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 Vintage2019 Label 1 of 30 
TypeRed
ProducerWalter Hansel Winery (web)
VarietyPinot Noir
Designationn/a
VineyardCuvée Alyce
CountryUSA
RegionCalifornia
SubRegionSonoma County
AppellationRussian River Valley
UPC Code(s)7416158459257, 843291015502

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2021 and 2028 (based on 4 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Walter Hansel Pinot Noir Cuvee Alyce on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 91.7 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 7 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by El_Dougo on 10/4/2023 & rated 91 points: This is a dark foreboding monster at the moment yet holds a lot of promise. Burgundian in style, as opposed to the local Russian River style of its neighborhood brethren. That said, I don’t know what explains its high (14.5%) alcohol that def packs the heat. Feels off balance for the moment or better said not totally put together. The fruit is certainly there - blackberry, black cherry, and a strong sense of earthiness and mushroom. Also a hint of saddle leather and barnyard brett.
I will be tracking the development of this bottle and have great expectations. (707 views)
 Tasted by libero on 8/27/2023 & rated 92 points: A delicious Pinot. Walter Hansel all Pinots are among our favorites , including this cuvee. (583 views)
 Tasted by WineTally on 5/17/2023: 100% Pinot Noir (field blend of clones 777 and 115)
from the Alyce (Srephen's mother) block on the North slope with heavy
adobe clay soil and organic practice yielding barely 1 ton per acre.
Manual harvest with average 9 passes and sorted in field and on table.
De-stemmed and whole berries gravity fed into open top fermenters.
Vinified by natural yeast.
Aged 12 months in French oak (~50% new) on lees without racking.
14.5% Abv.
History: Walter Hansel first planted 257 chardonnay vines in 1978.
Son Stephen started on his own since 1996.

A(ccuray)=2: Med ruby/red. Intense, robust varietal.
B(alance)=2: Ripe fruit with adequate acid structure.
C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, licorice, smoke, tobacco.
D(epth)=2: Savory mouthfeel. Full palate and lingering finish.

Wine Tally Score [2,2,2,2]= 8/10

New World ripeness with Old World charm.

For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.instagram.com/p/CssNyV5sBV0/]
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
For a video explanation of WineTally (in 8 languages) see:
Wine Tally on www.youtube.com. (805 views)
 Tasted by Asull2k on 1/22/2023 & rated 91 points: Decanted a portion for 1-2 hrs, slow ox’d the rest, both of which worked well to open (1 hr after decant or day 2 slow ox). Deep ruby and purple color. A little dried cranberry, mushroom, tiny bit of funk on the nose. Cranberry, raspberry, overripe blackberry, a little black olive on the palate with about 30 sec finish. Definitely not as much tea leaf as the North Slope pinot. Nice QPR! (1071 views)
 Tasted by kabert on 9/11/2022 & rated 92 points: Drunk over two days, this young pinot kept going strong. Dark like a syrah, but light to medium bodied, this walks a great line between delectable dark fruit and minerals and a touch of acidity. Should continue to improve, with well-stored age. (1242 views)
 Tasted by air guitar & pinot noir on 4/22/2022 & rated 92 points: Another winner from Walter Hansel. Rich, dark fruit with menthol notes. Mushroom notes and deep savory flavors. Over delivers as one of the ongoing values in the Pinot Noir spectrum. Good depth and satisfying from beginning to end. (1310 views)
 Tasted by air guitar & pinot noir on 4/2/2022 & rated 92 points: Solid and elegant Pinot from Walter Hansel. Dark rich fruit with great body and flavor. Blackberry, dark cherry and excellent mouthfeel. As always the wine outperforms the price point. (1151 views)

Professional 'Channels'
By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Sonoma Preview: 2021 Edition (Jan 2021) (1/1/2021)
(Walter Hansel Winery Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce Sonoma Red) Subscribe to see review text.
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles)

Walter Hansel Winery

Producer website

Pinot Noir

Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.


Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.

Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.

The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.

Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.

In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.

With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.

Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.

USA

American wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

California

2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson

Sonoma County

Mendocino County

Russian River Valley

Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association | Wikipedia

 
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