SMITH & HOOK PROPRIETARY RED BLEND 2017, Central Coast

Nicky and Gaby Hahn are renowned in the California wine industry and have built relationships over their decades with small family owned vineyards. In 1980, they decided to purchase some sites to start their own winery. They chose former horse and cattle ranches in the highlands of Monterey County that are located just above the Salinas Valley in California's rugged Central Coast appellation. These ranches had been recently transformed into premium vineyards so this was an ideal site for what they had envisioned. Over the years after crafting multiple vintages of their own estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, the climate started to change and they realized that both the Hook Vineyard and the Smith Vineyard would be better suited for producing Pinot Noir. So they called on their friends who own the small family vineyards to source their Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are sourced from four prestigious appellations of the Central Coast: San Antonio Valley for the flavor profile; Santa Lucia Highlands for richness and depth; Arroyo Seco for the structure and body; and Paso Robles for the palate and tannins. The result is a Red Blend that's layered and luscious crafted in a true Bordeaux style. Deep ruby red hues edged in purple leads into luxurious aromas of baked black, blue, and purple fruits. Nuances of warm tobacco and leather carry into a palate that is concentrated with dark berries, warm vanilla, and chewy tannins. Finishing long and rich with freshly baked blueberry pie notes (from crust to gooey center) this blend is complex and dense showcasing the layering of multi-dimensional flavors. Enjoy on its own or pair with hearty, bold flavored, heavy dishes as this can stand up to them easily!!