Gift Pack: 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon & 2023 Chardonnay (2 - 750ml)

Our wine begins long before Harvest. Throughout the growing season, we carefully manage each vine with winter pruning then comes shoot positioning and leaf removal by hand in the Spring to encourage uniform ripening. Our commitment to quality extends beyond the vines themselves. We have farmed without herbicides for more than 30 years, relying instead on sustainable farming practices like under the vine cultivation with our electric tractor. Cover crops improve soil structure and biodiversity, while insectary rows attract beneficial insects that help maintain a balanced vineyard ecosystem. By combining meticulous farming with sustainable practices, we produce wines that are balanced and elegant with a focus on ageability.

Our approach to winemaking is guided by patience, precision and a commitment to crafting wines that will age gracefully for years to come. Inspired by the traditions of Bordeaux for our Cabernet Sauvignon and Burgundy for our Chardonnay, we allow each wine the time it needs to develop naturally. We favor longer aging in barrel than many wineries, creating greater complexity, integration, and structure before bottling. Rather than chasing trends or emphasizing power, we focus on balance, elegance, and consistency from vintage to vintage. The result is age-worthy, food-friendly wines that are enjoyable upon release and continue to evolve beautifully in the cellar for many years.

2020: (93.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5.5% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot) Young. Blueberries, blackberries, cassis, fresh mint, black pepper and cloves. Well-balanced with notes of Bresaola, sweet vanilla and dark chocolate.

2019: (82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 11% Petit Verdot) Fruit-forward. Blackberry jam, fresh blueberries, Bing cherries, cassis and fresh mint. Niçoise olives, nutmeg, bittersweet chocolate and vanilla flavors. Well balanced.

2018: (89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot) Blackberries, black cherries, raspberries, cassis, lavender and Mirabelle plum notes. Silky, chewy with flavors of milk chocolate, fresh mint and toasted bread.

2017: (95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot) Blackberry jam, juniper berries, Bresaola, fresh mint, cassis, Santa Rosa plums aromas. Roasted coffee, herbes de Provence, Aztec chocolate and sweet vanilla.

2016: (95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot) Sweet floral, blackberries, fresh mint, Serrano ham and hickory notes. Supple, velvety. Black pepper, sweet vanilla, black tea and milk chocolate.

2015: (93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot) Cassis, blackberry jam, India ink, mulberry, star anise and herbes de Provence. Long, soft, chewy. Niçoise olives, crushed mint, steak tartare and dark chocolate notes.

2014: (95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot) Blackberry coulis, Mirabelle plums, rose petal, star anise, cream soda and fig jam. Nice development. Niçoise olives, cigar box, steak tartare and Aztec chocolate notes.

2013: (94.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot) Black cherries, blackberries, cinnamon, fresh mint, new leather and fennel salami. Sweet fruit entry, chewy. Bresaola, coffee bean, sweet vanilla and bittersweet chocolate flavors.

2012: (93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.5% Malbec, 2.5% Petit Verdot) Blackberry coulis, black cherries, mulberry and Mission fig. Silky, chewy, soft. Prosciutto, black pepper, Niçoise olives, bittersweet chocolate and vanilla notes.

2011: (93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot) Crushed mint, herbes de Provence, briars, pine forest, India ink, Speck and hickory. Soft entry with notes of milk chocolate, wet granite and lavender.

2010: (96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot) Cassis, mint, dried cherries, Bresaola, star anise, forest floor, tomato confit and baking spices. Velvety, supple with Picholine olives and dark chocolate notes.

2009: (94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot) Youthful. Black cherries, violets, blackberry coulis, mint, beef tartare, forest floor, India ink, roasted coffee, Bresaola, Niçoise olives. Long, chewy dark chocolate finish.

2008: (96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot) Mirabelle plum, dried cherries, cassis, roasted coffee, black truffle, new leather, cigar box, Coppa, star anise. Rich, supple, silky.

2007: (95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot) Cassis, dried cherries, violets, Carpaccio, sweet vanilla, fennel salami, cigar box, black tea and chocolate soufflé. Supple, lively, long.

2006: (93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot) Dried currants, Bresaola, mint, fig jam, hickory, red raspberry, forest floor, leather, toast, dark chocolate. Silky, soft, smooth.

2024: Fruit-forward and young, it opens with bright fruit aromas of Gravenstein apple, Bosc pear, lemon blossom and star jasmine. Its youthfulness is evident by its lively entry; pink grapefruit and guava notes are enhanced by sweet vanilla and toasted brioche flavors.

