
The Hahn Estate
The Hahn family has been in the wine business since 1650 and moved to Kobern, the present location, in 1892 to start a small winery. Konrad Hahn took over the operation in 1991, when his father retired, and works now with his Colorado-born wife Laurel Kerns-Hahn. The winery is recognized as one of the top estates in the region. The high quality of the wines is continuously confirmed by awards and medals received in regional and national as well as international competitions.
The Hahn Vineyard
The vineyards are located in Michelsberg, which is near the town of Piesport (Mosel Valley). In this most northern part, the Mosel valley is very narrow and the vineyards very steep. The warm micro climate and the use of terraces along the south facing slopes allows the vines to grow to full ripeness despite the northern location. The use of machinery is impossible and all work including harvesting is done by hand. The grapes for this wine were grown in slate soil, which is typical for the Mosel area and provides a unique minerality. The harmonious climate, warm summers and mild winters promote a long growing season providing fine fruit with balancing acidity and low alcohol.
A warm, but by far not as hot summer as 2003, continued into a beautiful sunny autumn. This allowed a perfect ripening of the grapes in 2005 vintage. Especially the always late ripening Riesling grapes achieved exceptional quality with must-weights similar to 2003 but with higher acidity levels and mineral concentration similar to 2004.
We view the 2005 vintage as the best vintage in our estate in years even though it is following several great vintages such as 2001, 2002 and 2003. We are very excited about this great vintage
Hahn Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling 2012 is made from 100 percent Riesling.
This wine appears fruit forward, light bodied and easy sipping with light effervescence. It is a wonderful summer sipper or aperitif wine. It will also accompany most light seafood, poultry and veal dishes.
The wine shows very nice fruits, mineral finesse with a very well balanced finish.
EnRoute Winery Les Pommiers Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Aromas of fresh raspberry compote are complemented by notes of baking spice, and fresh rain on a forest floor. Generous-yet-soft strawberry preserve flavors expand on the palate, with elegant, silky tannins. A mouthwatering acidity glides across the finish.
Review:
This is a lovely, complex Pinot Noir from a premium Russian River Valley venue that is surprisingly priced more reasonably than lesser wines from the region. It is slightly gamey on the nose and on the palate in the varietal style with dark Bing cherry flavors, and is smooth and almost creamy in texture and taste with mild tannins and a long, haunting finish. In the cellar, it profited from two weeks of skin contact and received a modest oak treatment — standard with many California Pinots — of about 10 months in oak, 30% of it new.
-Roger Morris Wine Review Online 94 Point
Wonderful aromas of wild berries, fresh rose petals and herbs de Provence. Bright and fresh on the palate, with flavors of cranberries, Bing cherries and delicate sweet and savory spices. Medium-bodied with a long, aromatic finish and gentle tannins.
-James Suckling 93 Points
Thorn Clarke Shotfire Shiraz is made from 100% Shiraz.
Striking deep red-purple in color. A rich, voluptuous wine with aromas of blackcurrant and mulberries accompanied by notes of smokey oak and hints of cloves. The palate is filled with dark fruits and chocolate backed up by taut tannins and lingering oak.
Story:
When the Clarke forebearers discovered gold in 1870 at the Lady Alice mine in the Barossa goldfields, so began a family dynasty intrigued by geology. A fine legacy that is reflected today in the terroir of our vineyards. The Shotfire range immortalizes the Shotfirer's hazardous job of setting and lighting the charges in the mines.
Fran shares his story on how he discovered Thorn-Clarke:
"It was October 2001 and I was searching for and sourcing for Australian wines, as it was clear that Australia was going to become the "next big thing." After tasting about 100 assorted wines, I decided I liked the style of Barossa, Shiraz best - chocolate, cherries, mint and eucalyptus - so I started focusing on Barossa growers (years later, Barossa Shiraz would develop its reputation as the Icon Shiraz for Australia).
Late on a Thursday afternoon, the carrier delivered a beat-up box of 12 bottles from Australia, 10 of which were leaking. The box was from a guy named Steve Machin, who had just left Hardy's and was beginning work with the Clarke family on setting up a possible new brand. The samples were sticky and messy, but I popped the corks anyway ..... and I was glad that I did. The wine inside tasted like Christmas - mint, eucalyptus, camphor, and evergreen aromas. Great acidity, color, flavor and length of finish - very tasty. These samples were so good and so exciting, especially compared to what I had tasted prior, that I immediately called the number on the card. I didn't realize that it was a Perth number (Western Australia) and it was actually 3:00 in the morning. It turned out I was calling the residence of David and Cheryl Clarke, where a sleepy Cheryl answered the phone. I told her, you don't know who I am, but we are going to be doing business together very soon, and lots of it! After a few months of talking, faxing (yes, faxing) and sorting out the details, I began importing their wines.
That super-star wine from the busted box of samples is the wine we know today as Shotfire Shiraz. It was originally called Stone Jar, but fortunately we came up with a better name. Many years and vintages later, I'm still glad to be importing Shotfire Shiraz and other Thorn-Clarke selections .... and I'm still glad that Cheryl Clarke woke up for that phone call."
Review:
"Rich and slightly jammy with a hint of mint on the nose. Big and broad on the palate with excellent depth of black raspberry flavors and a hint of eucalyptus. Medium long finish with lots of richness and depth. Matured 14 months in 40% new American hogsheads. - Don WINKLER"
- International Wine Review (Kysela Père et Fils Importer: 30 Years Importing High Quality, High Value Wines ; July 26th 2024), 91 pts