Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
There's an exciting array of aromas on the nose of this wine, with honeydew melon, citrus candy and barely ripe cantaloupe gaining complexity thanks to fresh scents of chive, oregano and thyme. It's light and easy on the palate, with lots of yellow grapefruit freshness, a pithy edge and a singing acidity on the finish.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
The last several vintages of Hahn’s “SLH” Chardonnay have been disappointing given the success of the label some years back, but there is nothing at all disheartening here, and this wine hits the marks smartly for structure, substance and very deep fruit. It is fairly mouthfilling stuff with ripe apples and sweet oak to spare, and, while it is sure to be accused as being hopelessly over the top as the fashion of the day demands, we would vehemently argue with those who see damnable excess. Racy and pert, it is not, but neither is it heavy or unbalanced, and it shows the kind of richness rarely seen in Chardonnays of its price.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.