Hans tastes some wines

Tasted Wednesday, September 10, 2008 by hutch with 572 views

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2007 Walter Hansel Winery Sauvignon Blanc 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Light golden color. Great fruit, quite rich for a SB. Lots of stone/white fruits. Long finish. Has a nice yummy factor. Both unique and tasty. 90-91

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  • 2007 Cade Sauvignon Blanc 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted more like a bordeaux blend, with the layer of richness this wine carried. This wine is north of $30 in my market, and it just doesn't reach the depths that a domestic SB needs to reach to justify such a lofty price. It's good, and well done, but that's about all I can say. 88-89

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Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 2005 Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Hmm. this is different. Light. bright green apple nose Mineral driven, with a touch of oxidation on the palate. Finishes with a huge bright Chablis like burst of acidity, and then a slightly odd finish. I liked it for its uniqueness, and that bracing acidity, but it's a tough sell at its price. 88ish

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  • 2006 Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay Estate 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Rich, sweet yellow apple nose. Yellow pears on palate. Stays restrained, and doesn't veer into the tropical. Oaky, but not woody. Very well balanced for those looking for that Cali style that doesn't veer into the sweet tropical style. Reasonably priced as well. 90-91

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  • 2006 Ramey Chardonnay Russian River Valley 88 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Usually a big fan of Ramey's chards, but this one didn't really do it for me. Much more restrained then I remember previous bottlings. Nice finish, and a solid finish, but usually these wines have a bit of a wow factor, and this one does not. 88-89

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

  • 2006 Walter Hansel Winery Pinot Noir Hansel Family Vineyards 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    This is a pretty kicking bottle of pinot. It makes me want to try his single vyd stuff. Beautiful nose. Full of cinamon, cloves and a raspberry/strawberry infusion. Medium body, with mouthwatering acidity. Elegant, soft silky tannins. Amazing that the regular bottling has everything I look for in a pinot noir. Really good stuf. 91+

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  • 2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Amber Ridge 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Has that strawberry/rhubarb quality that I usually get with Siduri's. More restrained then most Siduri's I've come across. This is actually a very nice bottle, with a lot of the same qualities as the Hansell on the palate. But not quite as elegant. Still quite happy with it though. 88-90

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  • 2006 Benovia Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 86 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    This will have its fans, but don't count me as one of them. The nose was extremely ripe, with the fruit veering into cola properties. On the palate, it seemed monolithic to me, with no suggestions of elegance or finesse. It carried some signifigant tannins and structure, so perhaps this will evolve into something more interesting in a couple of years, it just wasn't that interesting right now. 86-87

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Flight 4 (1 Note)

  • 2003 Strata Merlot 85 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District

    No, it wasn't a bad bottle. It should be noted that in a room full of wino's, I seemed to be the only person who didn't like this. I found the nose full of cinamon and plummy fruit. Overipe on the palate, almost to the point of stewiness. Some big tannins. I've had this twice and thought consistently the same thing. Not cheap, at least by merlot standards, either.

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Flight 5 (3 Notes)

  • 2003 Juslyn Vineyards Perry's Blend 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Rich, blackberry fruit on the nose. Rich and extracted. Pretty big tannins. Good solid cab, but doesn't hit the next height that I expect from this price point. 88-89

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  • 2003 Juslyn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Select 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This reaches a new level from the Perry's blend. A mocha componant is added to the nose along with the blackberry fruit. Very rich, dark fruits, with a lush, round mouthfeel. Give it some time to soften a bit, but a gorgeous cab. 91-92

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  • 2003 Juslyn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spring Mountain District 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Hugely extracted, but has the structure to make it work. Massive tannins join the blackberry and cassis fruit. A big meaty cab to be enjoyed now with a steak or forgotten about for ten years. Either way, impressively done. 92-93

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