Winemaker Notes
Aromas of candied cherry, ripe strawberry with hints of mushroom, white pepper and toasty oak. An explosion of red fruit including strawberry, cherry and raspberry welcome the palate, finishing with a touch of earthy notes, refined tannins and a soft mouthfeel.
Pair with holiday green bean casserole.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Tart and candied berry aromas meet with tangy pomegranate and hibiscus on the nose. The palate combines more cranberry and pomegranate flavors with dried herbs, all framed by energetic acidity and firm tannins. Editors' Choice.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 Hahn SLH Pinot Noir is one of the Central Coast top value red wines. TASTING NOTES: This shows a pleasing richness and an excellent balance. Pair its aromas and flavors of candied, red fruit and dried earth with lightly-charred short ribs. (Tasted: October 30, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
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.