Walter Hansel Winery
The North Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
The 2021 Pinot Noir The North Slope Vineyard is a heady, explosive Russian River Pinot. A burst of dark red/purplish berry fruit opens first, followed by sweet floral and spice notes that build effortlessly. This exuberant Pinot is an absolute delight. The North Slope has a touch more savoriness than is the norm in these wines. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2023)
The 2021 Pinot Noir The North Slope Vineyard is a heady, explosive Russian River Pinot. A burst of dark red/purplish berry fruit opens first, followed by sweet floral and spice notes that build effortlessly. This exuberant Pinot is an absolute delight. The North Slope has a touch more savoriness than is the norm in these wines. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2023)
End & post Honeybaked Ham.
My last 05. Such a steal at just under $40 at this point.
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁🎅❄️🌟⛄️
End & post Honeybaked Ham.
My last 05. Such a steal at just under $40 at this point.
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁🎅❄️🌟⛄️
Simply one of the best Northern California Pinot Noirs for the money.
It takes four or five sips to get what this wine is meant to be when switching from the white burgundy.
This is another producer like Williams Selyem is good young but, amazes in 10-15 years.
The nose shows, ruby, candied & floral; blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, touch of baked rhubarb, mix of blackberries & raspberries, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, dark spices, black licorice, mix dark & mid fruit cola, dark rich, black earth, steeped fruit tea, dry twig, tree sap, underbrush, dry crushed rocks, limestone, volcanics with dry, withering & candied: red, dark, blue florals set in a field of violets.
The palate & body are elegant and sexy. Fantastic, glorious mouthfeel. Ripe, ruby, candied & floral; blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, dry cranberries, pomegranate, poached strawberries, touch of baked rhubarb, blackberries & raspberries, burnt rhubarb, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, dark spices, black licorice, mix dark & mid fruit cola, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dark rich, black earth, steeped fruit tea, dry twig, tree sap, underbrush, savory meats, touch fresh & dry tobacco, suede leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone, sandstone, volcanics with dry, withering & candied: red, dark, blue florals set in a field of violets with hints of lavender. The acidity is like a gentle, cool, stream. The long finish is just flat out amazing. It’s; candied, florals, well knitted & balanced, floral and is endlessly persistent.
Still has 5-8 years of good drinking ahead.
Photos of; Walter Hansel tasting room & bistro, beautifully harvested Pinot Noir bunches & vineyard.
Simply one of the best Northern California Pinot Noirs for the money.
It takes four or five sips to get what this wine is meant to be when switching from the white burgundy.
This is another producer like Williams Selyem is good young but, amazes in 10-15 years.
The nose shows, ruby, candied & floral; blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, touch of baked rhubarb, mix of blackberries & raspberries, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, dark spices, black licorice, mix dark & mid fruit cola, dark rich, black earth, steeped fruit tea, dry twig, tree sap, underbrush, dry crushed rocks, limestone, volcanics with dry, withering & candied: red, dark, blue florals set in a field of violets.
The palate & body are elegant and sexy. Fantastic, glorious mouthfeel. Ripe, ruby, candied & floral; blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, dry cranberries, pomegranate, poached strawberries, touch of baked rhubarb, blackberries & raspberries, burnt rhubarb, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, dark spices, black licorice, mix dark & mid fruit cola, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dark rich, black earth, steeped fruit tea, dry twig, tree sap, underbrush, savory meats, touch fresh & dry tobacco, suede leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone, sandstone, volcanics with dry, withering & candied: red, dark, blue florals set in a field of violets with hints of lavender. The acidity is like a gentle, cool, stream. The long finish is just flat out amazing. It’s; candied, florals, well knitted & balanced, floral and is endlessly persistent.
Still has 5-8 years of good drinking ahead.
Photos of; Walter Hansel tasting room & bistro, beautifully harvested Pinot Noir bunches & vineyard.
A medium-bodied Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley, California.
