May 29, 2022 - My last 2005 from a visit to the winery in 2007 or so. Enjoyable but getting "tired."
January 9, 2022 - Decanted. Trace sediment. Color leaning towards a more brownish red. Perhaps not the strongest of the +/- 2 year vintages. Cherry, stone, minerals, perhaps a little menthol. Seemed a bit lacking in fruit relative to other Hanzell vintages, but still an engaging wine.
October 16, 2018 - Interesting to see how tastes change over time... this wine was initially drank on my first date with my now wife (that certainly gave some score inflation) and I remember really enjoying it. 7 years later, my palate has shifted strongly to the old world, but we pulled this out to remember that great night. The nose is big with ripe, liqueur like red fruits, cherry, raspberry, hints of menthol and oak spice. The palate is too hot for me now; seems out of balance and the alcohol overwhelms the subtlety; I think this is still a solid wine for drinkers of new world, riper styles, but for me it is no longer one to keep around. Still fun to taste and remember younger days.
April 29, 2017 - Brownish-red. Clear. Very typical nose of strawberry, flint, cherry. Medium tannins and acidity. Light on the palate, with a bit of oaky smoothness. Lots of BBQ, savory, cherry cola. Long finish. Very good right now.
February 14, 2016 - We had a 2005 night with contributions from:
- Kanonkop, South Africa - Claret blend
- Hazell, California - Pinot Noir
- Grange, Australia - Syrah (Bin 95, Bottle 48964)
Kanonkop - gave nothing away on the nose. Plenty of fruit on the foretaste. Drink up now.
Hazell - much stronger perfumed bouquet. Longer in the mid range and continued. This is a v good wine.
Grange - lives up to the hype. Complex. Oak and vanilla. Medicinal. Fruit. Very long aftertaste. Could easily go another 5 years.
All were ready to drink. All had deep dark edges considering they are 11 years old.
Main course was a Beef Wellington, then cheeses
January 1, 2016 - Enjoyed the wine but not very pinot like as I recall a few bottles/years ago
June 27, 2015 - Light-mid garnet, brick edges; stemmy PN nose; gamey; wood; mid-body; tight tannins and acids have evolved; good structure; long lush finish. w/tri tip
June 2, 2014 - Solid pinot with a deeper than normal pinot color. Full body and smooth as silk
February 10, 2014 - Very pronounced. Hints of pepper. Full bodied
September 8, 2013 - Medium red, clear. A bit of something like funk (but don't think it was actually brett) on the nose that blew off pretty quick. Vanilla, red berries and a bit of heat on the nose. Moderate tannins, and medium acidity. The heat obscured some of the palate in this ripe wine - pepper, cassis and black licorice. Good, but not great.