Purchased in 2014 from another’s cellar through HDH, Chicago. Decanted around 4:30pm and tasted throughout the evening and the next day. Lovely bright translucent medium ruby. Very elegant, medium bodied but packing more flavor than it looks like it should. Very little sign of advancing age with perhaps a little brick at the meniscus. Nose has a reasonable amount of vanilla, along with violets, baking spice and rich ripe cherry. Palate reflects the nose and is chewy and dense yet retaining plenty of acidity so it is still bright and good with food. Bone dry but yet the fruit is prominent in the mid palate. Finish is long and layered with more elegant notes of florals and a smidgeon of chocolate. Nice with both a grilled sirloin and chicken and porks kabobs.
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Decanted at 3:30 pm and tasted through about 10:30. This just got better and better until it was all gone. It was rather closed through the first 3 hours but the exploded with both fragrances and flavors. The nose had dark cherry, black raspberry, and minerals. Acidity was medium high but in balance with the wine overall which had a nice viscous texture. It was long complex and chewy on the palate with minerals, the red and light black fruit and a wonderful mouth feel. Burgundian in style rather than Cali yet clearly it had more ripeness than most Burg’s. Extremely enjoyable when it fully opened up. So again it is clear to me that this and most any wine from Hanzell is better with lots of air.
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Decanted at 4 pm and drunk from 7-8pm. Dark Translucent ruby, little to no sign of bricking, youthful looking. Nose is elegant, generous and layered with the expected cherry, some grilled meat, earthy mineralogy and a touch of vanilla. Very voluptuous on the tongue rich and chewy yet bright and lively. Nice flavors of red fruit/cherry, some menthol, smokey, earthy minerals and a long aftertaste. Great with grilled, spicy, dry rubbed salmon. Plenty of life ahead if this bottle is representative. Purchased from HDH in Chicago 2+ years ago, shipped halfway across the country and stored in my cellar since. Well balanced and not overdone in any dimension. Lovely!
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Pale red, clear. 14.6% Strawberry, pepper, blueberry and toast on the nose. Medium tannins and lots of acidity. Creamy vanilla, sour cherry, earthiness and herbal flavors. Delicious.
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bought on release..decanted one hour..riedel vinum burg glass..lt brick color with some brown around the edges..on the nose..sweet notes of red cherry...garden soil..some pepper..however, there is still some hotness which almost overwhelms...fortunately, this is less evident on the palate..the sweetness is there...good fruit..mid palate silky as is the finish...however, the hotness does return a bit on the finish associated with a little bitterness..overall...elegant...i wish the above “faults” were less evident
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Deep red/violet in the glass. Lots of fruit and garden dirt on the nose. In the mouth: Red fruit, earth, campfire and some spice. Feels round and lush in the mouth, with nice acidity and a medium length finish, good balance overall. Elegant.
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Smooth and balanced, opened nicely. Bright candied dark red fruit. Lots of time left. Willl improve. Other reviewers may prefer the softer california pinot style. This had more burgundy like structure and california fruit.
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brilliant ruby clear, red cherry fruit with earth (dirt) and herbal mushroom notes, silky smooth texture with fine tannins, wound up tightly around ample core of acidity, short finish - needs time, expensive but a proven record of ageability. roast pork, salmon, veal, game bird. 2G (Prestige, 65.20)
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Made from 100% Pinot Noir this wine is aged for 16 months in new and old French oak barrels. Light red in colour I found Strawberry and Gooseberry as well as mineral notes on the nose. These make way for strawberries and cream on the palate. Some acidity, subtle tannins.
Tasted in the Grand Tasting at the 10th Decanter Fine Wine Encounter, Landmark Hotel, London.
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9/22/2019 - dofzin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep red color. Dark cherries, minerals. Still holding up well.
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8/11/2019 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purchased in 2014 from another’s cellar through HDH, Chicago. Decanted around 4:30pm and tasted throughout the evening and the next day. Lovely bright translucent medium ruby. Very elegant, medium bodied but packing more flavor than it looks like it should. Very little sign of advancing age with perhaps a little brick at the meniscus. Nose has a reasonable amount of vanilla, along with violets, baking spice and rich ripe cherry. Palate reflects the nose and is chewy and dense yet retaining plenty of acidity so it is still bright and good with food. Bone dry but yet the fruit is prominent in the mid palate. Finish is long and layered with more elegant notes of florals and a smidgeon of chocolate. Nice with both a grilled sirloin and chicken and porks kabobs.
