The Santa Lucia Highlands can create some interesting wines — from almost meaty Pinot Noir, to downright angry Syrah. The Hahn SLH Chardonnay hails from higher elevation vineyards that reach, at top level, 1,200 feet and are planted atop sandy loam soils. Sitting neatly above the fog line and amongst the well-draining soil, the Chardonnay receives ample amount of sunlight and receive just enough water to force the vines to work. The result is good, fully ripened fruit bursting at the seams to become wine. But the expression in that wine, well, that depends on the winemaker…
Month: October 2017
Winery Review: Hahn Family Wines
categories: Booze, Winery Reviews
Known for their cool-climate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays harvested predominantly from Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Hahn Family Wines is probably most commonly associated with their casual, supermarket-find wines — the ‘SLH’ and eponymous ‘Hahn’ labeled wines. But what many don’t know is that the still family-owned vineyard and winery takes great care to sustainably manage their four SLH estate vineyards — and with Paul Clifton at the winemaking helm, also produce limited releases of beautifully refined single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.
I recently had the pleasure of spending a few days in Monterey County, diving deep into the unique terroir of the Santa Lucia Highlands, and getting to know more about the Hahn family legacy and — of course — their wines.
Wine & Spirits Magazine 2017 Top 100
It was with somber and heavy hearts that many of the wine industry gathered last Tuesday, October 10th, at the top of San Francisco’s Metreon. There to celebrate the achievement of winemakers around the world who secured a prestigious position on Wine & Spirits Magazine Top 100 Wineries of 2017, many’s minds couldn’t help but turn to those vineyards, wineries, and residents who’ve been impacted by the several fires that continue to devastate California’s beloved North Bay wine regions.
And yet, there was a consistent air of positivity that seemed to permeate the entirety of the evening. Tara Q. Thomas, Executive Editor of Wine & Spirits Magazine, expressed her deepest gratitude and appreciation to the number of caterers, sommeliers, and PR agencies who all offered to lend extra time and assistance to ensure the event went on. Indeed, the majority of Napa and Sonoma wineries scheduled to attend were able to pour and represent their hard work and beautiful wines.
It’s amazing how wine, a world-wide industry, is actually quite a tight-knit community — one that cares deeply for its members. It’s an industry I’m proud to be a part of and represent through my writing.
Corner 103 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Corner 103 owner and founder Lloyd Davis has been in the wine industry for a number of years. As the former head winemaker for Viansa winery, he won over 400 wine competitions — many for “best in class.” Now, as the proprietor of his own establishment, Lloyd seeks to share his years of experience in his casual corner tasting room; to “create an educational environment where his guest’s would feel comfortable learning all aspects of his wines in a friendly, non-intimidating way.” One of the best ways to do that is to craft “un-intimidating” wines. And when it comes to the bold California Cabernet grape, “intimidating” is just what a lot of folks think. But sourcing from the proper location and knowing how to work with the fruit, Lloyd and the Corner 103 winemaking team have done just that…
Corner 103 2014 Chardonnay
You know when you’re in that head space — the one that makes you feel like you just want to be alone, listening to music, doing your own thing? It’s that solitary seclusion from the rest of the world that somehow makes you feel more connected to it. I’ve got a wine pairing for that…
