JJ Hahn Western Ridge Shiraz is named after Reginald Hahn, an early pioneer of the Barossa Valley. The Hahn family is the oldest of the landowners in the region and had the choice of the best land, “Big Red Gum” as it was known locally. Gottfried Hahn planted the first commercial vines on the land in 1890.
James Hahn tends to the vines, while Rolf Binder makes the wine – a partnership that dates back to 1997. The oldest surviving vines are those of Shiraz, planted in 1914.
There are clearly defined centre of red fruits such as red plum, dried currants, mulberries, with background notes of root vegetables and sour kirsch. The palate is a vibrant deep rich fruit core with texture and appeal, with notes of mulberry, chocolate with underlying hints of soft vanilla. The wine is not a domineering Shiraz rather textural and focused, finished with great refreshing tannins.
Maria and Johann Christian Hahn arrived in the Barossa Valley in 1845. Like all the early Barossa settlers they were of Silesian-German descent. Early settlers also staked out the best of the valleys farm land. Remarkably, this land holding is still in Hahn family hands, six generations on. The current custodians, Jacqui and James Hahn still live in the original homestead built from 1846 to 1848. The partnership of Rolf Binder/Veritas wines and the Hahn family is to recognize the heritage status of this family, the ancient vines and their unique part of the Barossa Valley’s history. The Hahn’s tend the vines and the crop and the two consult each other to set cropping levels. Crops are low but do vary depending on the vintage and how the vines themselves deliver the crop. Vintages that are not good enough are skipped.
2013 London Sommelier Wine Awards… the best result achieved by any Australian contributor at this year’s event.
GOLD – JJ Hahn, Homestead Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
GOLD – JJ Hahn, Reginald Shiraz, 2009
2 ‘BEST FOOD MATCH’ TROPHIES – JJ Hahn, Reginald Shiraz, 2009
SILVER – JJ Hahn, ‘1975 Plantings’ 2009
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