I encouraged our wine class in April to pick any red blend they haven’t tried before from the U.S. – another broad theme, easy to find. Every time I go to Costco, the Smith & Hook Proprietary Red beckons me. It gets favorable ratings year over year in the 90-92 point range. I wondered if it could be any good, really, for a mass-produced, $16 wine. This is another Hahn wine!
About Smith & Hook from wine.com: “The Smith Ranch was a horse ranch for generations, while to the south, the Hooks raised cattle. We discovered these ranches in a search for the ideal place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. The climate along the western slopes of the Santa Lucias was perfect, and the ranch had a beautiful view of the Salinas Valley. So in 1974, we purchased the two ranches and established the Smith & Hook Winery on the old Smith Ranch. We made our first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1979 and quickly developed a reputation for excellence. Hahn Estates represents a continuation of the Smith & Hook tradition of excellence in winemaking. The Hahns own over 1,400 acres of vineyards in Monterey County. Grapes from the different vineyards vary in character and style. With such versatility, we can create supple, accessible wines. In German, “Hahn” means “rooster,” and for this reason, a rooster embellishes the Hahn Estates label.”
2017 Smith & Hook Proprietary Red, Central Coast AVA, 14.8% ABV, $16 (#324*) 48% Merlot, 37% Petit Syrah, 9% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, <2% Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel
From Hahn Wines: Aromas of ripe blackberry and black cherry, balanced with notes of cocoa bean, vanilla and nuanced toasted oak. The refined yet plush palate with flavors of bramble berries, dark fruit, and dried cherry with silky layers of tannins and a hint of slate on the finish.
Wine Enthusiast Review – 91 points: “This blend of Merlot, Petite Sirah, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon is a satisfying sipper for a fair price. Aromas of black cherry, dark cocoa, leather and charred beef lead into a creamy palate of espresso and roasted meat, bolstered by a cranberry sauce flavor and chalky tannins. Editors’ Choice.” Matt Kettmann, 3/2021
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Dark cherry and mint on the nose. Black fruit overlayed with some red berry tartness on the palate. Black cherry, cocoa and a hint of clove on the finish. This was a tasty wine which disappeared quickly. I’d buy this again – quite a bargain! April 2021
*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.
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