May 29, 2011 - Decanted 1.5 hours prior to consumption. The more air it gained the less French it became. Strangely it was earthier, funkier and less fruit foward after 1.5 hours after being decanted then 2 hours. As the night grew on, it became more fruit foward and cherry driven. A very lively wine. Enjoy!
December 28, 2009 - Northwoods New Year 2010; 12/27/2009-1/3/2010 (Boulder Junction, Wisconsin): My score can be summed up by two words - mouth feel. Smooth, lush, and thick. At the same time, the flavor profiles are not over-the-top or cloying. Too much going on in the kitchen of our small cabin to make any meaningful comments on the nose. On the palate, relatively dark Pinot fruit, little if any overt acidity. Long finish. At least for me, this wine is at it's apex for current drinking. For my palate and from memory, this is one of the top 10 pinots I've had.
March 16, 2009 - probably past its peak, but still very good. Brown tinge and not a rich, full, thick pinot, but wonderful delicate cherries and flowers. Long finish. An excellent valve.
December 7, 2008 - Dinner for Claus' visit to Denver (Denver, CO): Opened 2 hours ahead and not decanted. Translucent smokey red in color. Gorgeous nose of earthy cherries, strawberries, pine and baking spice – definitely one to keep drawing you back. Palate had just the right balance of layered, medium-full weighted fruit and lifting acidty. Matched well with both the scallops and the mango cilantro salsa.
September 28, 2007 - Right from the get go - nose of pinot berries, cola and baking spice. On the palate, shows a well integrated bit of oak around a core of ripe red fruit with a bit of baking spice on teh finish..... still a touch of heat but I really liked this bottle - too bad it was my last.
October 1, 2006 - Cherry, cinnamon and a woodsie spice. Palate with good red fruit, spicey complexity and nice structure. Finishes in balance and with some underlying minerality.
July 28, 2006 - Drank wth Claudio and Tito with Sirloin. Nice balance, a bit of alcohol, very well integrated berries. Wild Cherries dominate.
February 12, 2006 - 14.5% alcohol. russian river valley.
the evolution in the glass is dramatic. upon opening, i knew i liked what i thought this wine could be, but it wasn't enough. thin in the midpalate, and short in the finish. now, an hour later, the swan emerges. lovely mixed berries, an undercurrent of expressive spices and earth, a satisfying mid palate that segues into a sweet tannin/ mild cherry finish. i dug out my order form. holy bat shit! only 75 cases made. i have one more bottle, and i'll hold for a year to see if any additional complexities develop. however, i feel this wine is drinking beautifully tonight, and i am skeptical that it will "improve." drink at your convenience now, or over the next 5 years, and be impressed. hansel does a lot of things right. recommended.
April 20, 2005 - Pinot Noir Tasting (Meo Camuzet, Flowers, Hansel, Cristom...) (Zoot Restaurant): This is the real deal. The nose goes right through you and shows incredibly pure and focused red fruit and classic RRV spice. On the palate, there are just lots of things going on while Vanilla, cherry, cinnamon stick, white chocolate, and minerally, nutty tastes melt together into a very long finish.