Winemaker Parke Hafner keeps detailed notes on each wine’s life from vineyard to bottle. Then he picks out the highlights for the Winemaker’s Notes that go with each order.

Every year he brings family members and vineyard manager Rafael Jimenez together to taste wines released during the past 10 years and more. They note how the wines taste with each added year of life and their descriptions are contained in the Recent Tasting Notes. And we update these remarks from time to time during the year.

Here are some questions about wine tasting that we are frequently asked:

The first question in wine tasting: Do I like this wine? Because everyone's tastes differ greatly, only you can answer that for yourself. (A leading wine scholar has said, “The best wine is the wine you like the best.”)

Next question: Why do I like it? That leads to your discovering the aromas, flavors and other qualities of the wine. Our Tasting Notes tell you what we find. Let us know what you find.

Then the question: How long should it age? Hafner Vineyard wines are aged up to 54 months before they're released. That way they are ready to be enjoyed on their release. It is great fun, however, to serve wines you have aged longer in your own home. We suggest up to 5 years (from the vintage year on the label, not the year it was released) for Chardonnays and 10 years for Cabernets. Taste each vintage each year to see how they are developing.

Now the question: How will I know when it is best? Let your palate tell you. Family and friends will probably volunteer to help you make that decision!

What are the conditions for aging? Constant temperature (our personal cellar is 66 degrees). As little light as possible. Minimal movement. Bottles on their sides or upside down so corks don’t dry out and leak wine.

What makes for a happy wine tasting? A mix of judgment and enjoyment as you swirl to discover the aromas and sip to discover the bouquet of the Hafner wines from your collection.

Simply click on a specific vintage for the Tasting Notes and Winemaker's Notes for that particular wine.

Chardonnay

• 2005 Chardonnay
• 2004 Chardonnay

Reserve Chardonnay

• 2005 Reserve Chardonnay
• 2004 Reserve Chardonnay
• 2003 Reserve Chardonnay

Cabernet Sauvignon

• 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon

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