My April Wine of the Month

HANNA Winery
Cabernet Sauvignon
Red Ranch
Alexander Valley
2010

The 2010 HANNA Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a steal of a deal.  I’ve been buying cases of it for the past few months and fear that the ’10 is probably not going to be available for much longer.  Oh well, I sure have been enjoying it and still have a case in my cellar.  I’ve been finding it for between $20 and $25 per bottle, but it drinks more like a $40 or $50 bottle.

The Wine – On the nose are licorice, black cherry, black currant, vanilla, baking spices, a little bit of smoke, and lots of cola.  The palate reinforces the nose, and has nice soft tannins and a long lovely finish. The fruit was sourced from Hanna’s estate vineyard “Red Ranch” in Alexander Valley.  It contains 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and a splash (1%) of Malbec.  It was aged for 27 months in barrel, 60% of which was new oak.  I like to decant it for an hour before drinking, which really helps mellow out some of the oakiness.

Visiting the Winery – HANNA Winery has two tasting room locations.

I first visited the winery at their Russian River Valley home.  This is the original “Home Ranch of HANNA WINERY and is surround by their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyard.  The tasting room is sweet and cozy, with a very friendly feel.  They also have a picnic area outside where one can enjoy lunch and some Hanna wines.

My most recent visit to HANNA was at their Alexander Valley location, which is a completely different experience.  This large tasting room sells lots of wine themed souvenirs and different condiments, but also offers lovely views of their “Red Ranch Vineyard” from the wrap-around deck.

The Journey – If you want a more personal experience in a lovely setting, visit the location in the famous Russian River Valley.  If you’d rather visit a big tasting room with shopping, and views for days, head to Alexander Valley.  For directions to each location, check out their website here: www.hannawinery.com

If you see this wine in your favorite wine store, be sure to grab some!