm, high altitude vineyard in SLH. I would like to get more of this! Our Decanting Monterey wine pod partners also enjoyed this wine. My husband stood alone. February 2022
Hahn Tasting Rooms are located a their estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands, as well as in Carmel Plaza. You can find more information and make a reservation here.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
© Decanting Monterey 2023
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