Winemaker Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc is made entirely from Hanna Winery's 50-acre Slusser Road Vineyard. The wine emphasizes fruit in the aromas and mid palate with a finish broadened by malolactic fermentation. It's fresh and quaffable with distinctive lime, grass and a murmur of basil.
Recently, Wine & Spirits tasted over 166 American Sauvignon Blancs - this was their number one pick out of all of them, rated a whopping 93 points! Hanna is something of a Sauvignon Blanc specialist, and it really shows in this wine.
"This wine has the Pacific cool of the Russian River Valley and a lovely pearlike flavor set in a generous texture..."
-Wines & Spirits
Professional Ratings
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.