2020 Hanna Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml
Vineyard: Hanna’s 2020 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 is planted on Laughlin Series Sandy Loam. These are soils of two-foot depth or 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 Merlot is clone 3, the Petit Verdot is clone 400, and the Saint Macaire is a field selection. Vine age in our 2019 vintage ranges from nine to 29 years.
Vintage 2019: Winter was mild and very wet (50 plus inches of rain), delaying bud break and setting the stage for a low irrigation year. Degree-days tracked a bit higher than 2018, with ideal weather and no temperature spikes until we had a few hot days in mid-August and late September-which alleviated any worries about our bit of mid-September rain. 2019 was an extremely long harvest with moderate weather continuing into early November. We harvested the grapes for our Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon between October 8, and November 4, 2019, at an average of 26.8o degrees 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 blend was assembled in June of 2020,and barrel aged for a total of 18 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels, 35% of which were new.
Tasting Notes: A rush of pleasure-eliciting aromas jostle exuberantly in the glass. Violet, Santa Rosa plum, thyme, cranberry, black cherry and Madagascar vanilla are all there for the taking. Its flavors are a tour de force of Cabernet’s alchemical prowess, transmuting Alexander Valley’s sun and Franciscan soil into chocolate custard, anko bean paste, blackberry leather, warm basalt, and sugar spiced almonds. All this without a note of discord from oak, tannin, or alcohol. Elegant but not haughty, and nigh on perfect. (Tasted 2/9/22).
Variety: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 5% St. Macaire, 1% Petit Verdot
Vineyard Location: AV Cab blocks 33, 11, 7, 5 Malbec block 1, St. Macaire block 32, PV block 26
Age of Vines: Up to 29 years
Alcohol: 14.4%
pH: 3.71
Titratable Acidity (TA): 0.59 g/100 mL
Residual Sugar: 0.04%
Harvest Dates: October 8, to November 4, 2019
Avg. Brix at Harvest: 26.8o
Length/Type of Aging: 18 months in barrel
Oak Types: 35% New Oak, French and Hungarian Coopers: Trust, Ô and Remond.
Bottling Date: June 17-21, 2021
Number of Cases: 1,173
Vegan