2023: Young. Tropical fruit aromas of lychee, pomelo, white peach and red Barlett pear. Fresh, bright. Notes of oyster shell, pink grapefruit and sweet vanilla.

2022: Granny Smith apple, Eureka lemon, pomelo aromas. Bright, lively entry. Nice weight and richness with Key lime, sweet cream and vanilla notes.

2021: Intense floral notes, lime blossom, apple candy, lychee and Comice pear. Bright, fruit forward. Supple, rich on the palate with notes of sweet cream, oyster shell, vanilla and toasted brioche.

2020: Lovely fruit aromas of Charentais melon, Bosc pear and pink grapefruit. Nice entry and complexity on the palate with lemon blossoms, Gravenstein apples and sweet vanilla toast.

2019: Red Bartlett pear, banana, guava and pink grapefruit notes. Ripe fruit entry, rich mid-palate with notes of apple tart, toasted brioche and a hint of flintiness.

2018: Surprisingly youthful. Blenheim apricots, candied lemon peel and wet stones. Flinty, pear tart and sweet vanilla toast flavors with a long, lovely finish.

2017: Crême brûlée, white roses and pear blossoms. Supple, rich entry with notes of sweet cream, flint and toasted brioche.

2016: Comice pear, Charentais melon, honeysuckle and grapefruit zest aromas. Sweet cream entry with pear tart and flinty notes. Long, lingering finish.

Every wine evolves over time, revealing new aromas and flavors as it ages. While every bottle and cellar is different, these are our general recommendations:

Cabernet Sauvignon: Enjoy anytime from release through 20 years from the vintage date.
Next Red: Best enjoyed through 15 years from the vintage date.
Chardonnay and Reserve Chardonnay: Drink within 6 years from the vintage date.
Blanc de Blancs: We're still discovering its aging potential and continue to enjoy seeing how each vintage develops.
Rosé: We prefer to enjoy it while it's young, fresh, and vibrant.

These are completely subjective though. The most important aspect is to trust your own taste.

As our red wines mature, bright fruit flavors and firm tannins gradually give way to softer textures and more earthy, savory, and complex characteristics.

Our Chardonnays also evolve beautifully over time. Fresh citrus and melon notes slowly develop into flavors of pear, flint, mineral, and crème brûlée, creating a richer and more layered expression of the wine.

Great question! It depends.

For most bottles of wine, a traditional corkscrew is the best choice. It is simple, reliable and works well for everyday bottles.

For older wines with fragile corks, we recommend a double-pronged corkscrew, or Ah-So. Instead of pulling directly through the center of the cork, the two prongs slide between the cork and the neck of the bottle, helping remove an older cork without breaking it apart.

At Hafner, we use both approaches depending on the bottle. The most important thing is to match the corkscrew to the age and condition of the wine. For older bottles, take your time and handle the cork gently.

For a younger Cabernet, decanting can help the wine open up and develop more quickly. An easy way to decide is to pour a small amount into your glass and taste it. Then swirl the wine several times to aerate it and taste again. If you prefer the wine after swirling, that's a good indication that the bottle will benefit from decanting.

For an older Cabernet, we generally recommend not decanting. Older wines are more delicate, and exposure to oxygen can accelerate their development and cause subtle aromas to fade. Instead, stand the bottle upright several hours before serving so sediment settles, then pour slowly and carefully, leaving the sediment behind.

For a large format: Here's the caveat! If it's a large format and you don't want to serve it out of a large bottle, decant it (no matter the age) just before serving.

In short: Young Cabernet → try decanting. Older Cabernet → pour carefully without decanting.

Wines are shipped in a handsome box. Inside, your gift recipient will find:
Your gift note on a watercolor illustration card
A welcome card from us with our contact details in case they have questions or the rare issue arises
Winemaker's Notes comparing vintages with a history of the vineyard
A special barcap cork to reseal any unfinished bottles. (This is at no cost to you. It's a thank you for sending the gift. These corks are one of the most popular gifts we give to Annual Tasting Program patrons, so we wanted to share them with gift recipients.)

Absolutely! Just let us know in the notes field of your order. We do this all the time, particularly as the Holidays approach. Order your Holiday gifts ahead to save you stress later.

Absolutely! Just let us know in the notes field of your order. We do this all the time, particularly as the Holidays approach. Order your Holiday gifts ahead to save you stress later.

You can either order them individually online or just send us an email (or attached an excel sheet) with the names, addresses, phone numbers (if possible) and gift message you'd like to enclose. We'll take care of the details!