Kathryn Walt Hall has a most impressive curriculum vitae. To touch on just a few of the high points, she is the proprietor of HALL Wines and WALT Wines [family businesses she has been involved with for over thirty years], was assistant city attorney in Berkeley, California, worked as an attorney and businesswoman in Dallas, Texas, and has served on numerous non-profit and institutional boards, with an emphasis on issues related to social care and mental health. From 1997 to July 2001, Ms. Hall served as the United States Ambassador to Austria. In the midst of this, together with her husband Craig she has raised four children.
HALL wines hail from five estate vineyards: Sacrashe (Rutherford), Bergfeld (St. Helena), Hardester (Napa Valley), Atlas Peak Estate, (Atlas Peak), and T Bar T Ranch (Alexander Valley). From these 500 acres come classic Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. In each vineyard, small-vine farming is employed to produce low-yield, high-concentration fruit.
Reflecting Kathryn Hall’s long record of progressive activism, the winery is dedicated to environmental responsibility. Only natural products are used for weed and pest control, and the vineyards are certified organic. The farming operations use 50% bio-diesel fuel to reduce carbon emissions.
The St. Helena winery qualified for the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System, and was the the first in California to earn LEED Gold Certification.™
Finally, A portion of all business profits is donated to charity via the Craig and Kathryn Hall Foundation.
HALL T Bar T Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2012
The fruit for this wine hails from a vineyard Hall acquired from Iron Horse. It is made into this straw-colored and highly aromatic wine that features scents of cantaloupe, pineapple, and citrus on the nose. The flavors follow through on this, with the addition of mango and lemon, plus a hint of toast and nutmeg from the nicely integrated new French oak. Unusual for a Sauvignon Blanc, there is an unctuous mouthfeel and lengthy finish.
Pair this wine with Coq au Vin with Autumn Vegetables, Crispy Salmon with Spiced Lentils, or Turkey Sandwich with Tapenade and Fontina.
Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
This special-occasion wine is sourced from the Sacrashe and Bergfeld estate vineyards. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, it is dark and dense, concentrated but well integrated. On the nose, there are aromas of cola, plum, and black pepper. The rich, juicy flavor is built around blackberry, black currant, and cedary oak. The soft, round mouthfeel is complemented by a long finish. It will easily cellar for 10 or more years, but is expected to peak in 2020 or 2021.
This robust wine wants to go with Crown Roast of Pork with Baked Apples, Cassoulet (yes, please), or Lamb Chops with Prune Chutney.
Top of page: https://winervana.com/blog/