Extract from Robert Parker Wine Review 2007
HAAN 2005 MERLOT PRESTIGE BAROSSA VALLEY RED 91
HAAN 2005 SHIRAZ PRESTIGE BAROSSA VALLEY RED 92
HAAN 2005 WILHELMUS BAROSSA VALLEY RED 91
HAAN 2006 VIOGNIER PRESTIGE BAROSSA VALLEY WHITE 89
HANENHOF 2005 PROPRIETARY RED BAROSSA VALLEY RED 90
HANENHOF 2006 SHIRAZ BAROSSA VALLEY RED 90
Hans and Fransien Haan began operations in 1993 after purchasing a 45-acre Barossa vineyard located between Tanunda and Nuriootpa. The wines are made by Mark Jamieson. The entire portfolio ranges from excellent to outstanding beginning with one white wine, the 2006 Viognier 'Prestige'. Medium straw-colored, it has an enticing perfume of mineral, peach, and apricot. This is followed by a smoothly textured, dry wine with plenty of ripe pit fruit flavours, balancing acidity, good intensity, and a lengthy finish. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.
The 2005 Haan – Hanenhof Proprietary Red is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc which spent 12 months in 20% new French oak. Crimson-colored, it presents a fragrant bouquet of cedar, tobacco, clove, and red currant. Medium-bodied and supple-textured, this easy-going, seamless wine can be enjoyed over the next 5 years.
The 2005 Merlot 'Prestige' includes 14% Cabernet Franc. It was aged for 24 months in 30% new French barriques. Dark ruby-colored, it offers aromas of toasty oak, spice box, cassis, black raspberry, and black currant. This leads to a medium to full-bodied, plush wine with gobs of ripe red and black fruits, good concentration, and a sense of elegance. Drink it over the next 6 years.
The 2005 Wilhelmus is a Bordeaux-style blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, and 8% Malbec. It spent 24 months in 30% new French oak. Crimson-colored, it exhibits a complex array of toast, smoke, cedar, clove, cassis, and black currants. Full-bodied and more structured than its two predecessors, with layers of spicy red and black fruits, this well-balanced wine will evolve for 4-6 years and provide pleasure through 2020.
The 2006 Hanenhof Shiraz was aged for 12 months in French and American oak, 30% new. Purple-colored, it offers up a nose of toasty oak, smoke, pencil lead, plum, and blueberry. Full-bodied, plush, and ripe, it has enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years. Drink this lengthy Shiraz through 2020. It is an excellent value.
The 2005 Haan Shiraz 'Prestige' contains 4% Viognier. It spent 24 months in 40% new French and American oak. Very expressive aromatically, it offers notes of lavender, violets, pencil lead, and wild blueberry. Velvety-textured and elegant on the palate, it delivers enticing ripe, sweet flavours and a seamless finish. Drink this forward Shiraz over the next 8 years.