The wine has a rich aroma of red and black plums, blackberries and American cherries, with hints of dried herbs and violets. It is smooth on the palate, with dark fruits, plums, blackberries, roasted almonds and warm spices, and a pleasant, long finish. It pairs well with duck confit, cold cuts and salads with crispy roasted prosciutto and pomegranate. The Merlot and Petite Sirah are grown in two AVAs, Arroyo Seco and San Antonio Valley. These AVAs are warmer, so the grapes have thicker skins and more concentrated flavors. The Malbec comes from our own Hook Vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands, and the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot come from the San Antonio Valley. The 2019 growing season in Arroyo Seco and San Antonio Valley began with below-normal precipitation, so irrigation was necessary when the vines were waking up. Mild temperatures from the beginning of the growing season through veraison allowed the canopy and bunches to develop well. A few heat waves in the latter half of the growing season slowed the ripening speed a little, but the fruit was more concentrated. In the mid-1970s, Nicky Hahn was looking for a vineyard and found the horse ranch Smith Ranch and the generations-old cattle ranch Hook Ranch in Monterey's Santa Lucia Highlands, and decided to plant grapes there. Nicky released a wine named Smith & Hook in honor of them. Since the first vintage in 1980, which was highly acclaimed, the wine has been produced continuously, and the 2006 vintage, with its newly repackaged packaging, continues to express the heritage of the land and Nicky's pioneering spirit.