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Hawk And Horse Vineyards, Red Hills – Lake County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($75): Quite pleasant to drink now, this Cabernet Sauvignon from…
Hawk And Horse Vineyards, Red Hills – Lake County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($75): Quite pleasant to drink now, this Cabernet Sauvignon from…
This is a fantastic Petite Sirah from Lake County. Nearly oxblood in color, aromas of ripe blackberry and nutmeg give way to nuanced flavor profile. Notes of deep, dark chocolate, raspberry and spice give way to rich, velvety tannins. Pair with grilled steak with peppercorn sauce or chocolate souffle.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel and a teeth staining color. The mix of black and red fruits is very interesting. Tangy and rich. Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age in the next 5 to 7 years.
The wine showed a dark garnet color. Black cherry, raspberry, vanilla, licorice, blackberry and oak could each be found on the nose. Black cherry, raspberry and vanilla were easily discernible on the palate followed by nuanced notes of currant, eucalyptus, licorice and oak. The wine was full-bodied and exhibited great length along with soft tannins. This wine would pair very well with a hearty lamb stew.
The wine showed a dark ruby color. Blackberry, raspberry preserves, cherry, plum and oak all arrived on the deep and complex nose. Black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, mocha, dark chocolate, licorice and oak followed on the palate where the black cherry was the dominant theme. The wine was full-bodied and exhibited good length along with soft tannins. This wine would pair well with grilled lamb chops.
The wine showed a dark garnet color. Black cherry, raspberry, cassis, vanilla, plum and oak all arrived on the nose. Black cherry, raspberry preserves, plum, vanilla, blackberry and oak followed on the palate where the black cherry notes stole the show. The wine was full-bodied and exhibited great length along with soft tannins. This elegant wine would pair very well with a hearty lamb stew.
Today we are pleased to share a group of wines we received as tasting samples that are made by Hawk and Horse Vineyards in the Red Hills AVA of Lake County. The Hawk and Horse vineyards are certified organic by CCOF and Demeter-certified Biodynamic, which make them the perfect wines to share on Earth Day.
When you drink wine for pleasure (don’t take it for granted – there are many reasons why people drink wine – to fit into the crowd, to be socially accepted, to show your status – drinking for pleasure is only one of the reasons), mystery, art, magic – call it whatever way you want, but it all comes to a play when you take a sip. Wine is a complete mystery as you have no idea what will be your conscious and subconscious reaction to the experience of that sip – what memories will come to mind?
Very dark garnet in color, this wine smells of black cherry and cassis. In the mouth, rich black cherry flavors have a decent lift thanks to good acidity, and hints of cola and tobacco as the wine finishes under a gauzy blanket of tannins. Dark and rich and thankfully not marred with excessive oak treatment.
Hawk and Horse Vineyards By Rick Dean, April 16, 2019 Vineyards and wineries come in all shapes and sizes. Some wineries…
Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County’s Hawk and Horse Vineyard: 2008-2016 By Don Winkler, International Wine Review May 21, 2020 by Don…
Medium purple color. Deep but tart aromas of blueberry and black cherries, with complex, deep and spicy tones: tar, mocha, sage, sweet red pepper, black pepper and balsamic glaze. The palate is full but smooth and, like the others, this wine’s acidity is really nice. Tangy plums and juicy black currant fruit blends well with leather, paprika, black pepper, spicy tobacco, mint. A lot going on, and I’d like to see this in five or six years. Cab Sauv with 2% Petit Verdot, aged in 100% French oak.
Deep purple color. The nose sports mulled cherries and deep currant fruit, with a spicy mix of anise, black pepper, tar, leather and espresso. Full but fresh, this shows solid grip but smooth edges to the tannins and moderate acidity. The fig paste and cranberry relish fruit is delicious, and it’s backed up with tar, anise, cocoa, sweet bell pepper, chewing tobacco and some black olive. Really fun and lively but also pretty, complex and age-worthy. All Cab Franc aged in 100% French oak.
Deep purple color. The nose shows a nice mix of tangy plums and blueberries, with spicy pepper, anise, some coffee, toffee and mocha. Nice grip on the palate but the tannins have these suave edges and the acidity is really nice, balancing out the deep plum and currant fruit. Notes of black olive, tar, mocha, black pepper and bell pepper add complexity, and I love the deep, earthy, mineral and stony vibes in here. There’s a ton of freshness in here for a Petite Sirah. This puppy will age wonderfully. All PS aged in all French oak.
