
2021 Reserve Alchimie 750ml
2021 HANNA Reserve Alchimie, Alexander Valley, 90 POINTS, Wine Enthusiast - The nose of this wine is awash with chocolate-covered maraschino cherries and toasted almonds. The palate is plush and velvety, with some lovely cocoa, amaretto and caramel notes on a framework of ripe cherry-berry fruit. This unique blend containing Malbec, Cabernet and Saint Macaire should settle down nicely with a little time in the cellar. Drink 2027–2040.
Vineyard: The grapes for Hanna’s 2017 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, three acres Merlot, 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.
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 December 2018 and aged in 60-gallon French and Hungarian oak barrels from Treuil and Boutes.
Reserve Status: We regularly taste through our lots of Alexander Valley Bordeaux reds—Cab, Merlot, Malbec, Saint Macaire 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: Youthfully bright in the glass, our 2021 Alchimie leads with warm plum, smoked tea, and raspberry reduction notes. By mouth it is seamless, round as a Yurt, with black cherry, brioche and vanilla flavors in every non-corner of its beautiful architecture.
Variety: 43% Malbec, 28% St Macaire, 27% Cab Sauv, 2% Merlot
Age of Vines: 6 to 25 years
Alcohol: 14.4%
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: 50% new oak Treuil and Boutes
Bottling Date: June 28, 2023