2018 Reserve Alchimie 750ml
Vineyard: The grapes for Hanna’s 2018 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 2018: Adequate rainfall, no frost pressure and mild spring temperatures was a great start to the vintage. This continued with a temperate summer and early fall. October 1st rain provided some drama, but it dried quickly enough to be a blessing for everything but Chardonnay. Warm sunny days followed the rain, continuing the long even ripening of the Bordeaux varieties. We harvested the grapes for our Alexander Valley Alchimie from October 16, to November 6, 2018, at an average 25.0o degrees Brix.
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 aged in 60-gallon French and Hungarian oak barrels from Trust and Boutes.
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:. Its opacity belies its depth. An eclectic mix of vanilla, milk chocolate, dry rub, sandalwood, star anise, Masala chai, and juicy plum vie pleasingly in its aromas. By mouth clove, black olives, gingerbread, rhubarb and blackberry range across the palate with the perfect posture of youth. (Tasted 1-23-23)
Variety
23% Malbec, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Saint Macaire 24% Petit Verdot
Vineyard Location
HANNA Red Ranch
Age of Vines
Seven to 26 years
Alcohol 14.2%
pH 3.69
Titratable Acidity (TA)
0.53 g/100 mL
Residual Sugar 0.15%
Harvest Dates
October 16, to November 6, 2018
Avg. Brix at Harvest 25.0o
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 Trust and Boutes
Bottling Date
September 4, 2020
Number of Cases
164
Vegan