Hanna Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Hanna Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Wine Competition and received 88 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, affirming its standing among serious Alexander Valley reds.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Vintage: 2012  |  Winery: Hanna Winery

Production & Heritage

Hanna Winery was founded in 1985 by Dr. Elias Hanna in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley. The 2012 vintage was hand-picked primarily during the cool hours from midnight to sunrise, then sorted, destemmed, and partially crushed into stainless steel fermentation tanks. Rather than relying on fixed schedules, pressing was done "to taste" — the winemaking team conducted daily tastings of the wine after each pumpover to determine the optimal moment to press. The blend was assembled in spring 2013 and aged in 70% new French and Hungarian oak barrels, contributing structure and complexity to the finished wine.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with dark, savory notes of black olive and clove before shifting to roadside fennel and sweet blueberry. Deeper layers reveal hints of pain perdu and warm baking spice from the oak aging.

Taste: The entry is full and concentrated yet surprisingly soft, with rich chocolate and juicy blueberry flavors leading the charge. At the mid-palate, tangy black cherry emerges alongside sweet tobacco and a touch of sassafras. Menthol-tinged freshness provides lift and keeps the generous fruit from feeling heavy.

Finish: A flinty minerality meets violet and terracotta notes on the close, creating a long, grippy finish. The oak tannins provide firm structure without bitterness, trailing off with lingering dark fruit and earth.

How to Drink Hanna Cabernet 2012

Given over a decade of bottle age, this wine is best enjoyed neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass with 20–30 minutes of air to let the secondary aromas fully develop. A gentle decant for 30 minutes will soften any remaining tannic grip. While primarily a sipping wine at this stage of maturity, its concentrated fruit and spice also work well alongside food.

Best For

• Gifting a wine collector who appreciates aged California Cabernet
• A special-occasion dinner featuring grilled or braised red meats
• Exploring how Alexander Valley Cabernet evolves with bottle age
• Building a vertical tasting of Hanna Winery vintages

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hanna Cabernet 2012 taste like? It delivers concentrated chocolate and juicy blueberry flavors, supported by tangy black cherry, sweet tobacco, and a flinty mineral finish. The texture is full-bodied yet soft, with well-integrated tannins from French and Hungarian oak aging.

How does Hanna Cabernet 2012 compare to Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are 100% Cabernet Sauvignons from Alexander Valley, though Hanna tends toward a richer, more concentrated style with 70% new oak, while Jordan is generally recognized for a more restrained, Bordeaux-influenced profile. The Hanna 2012 also carries a Gold Medal from the San Francisco Wine Competition and 88 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

Is Hanna Cabernet 2012 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — with over a decade of bottle age, the tannins have softened considerably, making it an excellent candidate for contemplative neat sipping. A brief decant will help it open further.

Where is Hanna Cabernet 2012 made? It is produced by Hanna Winery in Alexander Valley, a sub-appellation of Sonoma County in Northern California. The winery was established in 1985 by Dr. Elias Hanna.

What foods pair well with Hanna Cabernet 2012? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's dark fruit and oak spice. Braised short ribs mirror its rich, concentrated texture. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echo its savory depth. Dark chocolate desserts highlight the wine's cocoa tones. Herb-crusted lamb chops bring out the fennel and clove aromatics.

What sizes does Hanna Cabernet 2012 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this vintage.

Is Hanna Cabernet 2012 worth the price? The Hanna Alexander Valley Cabernet positions as a mid-range expression within its appellation, and the 2012 vintage — backed by a Gold Medal from the San Francisco Wine Competition and 88 Parker points — delivers quality that stands up well in its price tier, particularly given its bottle-age development.

Why Hanna Cabernet 2012?

The 2012 vintage captures one of Sonoma County's strongest growing seasons, and Hanna's nighttime hand-harvesting preserved grape acidity and freshness in ways that daytime picking simply cannot replicate. The decision to press "to taste" rather than by the clock gave the winemaking team precise control over tannin extraction, resulting in a wine that is both concentrated and approachable. With a Gold Medal from the San Francisco Wine Competition and an 88-point rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, this is an Alexander Valley Cabernet that has earned recognition from both competition judges and influential critics. Now with over a decade of bottle age, it sits in a sweet spot of mature fruit, integrated oak, and evolved complexity that rewards patient cellaring.