David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Tonight’s sipper is really beautiful. I found the 06 Walter Hansel Cahill after pairing & pouring their 08 a few weeks ago at Hedy’s Plate & Bottle dinner here at the house.

The 08 was really good but, this is even better. Much brighter, not as dark. A wine to pair or enjoy on its own. While the 08 shined better with food.

On the nose; bright, ripe cherries, raspberries, poached strawberries, softened blackberries, blue floral fruits, hint of rhubarb with a touch of brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, touch of nutmeg, medium dark spice, wood shavings, limestone, dry clay mixed with dry, powdery top soil, just a whiff of dry herbs, fresh red flowers & roses.

The palate is medium full and nicely resolved. It’s just a shade the other side of its top peak. Beautiful texture and mouthfeel. The wine is completely seamless wire to wire. Bright, ripe cherries, raspberries, poached strawberries, blackberries reduced, blue floral fruits, hint of rhubarb & pomegranate extract. Slightly burnt brown sugar, red vines, cherry cola, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, touch of nutmeg, medium dark spice, wood shavings, dry stems, limestone, dry clay mixed with dry, powdery top soil, just a whiff of dry herbs, fresh red flowers & roses. The acidity rains on the palate. The structure, length, tension and balance are in perfect harmony. The long, elegant, well balanced finish is beautiful and lasts minutes.

Photos of; Walter Hansel winery & restaurant, Pinot freshly harvested and headed to the WH winery, Stephen Hansel in the vineyard and one of beautiful Sonoma vineyards.

One producer note, Stephen was mentored by Tom Rochioli, who helped him in the early years of his winemaking, which began out of a garage! — 3 days ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.2

Fresh and lively. Enters with dense fruit that is well framed by acidity and carries through to the pure red fruited finish. With air time the spice flavors develop and there is a little bit of a fresh asphalt note that is delicious. — 3 hours ago

Shay A

9.3

Couldn’t end on a bad note, so trusty ‘ol Spoto made an appearance. Spoto wines are such a cool, unique and small production winery...every wine I’ve had has been fantastic. Some typical RRV traits were here like raspberry, black cherry cola and cedar but this is no high octane/extracted Pinot...really nice balance. Some definite spice here with a gripping finish. I’d say this is best enjoyed now and over the next few years. Thanks Mark! — 4 days ago

with Mark

Matt Trader, TWP

9.5

Yes, I have Hirsch San Andreas Fault Pinot in the glass, which was part of a 3 year blind tasting event for Coravin. The objective was to see if you could actually guess how many of the 4 samples were Coravin accessed 3 years ago, and how many were freshly poured that evening. Could not tell what do ever. Gotta love Coravin - owner Greg Lambrecht in the photo - the guy is awesome, and insanely knowledgeable about wine.

About Hirsch - absolutely gorgeous, dried herbs, anise, cranberry, raspberry, allspice, and balanced acidity. 2010 had so much youth in it that it still needs several more years in my opinion. Not classic to the full level of fruit forward Cali can deliver - even a little tightly wound. What a treat! — 6 days ago

Shawn R

9.5

First for me from Three Perch which is part of the Chenoweth Vineyard. Profound example of new world PN. Molasses and cranberry on the nose with a rock and mineral hint. Acid is still a little powerful for me yet give great tension, time will resolve. Brown sugar, tea and citrus rind. Can’t wait to try in six months. — 3 hours ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

@Delectable Wine this is the Troika Berlin Vineyard Pinot Noir.

Last winery on day two in Sonoma was Troika Wines with Jeff, Noel and Ari. Next up is a new bottling made up of Pinot Noir from the Berlin Vineyard in Bennett Valley. Aged in 75% new French oak.

Medium garnet red with ruby hues. Lots of floral notes on the nose with some strawberries and a little bit of minerality. Medium acidity (6/10) and medium bodied. Fresh palate with the acidity carrying through with layers of strawberries, bark, roses and some lighter white flowers. Medium plus to long finish. Will develop nicely with a few more years in bottle. Drink till 2024.

$$ - Tasted at the winery with Noel, Jeff and Ari. Release price is $45.00. — 3 months ago

with India

Carl Fischer

9.5

Garnet in the glass with cherries, orange rind, and licorice on the nose - the palate delivers gobs of red fruit and is quite viscous for a Pinot - this was really lovely. — a day ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.5

Second winery on day two in Sonoma was Hanzell Vineyards with Whitney. Last wine was the Hanzell Pinot Noir, which is their flagship Pinot Noir bottling. All the fruit comes from three of their estate vineyards with an average age of 26 years; de Brye, Sessions and Ambassador's 1953 vineyards. This bottling is fermented for a five-day cold soak and 10% is whole cluster. Aged for 18 months in 63% new French oak barrels (60 gallon).

Medium garnet red with light ruby edges. Love the nose, like a true high-end Burgundian Pinot Noir. Layered with cedar, spices, sandalwood, raspberries, tobacco, purple flowers, white pepper and a touch of dark citrus. Medium plus acidity (7/10) and medium plus bodied. Elegant yet balanced with cherries, red berries, spices, Provencal herbs and forest floor. Long and never-ending finish. Drink till 2035.

$$$ - Tasted at the winery. Retail price is $98.00. — 3 months ago

with India

Roman Sukley

9.3

2012 Cirq "Treehouse Vineyard" Russian River Pinot Noir from an amazing red-soiled Vineyard at an elevation of approximately 750 feet. I like to think of it as a more elegant Kosta Browne. Flowery, raspberry nose giving way to rose petal, cola, chocolate covered cherries and licorice on the mid palate. Vibrant acidity. Nice texture. Beautiful finish. Best showing to date, but I would say leave it in the cellar for a while. Built for aging, me thinks. Personally, I can’t wait to taste Michael’s new venture. Very talented winemaker. — 2 days ago

Dave Wismer

9.3

Now this is a Pinot. May be my favorite but I don’t want it to get a big head. Fruity...check. Drinkable..:check. Empty....damn it! Big fruit finishes. Cherries, berries, oranges with just a hint of fennel pollen left by a bee named Larry. Just got the William Selyem allocation today so we will be loading up again. — 14 days ago

with Kim