4/14/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

No notes taken. Great with mussels.

4/14/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

No notes taken. Drinking great! More Montrachet than Mersault.

4/8/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Light straw, clear, muted lemon, tropical fruits, some minerality. The body shows the roundness of the semillon, with a bright finish and decent length. Nice wine; aromatics less pronounced than other vintages. That said I wish more west coast vintners made more of these white Bordeaux blends.

3/23/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

The last of 3 bottles and my favorite. Medium garnet but almost opaque, medium expressive nose has rose, red fruit. The body still has plenty of acidity, well balanced against persistent tannins ( given the age) showing cherry, anise, stone flavors with a medium long finish. Went well with pasta with blue fin tuna cooked with capers and shallots. Great value but had to be patient

3/13/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Clear light straw, lemon curd, some vanilla, peach in the nose, with a bright fresh presentation with some roundness and a long finish. Very nicely made

3/8/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Dark fruit, cedar and tobacco to the nose soft tannin full body and great balance and finish. Great value and drinks well now.

3/6/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

I had hoped for more nose developments on the nose. But clear garnet,medium expressive nose, some tobacco, licorice and spice to the nose. Tannins are resolved and great balance through the finish.

3/6/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Last bottle of the evening. Younger with more fruit in the body which appealed to the party. Will explore again in a year. Ranked behind the 2014 Finn ( better balance and nose) and the Kosta Brown 2015 Gaps Crown ( equal fruit but more balanced) b

3/6/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

medium clear garnet. Medium expressive nose either secondary savory notes. Some red fruit in the body, touch of acid on the finish. Will drink my last bottle soon

3/6/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Clear garnet. Nose was medium expressive with secondary notes. Lovely balance with medium long finish. At this stage in its life drink it against village cru burgundies. I enjoyed with fresh troll caught king salmon.

3/3/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Last bottle. Round wine with malolactic fermentation. Stone fruits, lemon curd, enough acidity to keep it fresh. These are lovely wines from Hansel.

3/3/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Lovely wine, medium garnet color with a lovely expressive nose of sweet cherries and spice. Body was medium with balanced acidity and resolved tannins. Fruit still present along with cola and savory tones. Only bottle but great price to quality wine at least when I bought it.

12/7/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

No written notes. But time has been good and this is drinking great. Upped a point from my earlier review

12/7/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

No notes taken. Still young with a need to resolve its tannins and integrate. Lots if fruit left.

11/28/2023 - jaumealaska wrote:

I don’t score this as my experience varied a lot from my last bottle. Drinking 5 years after its delivery the day before our big 7.1 earthquake I thought the wine too plush. Lots of fruit but the acid structure was lacking. It could have been the food or the fact it followed some bright champagne. Will revisit before the next earthquake.

11/12/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

PnP then drank over 2 days. Notes similar to 2018, lovely nose of red and dark fruits, spice, and some Mourvèdre meat notes. The fruit is medium and the tannins resolved but it remains fresh with a medium long finish. Love the sense of time and place with this wine.

11/9/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

PnP and drunk over 2 days. I was troubled by the disparate reports, but thought the bottle was just fine. With age Zins get a claret aspect and this was not an exception. The nose was muted but by the second day was perfumed with dark fruit, spice. The fruit was fading but the tannins resolved with enough freshness for balance and a medium finish. I think I will drink these a few years earlier though, although if I had another bottle , I would like to see where it is in a few more years.

10/14/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

I followed a Dumol Finn Pinot with this and was blown away by how it matched it despite switching from a clear Pinot profile to Mourvèdre. Clear light purple, the expressive nose was roasted meat and spice, with some forest floor and dark fruits. The body had lots of round dark fruit and resolved tannins, well balanced with a long finish. Lovely wine.

10/14/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Still vibrant this showed dark garnet color,a fully extracted nose of cherry and cola and forest floor. The wine is still round fruit with perfect balance and a long finish. The Finn lived up to its reputation as the longest lived of the Dumol Pinots. I wish I had a case, I would love to taste it when the fruit has faded. But hard not to drink now.

9/3/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

No notes taken. Drank at a party. But still early maturity and lovely with some tertiary notes. Love these wines.

9/3/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Rikipedia hit the description spot on. It needed the bottle time to be integrated, but proved to be a perfect wine for the strong flavors of smoked and grilled Tri tip.

9/3/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Final bottle came through after earlier disjointed bottles. Nose of blue fruit, spices and a touch of leather. Body finally was integrated with some fruit left but nicely balanced with medium minus acidity and resolved tannins with a medium plus finish. At the end a very good wine at a good price. Worked great with grilled Tri tip.

8/29/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Medium to full extraction, medium purple color. Nose of plums, grilled meat, and spice. The body is round, medium plus extraction, with moderate tannins that are partially resolved, good acidity to balance and a medium plus finish. A delicious wine in early maturity. Carried its 14.8 alcohol without effort.

8/13/2023 - jaumealaska wrote:

This had more pronounced Bret in it than I remember with other vintages. More than just earthy. Also more pronounced than than what I see in a Pegau and it did not blow off. Will try again and evaluate. Behind the Bret was nice red fruit and partially resolved tannins. Good balance

8/13/2023 - jaumealaska wrote:

Wow what a disappointment I think it was cooked. The fruit was there but like stewed plums. . Looking at my records it was a Premier Cru wine. Kay strikes again.

