Hahn Family Vineyards Pinot Noir

Nicky and Gaby Hahn have always been two of my favourite people in the Wine Business. After purchasing the Cabernet Sauvignon acclaimed winery Smith and Hook in the mid 1980's the Hahn's continued to purchase acreage in Monterey. In 1991 the Hahn Family brand was born. Hahn was instrumentel in developing the Santa Lucia Highlands as an AVA (American Viticultural Area) and the reputation of the winery and the region took off. I visited the winery several weeks ago for the first time since 1998 and was struck by the dramatic change. Hahn in the past was known as a Bordeaux varietal producer and the planting mostly followed suit, mainly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and yet the Santa Lucia Highlands is a cool climate region that has become known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Now as I visited the winery out of almost 700 acres of vines almost 500 hundred acres are Pinot Noir! If you have not tasted the Hahn Family Pinot Noir you are missing out! With all of their recent success the current vintage is already 2010 but the wine is truly an attractive example of what California Pinot should be , bright cherry on the palate and floral hints of violets on the nose with delicate soft tannins and great mouthfeel!

And the perfect dish to pair with Hahn Pinot Noir, Chicken Cacciatore of course!