Red Wine Groth Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. Founded by Dennis and Judy Groth in 1982, this prime Napa estate has 121 acres right in the heart of the Oakville AVA. The Groth family soon knew they had made the right decision when their 1985 Cabernet became the very first US wine to be awarded 100-points by the legendary wine critic Robert Parker. Their wines became an overnight success and are still highly sought after by wine enthusiasts all over the world. Just like that exceptional 1985 vintage Cab, this classic Cabernet is crafted from top quality estate-grown fruit sourced from vines that are now hitting their prime. Groth’s winemaker Cameron Parry ferments the fruit in stainless steel tanks and presses the grapes before the wine reaches full dryness to help add a distinctive sweet fruit character to the wine. He also adds a small amount of Merlot for a richer, smoother texture and greater intensity of fruit. The final step is to age the young wine in 100% new French oak for 18 months which harmonises the blend and softens the tannins. The result is a plush, opulent style red with ample plum, cassis, and wild berry notes which linger on the tongue along with notes of spice, tobacco leaf, toast and dark chocolate from the oak ageing.
2017
Red Wine Groth Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Red Wine Hahn Merlot 2017. Decant for 30 minutes prior to serving. The Hahn Family Merlot, made with grapes grown primarily in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County, just south of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a soft and flavorful wine. Dark garnet in color, this wine has aromas of black cherry, cassis, and cocoa. A luscious and full mouthfeel has flavors of sweet spice, plum, juicy black cherry, and mocha. The finish is smooth, velvety, and long. Seared duck breast with a black cherry sauce, beef short ribs, or grilled pork chops would be excellent foils to the mouth filling richness that this wine has to offer. The Hahn Family has been growing grapes in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey county since 1980, and were some of the first supporters of the regions ability to grow excellent wine-grapes capable of making world class wine. The Hahn Family Merlot is a blend of 76% Merlot, 14% Petite Syrah, and 10% Malbec, grown on well drained gravelly loam soils that help to give Merlot its characteristic intense red fruit flavor and deep color. Aging in 50% new French oak helps to balance and meld the flavors from the different varietals and vineyards that Hahn sources from.
2017
Red Wine Hahn SLH Pinot Noir 2017. Nicky and Gaby Hahn founded Hahn Family Wines four decades ago after realising the exceptional viticultural potential of the land they had bought in California’s Monterey County. Grapes had been planted here by Spanish missionaries as early as the 1790s to make communion wine, but by the time the Hahn family came along the land had been converted to pasture for sheep and cattle. After much hard work Nicky managed to get the Santa Lucia Highlands recognised as an AVA in 1991 due to their excellent terroir. Over the years the family has built a strong reputation for top quality single varietal wines and today the estate is run by Nicky and Gaby’s son, Philip. Their SLH Pinot Noir is a classic estate wine crafted entirely from Santa Lucia fruit. Hahn’s talented winemakers carefully select ripe and expressive fruit which is fermented in open top vats. The young wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 11 months to add polish and complexity. The result is a refined and elegant wine with alluring dark berry notes seasoned with hints of dried herbs. Perfect to serve with duck dishes or charcuterie and mature hard cheeses.
2017