91 Points - Wine & Spirits

DOUBLE GOLD - San Fransisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Number of Cases: 3,900

Alcohol 14.8%

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

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.