2019 Walter Hansel Winery Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 91.7 points

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  10/4/2023 - El_Dougo wrote: 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.

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  8/27/2023 - libero wrote: 92 Points

  A delicious Pinot. Walter Hansel all Pinots are among our favorites , including this cuvee.

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  5/17/2023 - WineTally Likes this wine:

  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.
  
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  1/22/2023 - Asull2k Likes this wine: 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!

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  9/11/2022 - kabert Likes this wine: 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.

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