Discovering Hahn Family Wines

One of the things I love about wine is you can make it as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Sometimes, the best things come wrapped in a package of simplicity. Effortless and easy. A no-brainer. Back in April, I attended a wine-related charity event called Vin Nebraska. During the "Grand Tasting" portion of the event, I met a rep from Hahn Family Wines. Her table was full of goodies and as I stood there sampling each one, a light bulb would go off in my head. "What a nice wine!" I kept thinking over and over again. And---much to my surprise? The price points. Most of them were $15 or less. Wow! It threw me for a loop! Later in the year, when the annual #CabernetDay Twitter event was announced, I was approached by a rep for the winery. Would I like to tweet about some different Hahn Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignons for the event! Of course, I would! Because I knew that if I did this, I would be introducing my public to some absolutely awesome values! I said, "Yes!"

Hahn Winery was founded over thirty years ago by Nicolaus "Nicky" Hahn and his wife Gaby. They purchased vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County. Nowadays, as Hahn Family Wines, they produce many labels and are setting a great example for California wine by producing wines from many appellations not just their own. The rep sent me three such wines to tweet about for the event and each one had its own unique character and was very representative of the area it came from.


The first of these was the 2010 Cycles Gladiator Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon. I wasn't sure what to expect and it was a powerhouse! Big fruit, huge punch on the front, smooth finish! Way too easy to enjoy! It commanded a big meal! Just released in August. Believe me, if you blind tasted this, the perceived value would be much much higher. And for $12 (seriously???) a bottle, everyone should keep this wine in their wine rack. Look for it in markets nationwide.

Next was the 2009 Cycles Gladiator California Cabernet Sauvignon. For those of you who like smooth flavors and an even easier drinking-style, this Cabernet is for you. Balanced all the way through, it's cherry and mocha flavors tease you and make you want more! And yes, it won't break your pocketbook. $12 (What????) I know, it's crazy but grab as much as you can!!!

The third Cabernet I sampled was the 2009 Hahn Winery Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon. This one was a little more complex, with dark fruit, a hefty mid-palate and smooth, spicy finish. I seriously fell in love with it. The nose on this one was amazing. I wanted to just sit there and enjoy the aroma. And once again, talk about craziness--the price point on this beautiful wine is $15!! Wow! That's all I can say.

So there you have it...Wonderful wines at a wonderful price. From the gorgeous labels to the quality of these wines, you have to hand it to them. They know what they're doing and they're doing it very well. I highly recommend you seek these beauties out and try them for yourselves. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Maybe soon, Hahn Family Wines, won't be a best kept secret anymore!!

For more information on Hahn Family Wines and their wine portfolio, please visit their website: www.hahnfamilywines.com. I'd like to thank them for sharing these great wines with me and I will continue to sing their praises wherever I go. These guys are definitely a rarity in the industry!!

"You Saw It Here First"...This post was created solely for "Cellarmistress' Cellar Talk" by Grace Hoffman. Grace is an Italian-born, American-bred wine blogger/educator with an all-consuming passion for wine and all it encompasses.