6/9/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Dark Garnet with some brick on the rim. Nose of green olive tapenade, dark fruit, some spice box undertone. Body has partially resolved tannins and freshness to keep in balance , medium long finish Nice wine. Brings back memories of Rioja outside of Logrono. A tapas of grilled duck liver on baguette bread would be perfect.

6/5/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Hansel continues to deliver at a great price point. Garnet colored Nose has red fruit, cola and wet stone. Body is medium plus acid, resolved tannins and a bright finish. Better for food than contemplation, but a solid wine. In it drinking window.

6/5/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Hansel knocked this out of the park. More minerality and focus than my other experiences with their chardonnays. Rich lemon and undercurrent of vanilla with tropical fruits and a beautiful round mouth feel and a fresh finish with wet stones great value!

6/5/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Fully extracted dark purple Nice nose more Syrah dominant with the red fruit of the Grenache in the background. Tannins are partially resolved, long finish. Lovely bottle in its window

5/15/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Terrific bargain for a summer quaffer. Nose of lemon, floral notes, medium round with bright freshness. Great with food and by itself

5/15/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Notes consistent with last time except I decided to score it. The purity and balance of this wine are impeccable.

5/15/2023 - jaumealaska wrote:

Still drinking well. PnP. Its fruit masks it’s high Abv. No notes taken. Held its own against Saxum Broken Stones and a Cayuse Armada.

5/7/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

This has evolved beautifully since I tried it last in 2018. The tannins are partially resolved, but add structure to the dark fruit body. Similar blue fruit and tobacco notes to the nose Added class to our lasagna !

3/12/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

This wine keeps hitting on all cylinders for me especially at this price point. PnP after 2 great CdP, it was medium bodied, it had an expressive nose of grilled meats, savory herbs and plum, well balanced body with dark fruit and resolved tannins, and a great finish. Scored slightly above its brethren 2012 Beaucastel. But maybe I was just happy by that time of night

3/12/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Drank beside a 2010 Vieux Telegraphe and a 2013 Tablas Esprit, this came in 3rd on wow factor; but it was close. Medium bodied, nose of meat and savory notes, well balanced body and great finish. Mainly was the lightest of the 3 in body weight. Or it might have been the transition from a great Grenache to the Mourvèdre blend, but typically one would have expected more not less body.

3/12/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

The vintage is showing through as a strong one. Last tasted in 2018, my notes were similar. Lovely nose of garrique and pepper, red fruit and a well fleshed round body with well integrated tannins and a long finish. Just delicious and still early maturity.

3/12/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Straw yellow with great clarity, nose of lemon curd and delicious round body. Great balance of the fruit and acidity and long finish. Will work for food or by itself Lovely.

3/5/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Lovely wine that we enjoyed on its own after dinner . Fully mature, it still was deep purple with no bricking. Nose of cassis and smoked tea. Body was round dark fruit with resolved tannins and enough acid for balance Long finish It probably can cellar longer but it was drinking in its moment. Enjoy. FYI I have a cold natural cellar so my wines age slowly. I had this as a drink by 2022.

1/24/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Still drinking as strong as my notes from 2 years ago I am finding that a little patience with the Esprit pays off in terms of balance and harmony with lovely Provençal scents wafting in the glass.

1/16/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Expressive nose of graphite, wet stones and sweet tobacco. Medium body and medium finish Delicious wine

1/16/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

In an outstanding line up, this held its own. Nothing’ extraordinary Just delicious well made and a great finish. Mature and drinking well.

1/15/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Still young/early maturity, the savory tobacco and dark fruit was expresive. Good balance and a great finish.

1/15/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Mini vertical of the 96 and 05. The 96 was beautiful with expressive nose of cassis, graphite and tobacco. Medium bodied and long finish Drinking well! It was the oldest of line up of 05,06, and 2012 Bordeaux’s and Napa cab. Held us own in a strong crowd

1/14/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Our generous friend DS brought a bottle to oor Bordeaux and Napa wine tasting. Expressive nose of cassis and camphor sweet tobacco, well balanced with medium tannins and a long finish Drinking well with time open.

1/1/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Deep dark fruits and savory meat notes Great finish. Too many bottles drunk and no notes but the CT score migh be low

1/1/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Drank early in the night. It was drinking great! No notes taken. Matching my earlier score.

1/1/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

No notes taken Too many bottles. Looking at past notes the tannins are still firm.

1/1/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

No notes taken. Wild night and too many bottles Nose was expressive and drinking on the young side Crowd favorite.

12/29/2022 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

It really is a wonderful wine Nose of dark fruits laced with meat and minerality. Rounded fruits in the body with balanced acid and rounded tannins. Long finish. Just delicious

12/24/2022 - jaumealaska Likes this wine:

Still quite purple. Expressive nose is black fruit, some camphor, some minerality, Body is round dark fruits with good acid backbone and partially resolved tannins. Medium long finish. Really just a delicious wine. Drank well over 2 days so probably is only mid maturity.