Wine of the Week: 2006 Hahn Estates Meritage Red Wine

The wine of the week goes to the 2006 Hahn Estates 2006 Meritage. In the year prior, Hahn Estates produced the multi-award winning 2005 Meritage, but unfortunately this exquisite wine is now out of circulation. If you can find a bottle of the 2005 Meritage, cherish it and hold on to it for a special occasion.

The next best thing is the 2006 Meritage. While during unpredictable weather with an unusually cold climate and wet weather during the first quarter, it forced growers to start a month behind. Towards the end of 2006, temperatures were more favorable, yet crops yielded fewer grapes than in previous years. What was produced, the grapes were healthy, but wines became more acidic as a result for many winemakers across the regions of Monterey and Paso Robles.

One of the highlights for 2006 is the Hahn Estate 2006 Meritage, because its flavor seems unaffected by unpredictable weather. This Meritage comprises of 33% merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the remaining mixture of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec all contribute to make this a memorable wine. This bold but soft tannin wine produces a satisfying taste that isn’t abrasive or over powering nor does it have weak attributes. It’s perfectly balanced.

On the nose, a light aroma of asparagus and dark chocolate truffle is evident followed by black cherry and raspberry, while on the palate gives a big taste of rip cherry produces a grip of flavor that lingers long after you swallow. That lingering flavor makes you crave more of that big bold Bordeaux like flavor.

My Food pairing suggestions
While traditionally, this type of wine would go good with red meat, it isn’t a spicy wine, so go light on the peppery meats. I recommend lamb chops, veal, filet mignon, or a lightly seasoned steak. The Meritage also goes well with a variety of Italian dishes. Surprisingly, this wine went well with halibut, but other wine connoisseurs might strongly disagree pairing any red wines with any type of seafood.

The pricing for this wine is between $13 to $20 per bottle. It may seem pricey, but for the quality, it really isn’t. For more information on Hahn Estate wines, click Hahn Estates Winrey