I am no expert on wine. I just enjoy it. Unlike most things in my life, I have never tried to learn about wine and what makes it good. But I’ve drunk enough of the stuff to form some opinions. And my newest opinion is that Hahn Winery‘s 2011 Pinot Noir is a really good wine and a great price.
What I know about wine is that there are a lot of different flavors in it—in a good one anyway. Often times (and this seems to be the case with wines that are supposed to be rather good), these tastes are very distinct. In my introverted, not all that in touch with my body way, I think of the flavors as occurring in different parts of my head. I don’t really like this. I find it upsetting.
A wine can also have all of those flavors mix together. This doesn’t mean that they make a kind of mush—like a bunch of colors mixed together to make brown. The flavors are instead linked together: they overlap like tropical fish in a small tank. This is find exhilarating. And this describes the Hahn 2011 Pinot Noir.
I wish I could tell you that it has a hint of this and an underlying that. But I can’t. When I cook, I often have to smell each of the spices before I can figure out what I need. It is “fruity” but then that’s kind of what defines a pinto noir, and is the main reason I like the grape. But there are at least 5 other distinct flavors—all linked together, swimming around in my head. So there you go.
I got this bottle on sale for $10. This is the price I normally pay from very drinkable Castle Rock Pinto Noirs of the last few years. But Hahn’s 2011 Pinto Noir is far better. I must see if I can get more.
My uncle opened a winery in November of 2007. He had wanted to do it for a long time, and finally got the opportunity when his plant closed in January of that same year. It has been increasingly successful each year since then.
I’m no wine expert either, but having worked for my uncle many times, I’ve learned quite a bit about wine and wine making. Unfortunately, I no longer am able to drink wine, or any alcohol for that matter. But when I still could drink wine, I tended to like the dry varieties the best, particularly Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
@Mack – I’m glad that worked out for your uncle. Why can’t you drink wine?
I tend to prefer lighter wines. It’s too bad, because Syrah is normally really cheap.