I was a bit worried opening the bottle because the cork was slighly loose, but all turned out well. I let it breath in the bottle for 45 minutes. Nice light golden color. Aromas of peaches, lemon, apple, toast, wirh hints of honey and oak, maybe a touch of vanilla. The wine is well-structured, and complex, with a nice balance of acidity, fruit/spice, sugar, and alcohol. The flavors which appear are pear, lemon, toast, peaches, some kind of nut (walnut ?), with a bit of apple, vanilla, oak (barely), and honey in the background. This is a full-bodied wine with a long-ish finish. I like the smooth, slightly creamy quality. I served it with a ravioli florentine with bay scallops & baby-clams in a buttered-based clam sauce (with artichokes & onions mixed in). This wine was a much-appreciated gift. My actual rating is 92.75. Delicious !! It seems to be at its peak - I suggest drinking it now. Cheers !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of hazelnut, papaya, mango, lemon meringue and orange blossom. Flavors pretty much match the aromas of this. Ends with a 35 second finish with tropical fruit notes. Consistently one of the best values out there for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, bright gold. Opulent nose, ripe peach, cream, honey, vanilla, ginger, toast. Lots of ripe fruit and sweet oak, but everything gels nicely. The palate follows through. Plenty of sweet fruit, it almost gives an off-dry impression, but then comes the acidity, and yes alcohol (14.4%). Long with honey, peach, marmalade, quite nutty and tangy at the finish. A big style of Chardonnay, but very well executed. Seemingly in a prime spot, though it could age another 2 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent! Notes of wet granite, oak. Did not get much apricot or peach on the nose. My wife got peach skin and bit of struck match (sulfer) at the end.
Perfect balance. Maybe I am sick of shelter in place, but this wine was superb with halibut, rice and, asparagus.
Really enjoyed this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose features peach, honey, and oak. Those characters follow onto the palate, with a bit of cream, all of them perfectly in balance. Likewise there’s a acidity that provides a backbone for all that’s going on here. Excellent QPR at around $30.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium golden yellow in color. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of apples, peaches & citrus notes of lemons/limes with overtones of floral notes of honeysuckle, smoky, minerals, stony, baking spices & a hint of vanilla/toasty oak in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth texture, ripe flavors of apples, pears & lemons/limes with honey, minerals & a hint of toasty oak/vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but has the fruit & structure to continue with its development for a few more additional years if cellared properly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love Walter Hansel wines. The pinots are outstanding and in alternating south, north , Cahill , depending of the vintage the south slope prevail. This Cahill Chardonnay is round, melow, buttery with peaches, honey and another Aromas that I can’t identify. Great for aperitifs and not much with entree, even fish and shirimps. The Sauvignon Blanc and the Rose of Pinot go better with seafood.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I just had the pleasure of having a meal at the Hansel Bisto in Santa Rosa (go if you are ever in the area) and had a flight of Hansel chardonnays: Estate, Cahill, Alyce. I love Hansel wines - always balanced and elegant. The Estate was the simplest of the three, but still was very "burgundian" with great, fresh flavors of honeysuckle, citrus, a hint of honey and a smooth, elegant, medium-bodied texture and crisp acidity. The Cahill was a bit bigger with more sweetness and the same elegance, smoothness, fresh flavors and crispness. Finally, the Alyce was more complex with notes of apricot and peach. I oreferred the Cahill, but only slightly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/16/2022 - coal9 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I was a bit worried opening the bottle because the cork was slighly loose, but all turned out well. I let it breath in the bottle for 45 minutes. Nice light golden color. Aromas of peaches, lemon, apple, toast, wirh hints of honey and oak, maybe a touch of vanilla. The wine is well-structured, and complex, with a nice balance of acidity, fruit/spice, sugar, and alcohol. The flavors which appear are pear, lemon, toast, peaches, some kind of nut (walnut ?), with a bit of apple, vanilla, oak (barely), and honey in the background. This is a full-bodied wine with a long-ish finish. I like the smooth, slightly creamy quality. I served it with a ravioli florentine with bay scallops & baby-clams in a buttered-based clam sauce (with artichokes & onions mixed in). This wine was a much-appreciated gift. My actual rating is 92.75. Delicious !! It seems to be at its peak - I suggest drinking it now. Cheers !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2021 - zin-fan-delaware Does not like this wine:
Flawed. Cork broke; not a good sign. Heading to vinegar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2020 - slywka7 wrote:
Aromas of hazelnut, papaya, mango, lemon meringue and orange blossom. Flavors pretty much match the aromas of this. Ends with a 35 second finish with tropical fruit notes. Consistently one of the best values out there for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2020 - pbmedder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, bright gold. Opulent nose, ripe peach, cream, honey, vanilla, ginger, toast. Lots of ripe fruit and sweet oak, but everything gels nicely. The palate follows through. Plenty of sweet fruit, it almost gives an off-dry impression, but then comes the acidity, and yes alcohol (14.4%). Long with honey, peach, marmalade, quite nutty and tangy at the finish. A big style of Chardonnay, but very well executed. Seemingly in a prime spot, though it could age another 2 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2020 - MH Amateur wrote: 94 Points
Excellent! Notes of wet granite, oak. Did not get much apricot or peach on the nose. My wife got peach skin and bit of struck match (sulfer) at the end.
Perfect balance. Maybe I am sick of shelter in place, but this wine was superb with halibut, rice and, asparagus.
Really enjoyed this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2019 - Ortiz Brown Likes this wine: 90 Points
The nose features peach, honey, and oak. Those characters follow onto the palate, with a bit of cream, all of them perfectly in balance. Likewise there’s a acidity that provides a backbone for all that’s going on here. Excellent QPR at around $30.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2019 - rvsj wrote: 91 Points
Drank over 3 nights, held up well. Big and bold, but finely balanced. Amazing QPR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2019 - Glencoewine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over three nights. Held up well. Would buy more. Great QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2019 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
Good QPR @ $25
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2018 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium golden yellow in color. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of apples, peaches & citrus notes of lemons/limes with overtones of floral notes of honeysuckle, smoky, minerals, stony, baking spices & a hint of vanilla/toasty oak in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth texture, ripe flavors of apples, pears & lemons/limes with honey, minerals & a hint of toasty oak/vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but has the fruit & structure to continue with its development for a few more additional years if cellared properly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2018 - MH Amateur wrote: 93 Points
Hansel always good value. Good blend of butter and oak. Excellent bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2018 - libero wrote: 91 Points
I love Walter Hansel wines. The pinots are outstanding and in alternating south, north , Cahill , depending of the vintage the south slope prevail.
This Cahill Chardonnay is round, melow, buttery with peaches, honey and another Aromas that I can’t identify.
Great for aperitifs and not much with entree, even fish and shirimps. The Sauvignon Blanc and the Rose of Pinot go better with seafood.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2018 - rickspicks wrote: 93 Points
I just had the pleasure of having a meal at the Hansel Bisto in Santa Rosa (go if you are ever in the area) and had a flight of Hansel chardonnays: Estate, Cahill, Alyce. I love Hansel wines - always balanced and elegant. The Estate was the simplest of the three, but still was very "burgundian" with great, fresh flavors of honeysuckle, citrus, a hint of honey and a smooth, elegant, medium-bodied texture and crisp acidity. The Cahill was a bit bigger with more sweetness and the same elegance, smoothness, fresh flavors and crispness. Finally, the Alyce was more complex with notes of apricot and peach. I oreferred the Cahill, but only slightly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment