Hahn Founder's Merlot 2021
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This wine expresses aromas of black cherry, red ripe plum, spice, and hints of vanilla. The palate mimics those fruits with a touch of blackberry, leather and velvety tannins, while a rich and luscious mouthfeel tie the whole package together.
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Full bodied, approachable and absolutely appetizing, Hahn's Merlot, which integrates 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Zinfandel into the mix has rich, mouth-coating tannins well met by the concentrated fruit structure. Find notes of red and black plum, boysenberry, chocolate, vanilla, nutmeg, toasted wood, fennel fronds, cinnamon, star anise and walnut skins. Best Buy
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Hahn Estate wines feature grapes sourced from estate vineyards in the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County. A hidden gem, located below the Santa Lucia Highlands, these vineyards sit on a gravelly alluvial plain with rocky soils fostering excellent drainage. Cool winds channeling South from Monterey Bay through the Salinas Valley ensure gradual ripening, full development of vibrant fruit flavors and bright acidity. Arroyo Seco, one of the smallest AVAs in the state, boasts one of the longest growing seasons. In this region, warm and sunny days are followed by cool afternoons once wind blowing in from the Monterey Bay sweeps through the Salinas Valley. This daily cooling effect allows for longer hang times and creates ripe fruit.
Today the fourth most widely planted red variety in the state, Merlot has much to offer. While it bears similarities to Cabernet Sauvignon (its half-sibling), it tends to be lower in both acidity and tannins, giving Merlot wines a mouthfeel that is often perceived as soft, round and plush. These qualities make it an ideal blending partner for Cabernet, the two complementing each other throughout.
Merlot arrived relatively late to the California wine scene. It wasn’t until the 1970’s when producers like Louis Martini, Sterling and Matanzas Creek—influenced by European Merlot blends—began crafting single varietal versions. These trend-setting bottles opened the eyes of others in the California wine scene and spurred increased plantings. From there, the variety’s lush drinkability led to a surge in popularity, then overplanting (some of it on unsuitable sites) and finally a backlash that was turbo-charged by the infamous 2004 film, Sideways. What most viewers didn't realize was that, as much as Miles derided the variety, the prized wine of his collection—a 1961 Château Cheval Blanc—is made from a blend of Merlot with Cabernet Franc.
Fine examples of California Merlot—either as a single varietal wine or as part of a blend—can be found from Napa Valley, Sonoma County, the Central Coast and most regions around the state. Merlot wines offer a ripe, sensual mouthful of plummy fruit, suggestions of mint, herbs and vanilla, all carried along by an approachable structure and often, a great potential for improving with age.