California’s All Right (Somebody Check My…)

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Founded in 1985, the year I graduated high school (which has no applicable bearing on this conversation whatsoever), by Dr. Elias Hanna, it is currently owned and operated by Christine Hanna, his daughter, and along with winemaker Jeff Hinchliffe, they create some terrific wines from Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley in California.

Jeff had recently dropped in on the team here at Eastgate, and the nerd level in the cellar reached epic proportions between Jeff and Todd, my boss here at JJE.  I have to concede that when all the science-y jargon about wine gets too intense, like Ph.D. level intense, I find myself channelling my inner Timothy Leary and animate my compatriots, turning them all into potentials for the next Rick and Morty episode, all while I hear a calliope playing not too far off in the distance.  No slight to Jeff, the man is a walking genius, and he was giving out diplomas in there that day to be sure.

But alas, the poet in me strikes again, and I devolve into the glass before me, and each wine – which I must admit I hadn’t tasted Hanna wines in some time – had me more than a bit surprised at how good they were, and I was taken away again, to some remote Shangri-La in my mind, driving down the Pacific Coast Highway maybe, or my last ride up 42 from Louisville back home, staring at the mighty Ohio River rolling the other way, toward the Mississippi, as I drove fecklessly toward an impending change, one that at the time, I couldn’t see coming.

A good change.  A change I am floating in even now…

Hanna Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley 2016.  A bit like a stone and tropical fruit salad in a glass with its tangerine, pink grapefruit, peach and nectarine flavors mixing it up with bright mineral and white flowers.  A bit of creaminess shimmers at the finish, giving this wine a surprising level of depth.
Hanna Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2015.  A bit of pear and lemon zest amongst nuanced notes of vanilla custard, tangerine and slight marzipan undertones.  Medium-bodied, fairly rich.
Hanna Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2014.  Blended with Malbec and Merlot, this full-bodied red shows off notes of black fruits, cocoa powder, cola nut, Almond Joy® and roasted vanilla.  A really great Cab for the money!

I want to thank Jeff Hinchliffe for dropping in and taking time to share his wares with us, and Stacey Meyer from Heidelberg for once again letting us fly our geek flag amongst good friends and good wine.  Cheers!

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