Hess Family Wine Estates: 2016 Lion Tamer, Red Blend

For quite some time, Hess Family Wine Estates has been one of my favorite sources for excellent wine values. Lion Tamer, red blend is a natural fit for the family’s portfolio.

Ted Scheffler

April 19, 2019

Hess Family Wine Estates: 2016 Lion Tamer, Red Blend

For quite some time, Hess Family Wine Estates has been one of my favorite sources for excellent wine values. Hess is a family-owned, fifth-generation company committed to responsible agricultural and business practices. The Hess family’s wineries in California, South Africa, and Argentina produce award-winning wines made with sustainable production and growing methods, respecting and nurturing the land by, as Donald Hess says, “returning what we take.”

The Hess Family Wine Estates ‘Lion Head Collection’ portfolio includes two non-Hess branded wines: Lion Tamer Red Blend and Panthera Chardonnay. Since the lion has been the emblem of the Hess Family for generations, Lion Tamer is a natural fit for the family’s portfolio. I recently had the opportunity to sample 2016 Lion Tamer Red Blend ($42.99) and was very impressed.

Red Blend

The wine is an interesting blend of 40% Malbec, 27% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Syrah, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Mourvedre, and 1% each of Petite Verdot and Merlot. According to Hess, the name Lion Tamer came from using Malbec in the wine as a “tannin tamer.” Hess has long been known for big, bold, powerful wines.

Says Director of Winemaking Dave Guffy, “I find blending the Lion Tamer wine is both challenging and rewarding, especially when you start with Malbec at the core. The signature of Lion Tamer is a generous palate of black raspberry and surprisingly lush tannins.”

In addition to “taming” tannins, Malbec contributes floral aromas to the wine, while Petite Syrah, Cabernet, and Zinfandel offer up black fruit flavors. This is a lush, elegant, and flat-out delicious red blend that drinks nicely now but will get even better with age.

FOR RESTAURANT REVIEWS GO HERE

THIS CONTENT IS FROM UTAH BITES NEWSLETTER.

GET OUR WEEKLY RESTAURANT REVIEWS, TED’S FAVORITE RECIPE AND DRINK OF THE WEEK DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX. TO SIGN UP FOR FREE GO HERE.

Originally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: click on their logos to visit their website

Utah Stories

red blend, red wine, wine

Ted Scheffler

Originally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine, and travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, music, and reading, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers. Ted is also the author of the Utah Bites newsletter, which is published in partnership with Utah Stories. Before moving to Utah, Ted lived in New York City, and numerous states in the US, as well as in various countries overseas, Spain, Japan, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. He earned a Master’s Degree in Anthropology from the Graduate Faculty of The New School for Social Research.

Utah Stories

Better Solutions Than Spending $2 Billion on a Gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon

A challenge to the $2 billion taxpayer funded Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola is in the works. What else could that much money be used for?
Gondola Works was the successful PR and marketing campaign that dazzled UDOT and UTA board members and gained the support of enough Wasatch Front Regional Council members to approve the overall $26 billion plan.

The overriding questions are, Why should we be putting so much energy into a $26 billion plan that only focuses on transporting mostly elite skiers up to our mountains? How does this massive investment help average Utahns?
Utah Stories

Why the Salt Lake City Council Should Reject a New Salary Raise

In a letter to the Salt Lake City Council, Jan Hemming, urges the members to reconsider a pay raise for themselves. She claims the pay raise would put the council members greatly above the scale of comparable cities.
Utah Stories

Beloved Salt Lake Eatery Closing

SLC Eatery is set to close at the end of September with plans for private events and pop ups to continue. Fleming’s Social Hour hosts special pricing from 4 to 6pm. Arlo is featuring a Wine Dinner to September 26th.
Utah Stories

The End of an Era: Farewell to Salmon at the Millcreek Senior Center

For nearly a decade, Thursdays at Millcreek, Midvale, and Draper Senior Centers meant one thing: a legendary salmon entree. But now, that cherished dish has mysteriously disappeared from the menu, leaving many wondering why. What could have led to the sudden removal of such a beloved meal? Seniors who once eagerly anticipated the meal are left with questions—and disappointment. As rumors spread and new dishes appear, the fate of the Thursday salmon remains uncertain, hinting at deeper challenges lurking behind the scenes.

To access this post, you must purchase Full Access Membership.