Overview
The 2013 Wantirna Estate Hannah Cabernet Franc Merlot is a mature Yarra Valley blend inspired by Saint-Émilion. Unlike the estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon-led Amelia, Hannah centres on Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with fragrance and elegant weight taking precedence over a powerful, heavily extracted style.
First made in 1999, Hannah occupies a distinctive place in the Egan family’s small range. The producer describes its identity through Cabernet Franc’s perfume and Merlot’s mulberry character. The 2013 received 94 points from Halliday Wine Companion, whose review emphasised elegance and vivid red fruit while noting a slightly angular youthful structure.
Vintage & Winemaking
The vintage-specific Wine Companion assessment records hand picking and destemming without crushing, followed by fermentation with cultured yeast in open vessels. Hand plunging and a short period of post-fermentation skin contact preceded 12 months in French oak.
Hannah’s broader inspiration lies in the Cabernet Franc and Merlot wines of Saint-Émilion, particularly Château Cheval Blanc. Wantirna’s approach seeks aromatic expression and measured weight from these varieties.
Product Highlights
| Producer |
Wantirna Estate |
| Wine |
Hannah Cabernet Franc Merlot |
| Vintage |
2013 |
| Region |
Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia |
| Grape Varieties |
Cabernet Franc and Merlot |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Harvest |
Hand-picked |
| Fermentation |
Open fermentation with cultured yeast and hand plunging |
| Maturation |
12 months in French oak |
- Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend with a Saint-Émilion inspiration.
- A distinct cuvée within Wantirna’s family-produced range, first made in 1999.
- Destemmed without crushing, with brief post-fermentation maceration.
- 94 points from Halliday Wine Companion.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Fragrance is central to Hannah’s style, combining the aromatic character of Cabernet Franc with the producer’s characteristic mulberry-fruit description of Merlot.
Palate: The 2013 review highlights plentiful red-fruit flavour and an elegant profile, while noting a slightly angular structure when tasted in January 2016. This is a restrained expression rather than a blockbuster blend.
The vintage assessment was made early in the wine’s life; it is not a recent tasting of this bottle.
Food Pairing
- Roast lamb
- Beef fillet
- Mushroom and lentil casserole
- Herb-roasted pork
- Firm aged cheese
Serving Temperature: Approximately 16–18°C, with aeration guided by how the wine develops after opening.
Cellaring Potential
The Wine Companion review proposed drinking to 2028. Now a mature release, a well-stored bottle is a candidate for enjoyment rather than indefinite further ageing. The published endpoint is a guide, not a guarantee of this bottle’s condition.
Recommended Drinking Window: Now to 2028, subject to storage and bottle development.
Critic Scores & Reviews
| Critic |
Score |
| Halliday Wine Companion, tasted 5 January 2016 |
94 points |
“a tour de force in elegance” — Halliday Wine Companion