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6/16/2018 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted at 3:30 pm and tasted through about 10:30. This just got better and better until it was all gone. It was rather closed through the first 3 hours but the exploded with both fragrances and flavors. The nose had dark cherry, black raspberry, and minerals. Acidity was medium high but in balance with the wine overall which had a nice viscous texture. It was long complex and chewy on the palate with minerals, the red and light black fruit and a wonderful mouth feel. Burgundian in style rather than Cali yet clearly it had more ripeness than most Burg’s. Extremely enjoyable when it fully opened up. So again it is clear to me that this and most any wine from Hanzell is better with lots of air.
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7/11/2016 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted at 4 pm and drunk from 7-8pm. Dark Translucent ruby, little to no sign of bricking, youthful looking. Nose is elegant, generous and layered with the expected cherry, some grilled meat, earthy mineralogy and a touch of vanilla. Very voluptuous on the tongue rich and chewy yet bright and lively. Nice flavors of red fruit/cherry, some menthol, smokey, earthy minerals and a long aftertaste. Great with grilled, spicy, dry rubbed salmon. Plenty of life ahead if this bottle is representative. Purchased from HDH in Chicago 2+ years ago, shipped halfway across the country and stored in my cellar since. Well balanced and not overdone in any dimension. Lovely!
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11/23/2013 - Abanker Likes this wine: 91 Points
very good, enjoyed at Donovan's with family.
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10/17/2013 - Janstan Likes this wine: 82 Points
Over the hill. Not much fruit left , disappointing
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9/21/2013 - Linn wrote: 94 Points
This was hitting my sweet spot tonight. Round and elegant with just about the right grip to go with Risotto. Drink now-2015
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9/8/2013 - mhauser Likes this wine:
Pale red, clear. 14.6% Strawberry, pepper, blueberry and toast on the nose. Medium tannins and lots of acidity. Creamy vanilla, sour cherry, earthiness and herbal flavors. Delicious.
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7/24/2012 - michaelgor wrote: 92 Points
bought on release..decanted one hour..riedel vinum burg glass..lt brick color with some brown around the edges..on the nose..sweet notes of red cherry...garden soil..some pepper..however, there is still some hotness which almost overwhelms...fortunately, this is less evident on the palate..the sweetness is there...good fruit..mid palate silky as is the finish...however, the hotness does return a bit on the finish associated with a little bitterness..overall...elegant...i wish the above “faults” were less evident
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6/4/2011 - suzanna9452000 wrote: 90 Points
Deep red/violet in the glass. Lots of fruit and garden dirt on the nose. In the mouth: Red fruit, earth, campfire and some spice. Feels round and lush in the mouth, with nice acidity and a medium length finish, good balance overall. Elegant.
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11/14/2010 - sdwineguru wrote: 90 Points
Mid-garnet, brick edges; varietal nose, stemmy, earthy, hints of oak; mid-body, balanced; good flavor; a little hot. Great with lamb.
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8/28/2010 - BarbaraW wrote:
Nice! A lovely, balanced wine, though still young.
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3/4/2010 - Margauxguy wrote: 90 Points
not much change from the last time, candied, cherry cola, but hints of terroir, dirt, mushroom, continues to open
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11/11/2009 - Margauxguy wrote: 91 Points
Smooth and balanced, opened nicely. Bright candied dark red fruit. Lots of time left. Willl improve. Other reviewers may prefer the softer california pinot style. This had more burgundy like structure and california fruit.
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4/29/2009 - DenisLee wrote:
Was not impressed for the price. Nothing outstanding here.
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12/26/2007 - ChinonRouge wrote:
I drank it, and don't even remember it. Must not have been too bad, otherwise I would remember it.
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4/4/2007 - LoireFan wrote: 91 Points
Way young, will improve!
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2/15/2007 - Barberolo wrote:
brilliant ruby clear, red cherry fruit with earth (dirt) and herbal mushroom notes, silky smooth texture with fine tannins, wound up tightly around ample core of acidity, short finish - needs time, expensive but a proven record of ageability. roast pork, salmon, veal, game bird. 2G (Prestige, 65.20)
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11/19/2006 - jamieirving wrote: 81 Points
Made from 100% Pinot Noir this wine is aged for 16 months in new and old French oak barrels. Light red in colour I found Strawberry and Gooseberry as well as mineral notes on the nose. These make way for strawberries and cream on the palate. Some acidity, subtle tannins.
Tasted in the Grand Tasting at the 10th Decanter Fine Wine Encounter, Landmark Hotel, London.
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7/17/2006 - stoll wrote:
Very nice, elegant styled pinot. Pretty pricey, though. Held it's own with the tri-tip we had.
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