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What We Say 2007 Pinot Noir
WORLD EXCLUSIVE ALERT:
Today’s selection is a World Exclusive Release, get your hands on this fantastic wine before it is released to the general public.
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Mission Codename: A Delicious Story
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Revisit our friends at Hans Fahden and acquire the World Exclusive Release of thier 2007 Narrative Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Hans Fahden
Wine Subject: 2007 Narrative Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Israel Montanez
Backgrounder: Hans Fahden wines continue to be among the most popular with our Operatives. Today we are pleased to bring you Hans Fahden’s newest Cabernet Sauvignon, their exceptional 2007 Narrative, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot from the winery’s finest vineyard Sonoma County sources.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – A beautiful dark purple with garnet streaks and edges and a dense but clear core. When swirled, randomly spaced medium-thick and color-stained legs ring the glass.
Smell – Classic Cabernet aromas of ripe and rich dark and black fruit including black raspberry, blackberry, black cherry and dark plum. Invitingly complex with notes of toasted vanilla scented oak, cocoa, subtle earthy undergrowth and sweet and hot spice.
Feel – Plush, expansive and supple but not without structure. The finely grained tannins are very well developed for this relatively young wine and are complimented by vibrant acidity and a touch of textured minerality.
Taste – Deliciously rich, generous and smooth with great dark fruit that is framed by toasted oak, hints of vanilla and cocoa, a blend of hot and sweet spices, soft earthy flavors and a touch of dark minerals.
Finish – Medium long with the dark fruit fading away leaving spice and its other complex flavors next and finally leaving its mouth-drying tannins that make the mouth water for another sip.
Conclusion – The 2007 Hans Fahden Narrative Cabernet Sauvignon, from one of the best vintages in recent years, is quite simply one of the the best wines we’ve tried from our friends at Hans Fahden, and we have loved all of the wines we’ve featured. A classic and despite its youth, polished Cab with a great nose and mouthwatering flavors and a structure that is firm but doesn’t overpower. Enjoy this wine right now or for the next seven to ten years. You can’t go wrong pairing this wine with grilled rib-eye steaks.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Israel Montañez
WINE EDUCATION: Napa Valley Junior College – Enology/Winemaking Program
U.C. Davis Extension Courses; Many Wine and Viticulture Seminars; 20 years of hands on experience
CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: 20 years in the industry. Far Niente, William Hill, Franciscan, and now 5 years at Hans Fahden.
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Quality wine is made in the vineyard. I like to pick by taste and need to have ripe flavors. I don’t like to handle wines more than needed. Tannin management starts early. It’s important to work with tannins early so they have time to evolve.
I am all about making rich, well-balanced wines. Ripe fruit is a must. I work hard to extract as much flavor and color without overdoing it.
WINEMAKER QUOTE: “Let the fruit hang!”
FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: The Hans Fahden 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon “Mountain Cuvee”.
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
ISRAEL: This is the release of our 2007 Narrative Cab. This is a more refined, sophisticated wine than some of our others. I always hold back the best barrels to put into this blend.
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
ISRAEL: This is a repeat but I always love our wines with grilled beef or lamb. They were made for one another.
RED: In your opinion, what makes the Sonoma County AVA so special?
ISRAEL: Our Sonoma County AVA is a “catch all” AVA for many wines. Our location in this isolated section of eastern Sonoma county really deserves its own designation. The altitude, climate, and volcanic soils are unique to this area and present some interesting challenges with respect to grape growing. We are looking into an AVA. We would like to have a historical reference to the Petrified Forest as well as the growing conditions.
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
ISRAEL: I am working on some table wine blends for a new label we have started called Nino’s Red. It’s a great, easy to drink, everyday wine. The label communicates some Fahden family history as well as a connection to the Carquinez Straits and Martinez, California..
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The approximate location of the Hans Fahden Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
De Angelis Wines
This Pinot Noir was released in July of 2011. The fruit for this wine was sourced from both warm and cool weather vineyards, and the resultant wine is a 14.1% classic Pinot Noir, that exhibits a terrific mouthfeel, a long finish, and fruit both on the nose, and in the mouth. This wine was aged in both Hungarian and French oak barrels for 14 months, was allowed to develop slowly, and was bottled in mid-February, 2011. From the time this wine was in barrel, it was clear that this wine would be a great De Angelis Wines Pinot Noir as barrel tasting throughout aging was very successful. While young by our standards, this Pinot Noir is as good as a Pinot Noir should be now!
