Walter Hansel Winery
The South Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Deep and dark black cherry with some slight green, vegetal notes on the finish. Great structure and strong fruit makes this one for the cellar. Tight now, try again in 5-7 years. Very impressive and interesting…open this one if you’re interested in something different.
Deep and dark black cherry with some slight green, vegetal notes on the finish. Great structure and strong fruit makes this one for the cellar. Tight now, try again in 5-7 years. Very impressive and interesting…open this one if you’re interested in something different.
Jun 12th, 2023
Ruby with aromas of sweet ripe berry fruits with a touch of oak, grapes grown on sandy loam soil. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with tobacco, oak and earthy notes. Soft tannins, good balance on long finish ending with notes of earth. Fruit and pepper spice. Nice.
Ruby with aromas of sweet ripe berry fruits with a touch of oak, grapes grown on sandy loam soil. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with tobacco, oak and earthy notes. Soft tannins, good balance on long finish ending with notes of earth. Fruit and pepper spice. Nice.
Apr 12th, 2022
Delicious and juicy. The 2018 Hansel South Slope Pinot is a big boy that keeps on giving. A voluptuous Pinot. Really good. Hitting it up with my Coravin.
Delicious and juicy. The 2018 Hansel South Slope Pinot is a big boy that keeps on giving. A voluptuous Pinot. Really good. Hitting it up with my Coravin.
May 22nd, 2020
I will only say one of the very best CA Pinot Noirs for the money 💰!!! Just buy it. Especially, the Cahill.
Nice to meet Stephen Hansel (left photo) and talk about his wines.
I will only say one of the very best CA Pinot Noirs for the money 💰!!! Just buy it. Especially, the Cahill.
Nice to meet Stephen Hansel (left photo) and talk about his wines.
On the nose; ripe, dark, fresh & withering florals. Ripe; plum, dark cherries, cranberries, blackberries, poached strawberries, hints of wafting blue fruits, cooked rhubarb & black raspberries. Mixed berry cola, cinnamon, light medium spice, vanilla, limestone minerals, tufa & some dry crushed rock powder.
The body is medium and gorgeous. The tannins 80% resolved. Its structure, length, tension are just other side of its peak. The balance near perfect. Ripe; plum, dark cherries, cranberries, blackberries, poached strawberries, hints of wafting blue fruits cooked rhubarb & black raspberries. Mixed berry cola, cinnamon, light medium dark spice, vanilla, limestone minerals, tufa & some dry crushed rock powder with dark, fresh & withering florals with violets. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is gorgeously sexy, too easy to drink and lasts over a minute. Just missed a 9.3 and it just missed.
Photos of; Walter Hansel Winery and Estate wine, tonight’s chuck-wagon with the first 🌽 from our garden this year & Kentucky bourbon marinated chicken kabobs with rosemary potatoes, Winemaker Stephen Hansel and one of their Russian River Vineyards.
On the nose; ripe, dark, fresh & withering florals. Ripe; plum, dark cherries, cranberries, blackberries, poached strawberries, hints of wafting blue fruits, cooked rhubarb & black raspberries. Mixed berry cola, cinnamon, light medium spice, vanilla, limestone minerals, tufa & some dry crushed rock powder.
The body is medium and gorgeous. The tannins 80% resolved. Its structure, length, tension are just other side of its peak. The balance near perfect. Ripe; plum, dark cherries, cranberries, blackberries, poached strawberries, hints of wafting blue fruits cooked rhubarb & black raspberries. Mixed berry cola, cinnamon, light medium dark spice, vanilla, limestone minerals, tufa & some dry crushed rock powder with dark, fresh & withering florals with violets. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is gorgeously sexy, too easy to drink and lasts over a minute. Just missed a 9.3 and it just missed.
Photos of; Walter Hansel Winery and Estate wine, tonight’s chuck-wagon with the first 🌽 from our garden this year & Kentucky bourbon marinated chicken kabobs with rosemary potatoes, Winemaker Stephen Hansel and one of their Russian River Vineyards.
With lunch, this amazing 08 Walter Hansel. Well deserving of a 93 on technical merits but, even a little higher on the pleasure scale.
On the nose, ruby older fruits of; blackberries, dry cranberries, dark cherries, stewed plums, blueberries hues, cooked rhubarb, pomegranate and black raspberries. Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, dark spice, steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry stems, underbrush, hints of black cherry licorice/cola, saddle-wood, touch herbaceous with bright withering red florals.
The drinking window is right around its peak. The body in medium, round and lush. Ruby older fruits of; blackberries, dry cranberries, dark cherries, stewed plums, poached strawberries, blueberries hues, cooked rhubarb, pomegranate and black raspberries. Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, dark spice, steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry crushed rock powder, dry stems, underbrush, hints of black cherry licorice/cola, saddle-wood, touch herbaceous with bright withering red florals. The acidity is round and like a rain shower. The finish is; beautiful, ripe, lush, elegant well balanced and polished.
Photos of, their amazing vistas and my wife blowing out her candle on their birthday gift from Nepenthe.
@Big Sur Nepenthe
With lunch, this amazing 08 Walter Hansel. Well deserving of a 93 on technical merits but, even a little higher on the pleasure scale.
On the nose, ruby older fruits of; blackberries, dry cranberries, dark cherries, stewed plums, blueberries hues, cooked rhubarb, pomegranate and black raspberries. Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, dark spice, steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry stems, underbrush, hints of black cherry licorice/cola, saddle-wood, touch herbaceous with bright withering red florals.
The drinking window is right around its peak. The body in medium, round and lush. Ruby older fruits of; blackberries, dry cranberries, dark cherries, stewed plums, poached strawberries, blueberries hues, cooked rhubarb, pomegranate and black raspberries. Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, dark spice, steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry crushed rock powder, dry stems, underbrush, hints of black cherry licorice/cola, saddle-wood, touch herbaceous with bright withering red florals. The acidity is round and like a rain shower. The finish is; beautiful, ripe, lush, elegant well balanced and polished.
Photos of, their amazing vistas and my wife blowing out her candle on their birthday gift from Nepenthe.
@Big Sur Nepenthe
Very big, fragrant nose, fresh berry start and long, smooth finish.
Very big, fragrant nose, fresh berry start and long, smooth finish.
1 person found it helpfulApr 12th, 2018
Is this a Pinot?! Not for the faint at heart who want a predictable Russian River Pinot. First sip I didn't enjoy. Cough syrup and thick. Nose has red fruit and some cola. After it breathed it was more enjoyable if you're not looking for a mild mannered Pinot.
Is this a Pinot?! Not for the faint at heart who want a predictable Russian River Pinot. First sip I didn't enjoy. Cough syrup and thick. Nose has red fruit and some cola. After it breathed it was more enjoyable if you're not looking for a mild mannered Pinot.
1 person found it helpfulMay 3rd, 2017
Pinot drinks like a burgundy
Pinot drinks like a burgundy
1 person found it helpfulJan 15th, 2017Big, powerful and many to age. Candied red cherry and strawberry, ripe pomegranate, violets, lavender, Cola, and lots of oak influence.
Big, powerful and many to age. Candied red cherry and strawberry, ripe pomegranate, violets, lavender, Cola, and lots of oak influence.
Apr 3rd, 2017