2015 Hanna Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L
91 Points - Wine & Spirits
DOUBLE GOLD - San Fransisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Vineyard: Hanna’s
2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on our Red Ranch in
Alexander Valley. Below Hoot Owl Creek this benchland ranch is planted on
Clough Series gravelly loam soil. Above Hoot Owl it planted on Laughlin Series
Sandy Loam. These are soils of two foot depth or less. The vineyard is planted
to 45 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 acres of Malbec and five acres of Merlot.
The Cabernet is planted to clones 7, 2 and 6. Merlot is planted to clone 3.
Vine age in our 2015 vintage ranges from five to 25 years.
Vintage 2015:
The 2015 growing season was once again dry and odd. Late winter and early
spring were hot. Late spring was cool and fruit set was poor. The peak summer
months were moderate, resulting in steady ripening and good acid retention. September
warmth pushed sugar and flavor accumulation because of the small crop. Our two
young Cab blocks produced their second crop, harvested on September 9 & 16
at 28.3o Brix. The small Merlot crop, only one ton per acre on the 25-year-old
vines, was also harvested on September 28 at 26.7o Brix. The Malbec was
harvested on October 1, at 25.6o Brix, the established Cab blocks were
harvested from September 16, to October 2, at an average 26.3o Brix.
Winemaking: We
began by hand picking, primarily in the cool hours from midnight to sunrise.
The grapes were sorted, destemmed and partially crushed to stainless steel
fermentation tanks. Draining and pressing was done “to taste,” based on daily
tastings of the wines during and after pumpovers. The newly pressed wines were
racked to tank and allowed to settle before barreling. The blend was assembled
in the spring of 2016, and aged in 100% new 60 gallon oak barrels.
Tasting Notes: Our
2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet is purple hued and redolent of red fruits
including Bing cherry, pomegranate molasses along with notes of vanilla,
allspice, cinnamon and a hint of savory olive. This vintage is juicy and
polished, and even in its youth it is remarkably silken and poised.
(Tasted 8/25/17)
Variety: 81%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 1% Merlot
Vineyard Location: AV
Cab blocks 4, 11, 5, 33, 7, 21, Merlot block 30 and Malbec block 1
Age of Vines: Up
to 25 years
Alcohol: 14.8%
pH: 3.76
Titratable Acidity (TA): 0.64g/100mL
Residual Sugar: 0.25%
Harvest Dates: September
9, through October 2, 2015
Avg. Brix at Harvest: 26.0o
Malolactic fermentation: 100% of blend
Length/Type of Aging: 17 months in barrel
Oak Types: 100%
New Oak, French & Hungarian. Primary coopers: Trust, Remond Nadalie,
Treuil, and Boutes.
Bottling Dates: June 20-22, 2017