Showing red candy, blueberries, cherries, licorice, oak, vanilla, wildflowers, spices and earth.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Nice finish with spices, tangy raspberries and soft tannins.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins (1 hour). A good food wine, too.
Peaking now. Although not my style, it is tasty and enjoyable.
14.2% alcohol by volume.
88 points.
A medium-bodied Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley, California.
Showing red candy, blueberries, cherries, licorice, oak, vanilla, wildflowers, spices and earth.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Nice finish with spices, tangy raspberries and soft tannins.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins (1 hour). A good food wine, too.
Peaking now. Although not my style, it is tasty and enjoyable.
14.2% alcohol by volume.
88 points.
Brilliant wine and find @ K&L Wine Merchants. Its hit a perfect evolution. Beautifully, ripe, elegant, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, stewed black plum, plum and great blue fruit hues. Dark spice, limestone mineral, saddle-wood with blue and red florals with a touch of lavender. Rain shower acidity and a long, elegant, balanced well polished finish for minutes. Beautiful and even better at $34.99.
@AZ Oasis
Brilliant wine and find @ K&L Wine Merchants. Its hit a perfect evolution. Beautifully, ripe, elegant, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, stewed black plum, plum and great blue fruit hues. Dark spice, limestone mineral, saddle-wood with blue and red florals with a touch of lavender. Rain shower acidity and a long, elegant, balanced well polished finish for minutes. Beautiful and even better at $34.99.
@AZ Oasis
This is an outstanding, reasonably priced model of Russian River Valley pinot year-in and year-out. I’m slowly building a vertical covering what is normally its ~10 year run. The 2018 is young but has a deep, dark fruit and creamy nose, red berry acids that tickle the tongue and plenty of fruit. My only complaint at this age is a high toned finish.
This is an outstanding, reasonably priced model of Russian River Valley pinot year-in and year-out. I’m slowly building a vertical covering what is normally its ~10 year run. The 2018 is young but has a deep, dark fruit and creamy nose, red berry acids that tickle the tongue and plenty of fruit. My only complaint at this age is a high toned finish.
1 person found it helpfulNov 9th, 2020
Stephen Hansel does little wrong.....Dijon Clone 115 (Bunches Destemmed before a 5 Day Cold Soak) -- Wine is Lifted & Graceful with Oak-Tinged Black Cherry, Rose & Raspberry on the Follow Through...
Stephen Hansel does little wrong.....Dijon Clone 115 (Bunches Destemmed before a 5 Day Cold Soak) -- Wine is Lifted & Graceful with Oak-Tinged Black Cherry, Rose & Raspberry on the Follow Through...
1 person found it helpfulSep 11th, 2015So good. Great nose. Some cherry and spice and a little vegetal in a good way. Perfect finish and crazy long. I'm sure this would still be good in a few years but I plan to drink all of mine really soon.
So good. Great nose. Some cherry and spice and a little vegetal in a good way. Perfect finish and crazy long. I'm sure this would still be good in a few years but I plan to drink all of mine really soon.
1 person found it helpfulMar 28th, 2015
Great nose, fruit forward, red fruits, some nice baking spices and low soft tannins. Nice long finish. Great pinot
Great nose, fruit forward, red fruits, some nice baking spices and low soft tannins. Nice long finish. Great pinot
Jun 17th, 2017
Ruby color with gorgeous aromas of cherry, cola, strawberry, raspberry, nutmeg, and rich potpourri. On the palate, warm winter baking spices, clove, orange rind, and deep, seductive red fruits. Long finish, integrated oak with vanilla and caramel undertones. Medium + tannins. A testament to the V8 caliber Pinot Noir coming out of this amazing region. And yes I was born and raised here!
Ruby color with gorgeous aromas of cherry, cola, strawberry, raspberry, nutmeg, and rich potpourri. On the palate, warm winter baking spices, clove, orange rind, and deep, seductive red fruits. Long finish, integrated oak with vanilla and caramel undertones. Medium + tannins. A testament to the V8 caliber Pinot Noir coming out of this amazing region. And yes I was born and raised here!
Mar 5th, 2016