Hahn is back!

Today’s special wine is the juicy, balanced, delicious 2014 “Lucienne” Smith Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. This wine is soft and silky on entry, delivering fine fruit, earth and spice to the far reaches of your soul (and your palate).

The Smith Vineyard is home to some exotic clones, which have found their way into this special wine. We’re absolutely bonkers over it and we’re thrilled to be able to bring it to you.

On the nose, this wine is super aromatic, with aromas of Bing cherry juice, red currant, spiced cherry candy, wild mushroom, raspberry, dry forest floor, sweet spice and a subtle, pleasing hint of pine tar.

Bold flavors cascade onto palate, with black cherry, raspberry, blackberry juice, spice, dried mushroom, and hints of baker’s chocolate, savory herb, forest floor and cocoa powder.

The Smith vineyard is at the elevation of all of Hahn’s vineyards. Vine rows are planted along the contour of the hillside ridges and valley, giving the vineyard a decidedly European look. The vines, which are bathed in sunlight, are cooled by evening breezes. The nutrient-rich alluvial soils make a happy home for the exotic Pinot Noir clones (Jardini, Calera and Mt. Eden) that are a part of today’s beautiful Pinot Noir.

This wine is very highly recommended. Enjoy!

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90 points - Jeb Dunnuck, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - “…the 1,200-case 2014 Lucienne Pinot Noir Smith Vineyard comes from a site located around the winery and is the highest elevation and most exposed vineyard they own. It also sees the least amount of fog cover due to its elevation. Offering a medium-bodied, charming, even sexy style, with perfumed notes of candied cherries, cola, dried herbs and assorted backing spices, it has a forward, approachable style, yet I suspect it will evolve nicely on its balance. Drink this outstanding Pinot Noir over the coming 5-6 years.

An estate that has hit another level of quality over the past few vintages, Hahn Family Wines focuses on estate vineyards in both the Santa Lucia Highlands and the Arroyo Seco Valley. The wines are made by Paul Clifton, everything is destemmed and aging occurs all in French oak.

The big change recently is the moving of their limited-production, single vineyard releases to their Lucienne label. These are all made in tiny, 80- to 600-case quantities and are beautiful wines. In addition, their entry level wines and the new SLH releases (which are a blend of the single vineyards) are absolutely worth checking out.