Dark purple color. A deep core of roasted figs, plum sauce, along with charcoal, graphite, tilled soil, coffee grounds, violets – needs air to coax out the depths. The palate shows a solid core of roasted figs and currant paste, grippy tannins, moderate acidity, impressive balance and complexity. Cool mix of spicy and refreshing elements, and I get a lot of mesquite, tar, graphite, roasted red peppers and gravelly earth. A long-ager for sure. Don’t be scared of PV – this is delicious stuff! All Petit Verdot aged in 100% French oak.
This impressive and well-balanced wine is concentrated in a delicious black-fruit flavor, with a softly tannic, velvety texture that’s seductive. Layers of pure blueberry, black cherry and dark chocolate are wrapped in a creamy mouthfeel.
The wine on the eyes was a deep purple and red brick in color with a medium viscosity. On the nose aromas waft into the olfactory senses bringing raspberries, blackberries and floral aromatics. On the palate, it opens up to a juicy fruit assortment of black cherry and hint of pipe tobacco. The finish is medium, but intriguing are the soft and rounded tannins for what is smelled as a big bold red wine.
Silky, floral, and gloriously appointed with violet-flavored licorice. There’s an earthy side to this opaque, black-red powerhouse, sweetened and gentled by a core of dark chocolate. Expressive as all get out.
The winery’s first release of this variety shows remarkable success in bringing out the best of its nature. Crushed stone and dried violets merge with a blackberry chocolate wash. Farmed with Biodynamic certification “closed system” on their 180-acre mountain estate. Slick and opulent.
With 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cab Franc added in, this 100% French oak-aged red is distinguished in its demeanor. A wave of black cherry and mocha plum are dispatched on a plush pillow. Chewy, the liquid engages with chalky, teeth-coating tannins and develops an intimacy with the palate. A valentine of plum and pomegranate is delivered on the finish.
It’s a richly flavored, Port-like, lightly sweet wine with good complexity and freshness. It delivers aromas and flavors that evoke dark cherries, chocolate shavings, dates and an appealing floral note. The tannins are suave, and the rich flavors linger forever on the finish. 130 g/L RS Aged 29 months in New Allier oak barriques.
The Petite Sirah offers lively, fresh aromas and flavors of spicy boysenberry, black cherry and herbs. It’s silky on the attack with a chewy density on a fruit driven, richly flavored palate. Finishes with firm, round but somewhat dry tannins.
More elegant than blockbuster, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is our favorite of the three vintages we tasted. The bouquet is redolent of dark cassis complemented by notes of earth and underbrush. There’s a lovely, silky texture to the mouthfilling palate and nice integration of blackberry fruit and toasted oak. The tannins are still youthful but ripe. A wine that will only improve with a couple of years bottle age.
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon shows earth and dark red berries on the nose. It’s a bit lighter in weight with less fruit than the younger vintages of this wine, but it’s well balanced with firm, round tannins. Fruit and oak are well integrated, and it’s drinking nicely now.
Garnet red. Ripe dark red berry and plum with vanilla and cedar show on the nose. Richer and fuller than the 2008 vintage, it’s softer on the attack with more notable ripeness than the 2010. Attractive cedary spice is married to spicy huckleberry, plum and cassis on the palate. There are fine firm tannins on the finish.
Medium dark garnet. This is by far our favorite of the 2008-2010 Library Reserve Trio. It has an enticing, multifaceted nose of cassis, sweet oak, and a hint of forest floor. The palate has a velvet texture and is densely flavored and elegant with fine-grained tannins. Still a youthful wine with a long life ahead.
Showing a multifaceted bouquet of dark red fruit and earthy tobacco, the 2013 Cab is a bit lighter than the 2016 vintage, but it offers lots of sweet dark fruit flavors accompanied by notes of pepper and tobacco. There’s well integrated oak and a persistent finish with solid tannins. A great steak wine.
Offering an earthy, herbal bouquet with black and red currant notes that carry over to the full bodied palate. There’s good acidity and freshness, nicely concentrated black currant and licorice flavors and well integrated oak. Finishes with fine, round tannins.
Saturated ruby. The bouquet reveals explosive cassis and cedar aroma. The palate is silky and dense with sweet, expansive dark fruit flavors and a light earthy note. Well focused and tightly structured with still firm tannins finishing with lingering rich dark red fruit notes.
More elegant than blockbuster, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent wine. The bouquet is redolent of dark cassis complemented by notes of earth and underbrush. There’s a lovely, silky texture to the mouth filling palate and nice integration of blackberry fruit and toasted oak. The tannins are still youthful but ripe. A wine that will only improve with a couple of years bottle age.