Cycles Gladiator
The Cycles Gladiator wines are produced in the Central Coast of California by Hahn Estates winery. The vineyards in Paso Robles and Southern Monterey County yield grapes with brilliant flavors of fruits, structure, and tannins, and make wines that are lush and vibrant, yet supple. The whites, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, are soft and taste of tropical fruits with hints of melon. The reds, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, taste of dark, lush fruits with subtle spice from French oak barrels and no aggressive tannins for a smooth finish. A dry Rosé and a Pinot Noir will soon arrive in the market.
For the romantics out there, this is a wine that recalls the Belle Époque of the late 19th century Europe and America. Cycles Gladiator symbolizes a celebration of the freedom that pervaded society due to notable inventions and improvements in everyday life, not the least of which was the modern bicycle. The mythological image of the nymph riding her ‘winged bicycle’ by French painter G. Massias is the inspiration and label for these ‘wines of uninhibited taste.’ The invention of the bicycle allowed the common man to work without having to afford a horse and buggy thus created a middle class in society. Gladiator was one of the leading bicycle companies that made their way into the market when the cycling craze boomed in 1895.