Walter Hansel Winery
Cuvée Alyce Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
The 2021 Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce is another gorgeous wine in this range. It offers a compelling balance of fruit intensity and energy. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, rose petal and cinnamon all soar out of the glass. High-toned aromatics and bright acids lend vibrancy throughout. The 2021 is a bit shy today, but it has so much to offer. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2023)
The 2021 Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce is another gorgeous wine in this range. It offers a compelling balance of fruit intensity and energy. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, rose petal and cinnamon all soar out of the glass. High-toned aromatics and bright acids lend vibrancy throughout. The 2021 is a bit shy today, but it has so much to offer. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2023)
Bright Ruby with aromas of ripe berries and baking spice notes, grapes from a section of vineyard in the middle of the North slope where the soils are very heavy adobe clay resulting in the vines struggling to produce a crop more than 1 ton to the acre, a field blend of clone 777 and 115.. On the palate flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum with herb, cedar and cinnamon. Smooth fine tannins, soft long finish ending with rich fruit and fresh acidity, great structure. Nice!
Bright Ruby with aromas of ripe berries and baking spice notes, grapes from a section of vineyard in the middle of the North slope where the soils are very heavy adobe clay resulting in the vines struggling to produce a crop more than 1 ton to the acre, a field blend of clone 777 and 115.. On the palate flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum with herb, cedar and cinnamon. Smooth fine tannins, soft long finish ending with rich fruit and fresh acidity, great structure. Nice!
Jun 5th, 2022
This one as well has opened up quite a bit. It’s was vacuum sealed and put back into storage last Friday night.
On the nose; medium & dark red floral fruits. Mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, showing some black pepper, dark spice, limestone, touch of smoke (Sonoma fires) crushed dry rock powder, gummy dark red fruits, blackberries, black cherries, plum, blue fruits, cooked rhubarb and baked strawberries, fresh & withering dark red florals with blue flowers and violets.
This started out on Friday a little light on complexity and body. After about a half hour, it’s complexity showed up and put on weight.
Tonight, the body is medium pushing full. Texture is gorgeous. The structure, length, tension and length are bigger than it was on Friday. Flavors are more pronounced and bolder. Gummy dark red fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, plum, blue fruits, cooked rhubarb and baked strawberries. Black cherry cola, mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, showing some black pepper, darker spice than the nose, limestone, moist rich turned earth, grilled savory meats, touch of smoke (Sonoma fires), slight light tarry notes, crushed dry rock powder, fresh & withering dark red florals with blue flowers and violets. The acidity runs through the palate like a river. The long, elegant, polished, well balanced finish is sexy & beautiful. On the long set, the dark spice deeply penetrates the palate. Lasts a couple minutes!
Photos of, two of their Sonoma vineyards, barrel room and stainless steel tanks.
Just hit a 9.3
This one as well has opened up quite a bit. It’s was vacuum sealed and put back into storage last Friday night.
On the nose; medium & dark red floral fruits. Mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, showing some black pepper, dark spice, limestone, touch of smoke (Sonoma fires) crushed dry rock powder, gummy dark red fruits, blackberries, black cherries, plum, blue fruits, cooked rhubarb and baked strawberries, fresh & withering dark red florals with blue flowers and violets.
This started out on Friday a little light on complexity and body. After about a half hour, it’s complexity showed up and put on weight.
Tonight, the body is medium pushing full. Texture is gorgeous. The structure, length, tension and length are bigger than it was on Friday. Flavors are more pronounced and bolder. Gummy dark red fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, plum, blue fruits, cooked rhubarb and baked strawberries. Black cherry cola, mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, showing some black pepper, darker spice than the nose, limestone, moist rich turned earth, grilled savory meats, touch of smoke (Sonoma fires), slight light tarry notes, crushed dry rock powder, fresh & withering dark red florals with blue flowers and violets. The acidity runs through the palate like a river. The long, elegant, polished, well balanced finish is sexy & beautiful. On the long set, the dark spice deeply penetrates the palate. Lasts a couple minutes!
Photos of, two of their Sonoma vineyards, barrel room and stainless steel tanks.
Just hit a 9.3
Great wine ... Load of fresh berries and cherries on the nose and palate...great finish.. If you haven't had this wine before... And you like Pinot ... You have to try this wine!
Great wine ... Load of fresh berries and cherries on the nose and palate...great finish.. If you haven't had this wine before... And you like Pinot ... You have to try this wine!
2 people found it helpfulSep 1st, 2014
Wine of the night amongst 6 Pinots. Great nose, nice strawberry palate and long finish. Still drinking this long after other guests left and now the finish is hitting 60 seconds. 120 minute decant was not long enough.
Wine of the night amongst 6 Pinots. Great nose, nice strawberry palate and long finish. Still drinking this long after other guests left and now the finish is hitting 60 seconds. 120 minute decant was not long enough.
1 person found it helpfulDec 10th, 2015
My favorite stile of Cali Pinot.
My favorite stile of Cali Pinot.
1 person found it helpfulApr 23rd, 2014
2020 vintage. I know, I know, sketchy vintage for Napa/Sonoma. Velveteen heavy body. Really giving nose. Solid concentration through opening/mid/closing palates. About as plushy as RRV Pinot gets. Delicious but definitely left of center off of the strip. 3.18.23.
2020 vintage. I know, I know, sketchy vintage for Napa/Sonoma. Velveteen heavy body. Really giving nose. Solid concentration through opening/mid/closing palates. About as plushy as RRV Pinot gets. Delicious but definitely left of center off of the strip. 3.18.23.
Mar 18th, 2023
Amazing fruit, raspberries, plums, lots of tannins for a Pinot, I feel it could be put down for years, SO glad I bought a case and this is the 1st bottle we have had!
Amazing fruit, raspberries, plums, lots of tannins for a Pinot, I feel it could be put down for years, SO glad I bought a case and this is the 1st bottle we have had!
Dec 21st, 2022Masterfully integrated fruit and earth. A hint of maple on the nose? Love this.
Masterfully integrated fruit and earth. A hint of maple on the nose? Love this.
Feb 2nd, 2022