2017 Reserve Saint Macaire 750ml
Vineyard: The grapes for Hanna’s 2017 Reserve Saint Macaire 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’s planted on Laughlin Series sandy loam. These are soils of two-foot depth and less. The vineyard is planted to 50 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 acres of Malbec, two-and-a-half acres of Merlot, two acres of Petit Verdot, and just over a half acre of Saint Macaire. The Cabernet is planted to clones 7, 2, 6, 412 and 685. The Malbec is clone 9, the Merlot is clone 3, the Petit Verdot is clone 400, and the Saint Macaire is a field selection.
Vintage 2017: A welcome, very wet winter filled reservoirs. Spring frost was absent. A relatively dry, cool spring led into a summer with alternating cool and very hot periods. Blocks that were blooming during extremes suffered some shatter but overall the crop size was average. A cool, drippy August was followed by a Labor Day heat wave that pushed harvest into high gear. Temperatures then moderated into a glorious, easy ripening September and early October. We harvested our Alexander Valley Saint Macaire on September 28, at 24.9 degrees Brix. The supporting varieties were harvested between September 27, and October 14, 2017.
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. The must was cold soaked for six days before being warmed and inoculated. Pressing was done “to taste”, based on hourly tastings of the wines during peak fermentation. The newly pressed wines were racked to tank and allowed to settle before barreling. The wine was barreled in October 2017 into French and Hungarian oak coopered by Trust.
Tasting Notes: Brilliant yet deep scarlet purple, our 2017 St. Macaire entices with blueberry, cacao, piloncillo and Ethiopian coffee. Then intrigues with layers of black birch, teaberry, anise, and rubbed teak. A bright entry with flavors of hibiscus sangria and pomegranate molasses evolve into a silky vanilla, cardamom honey finish. (Tasted 3/5/20) Decanting Recommended.
Variety: 93% Saint Macaire, 3% Merlot, 2% Cab Sauv, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Vineyard Location: HANNA Red Ranch Saint Macaire block 32, Cab block 4, Merlot block 15, Malbec block 1
Age of Vines: 5-26 years
Alcohol: 14.6%
pH: 3.59
Residual Sugar: 0.0%
Avg. Brix at Harvest: 24.9o
Length/Type of Aging:21 months in barrel.
Oak Types: French and Hungarian oak coopered by Trust. 30% new
Bottling Date: September 5, 2019
Number of Cases: 69