
2016 Reserve Alchimie 750ml
Vineyard: The grapes for Hanna’s
2016 Alexander Valley Alchimie were grown on our Red Ranch in Alexander Valley.
The property is bisected by Hoot Owl Creek. 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 2-foot depth and less. The vineyard is planted to 50 acres of
Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 acres of Malbec, two acres of Petit Verdot, and just
over a half acre of Saint Macaire. The Cabernet is planted to clones 7, 2 and
6. The Malbec is clone 9, the Petit Verdot is clone 400, and the Saint Macaire
is a field selection.
Vintage 2016: Following adequate winter
rains, the 2016 growing season began early again as the trend toward warmer
winters continues. There was almost no frost pressure and the season progressed
without significant weather worries. A single heat spike in July was short
lived. This was followed by a glorious, easy ripening August and September that
allowed the grapes to hang until
late September into mid-October.
Winemaking:
We hand-harvested in the cool hours from midnight to sunrise. The grapes were
sorted, destemmed and partially crushed to stainless steel fermentation tanks. Pressing
was done “to taste”, based on daily tastings of the wines after pumpover. The
newly pressed wines were racked to tank and allowed to settle before barreling.
The wines were blended in the February 2018 and aged in 60-gallon French and
Hungarian oak barrels from Remond, Boutes, Demptos and Trust.
Reserve Status: We regularly taste through our lots of
Alexander Valley Bordeaux reds—Cab, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Exceptional lots and barrels are designated as potential blending components
for our Reserve
wines. Criteria are intensity of fruit, complexity, suppleness, color and
potential for longevity.
Tasting Notes: Saturated purple. Tree ripened black plum, cocoa and savory, spicy notes mingle in aromas that gain in intensity with glass time. Flavors add dimension with layers of graphite, Bing cherry and Boysenberry and butter mint. Texturally, the Alchimie is concentrated, plump and plush, with very fine tannins. (Tasted 2-8-19)
Variety: 42% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Saint Macaire, 7% Petit Verdot
Vineyard Location: HANNA Red Ranch
Age of Vines: Six to 24 years
Alcohol: 14.8%
pH: 3.70
Titratable Acidity (TA): 0.60 g/100 mL
Residual Sugar: 0.2%
Harvest Dates: Sept 27, to Oct 12, 2016
Avg. Brix at Harvest: 25.6o
Fermentation Inoculated with commercial yeasts. 7 days skin contact.
Length/Type of Aging: 22 months in 60-gallon French and Hungarian Oak barrels
Oak Types: 48% new oak Remond, Boutes, Demptos & Trust.
Bottling Date: August 9, 2018
Number
of Cases: 280
Vegan