PnP (as there was no time to decant), chilled. The wine improved as it was exposed to air. The color was a clear straw-yellow. A wonderfully balanced wine showing lemon juice and crème, stone fruit, green apple, minerality, very, very light oak, and balancing acidity. The partial malo creates a medium plus mouthfeel with a long finish. Should hold for several more years.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. A clear medium straw-yellow color. A richer, fuller mouth feel due to the partial malo and with only light (unobtrusive) notes of oak. On the palate are notes of lemon, white fruit, green apple and minerality, with food friendly fresh acidity. A dependable Cali Chard that satisfies this Chablis lover.
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Very pretty in a pure way. Light oak framing but I never noticed it the way some here have in the notes. It informs the build more than the expression. Never complex but it was so lovely I didn't care. Nothing in the way of oxidation. The maturity is only showing the way the fruit is less rich now. Went down quick.
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Some 9 months since our previous bottle of this wine and this bottle was very similar to that previous bottle, so I repeat that TN: Decanted for 40 minutes. The color was a clear straw-yellow. A wonderfully balanced wine showing lemon crème, stone fruit, green apple, minerality, very light oak, and balancing acidity. The partial malo creates a medium plus mouthfeel with a long finish. Should hold for several more years.
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Beautiful Chard- the age has done something wonderful here. Thanksgiving dinner. Paired excellent. Voice of one young lady who’d sworn off Chard- “ I hate Chard, ILOVE this!” - Hanzell Chard - changing lives!
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Light lemon yellow color. Still some oak left but not overwhelming. Richer style but with enough bright acid to keep it interesting. I am not a big California Chardonnay drinker but Hanzell is always a standout. Really good wine and years ahead of it.
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A bit better integrated and more mellow oak than 3 years ago. Still not giving much. Decent Chardonnay flavours, toasty fruit but both still youthful and one dimensional.
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Based on previous experience with this wine, and advice from OldWines (see below) this bottle was decanted for about 40 minutes during which time it opened and integrated. In fact, my experience is that all of Hanzell's wines benefit from decanting--how long is personal choice. Our first bottle from this vintage. The color was a clear straw-yellow. A wonderfully balanced wine showing lemon crème, stone fruit, green apple, minerality, very light oak, and balancing acidity. The partial malo creates a medium plus mouthfeel with a long finish. Enjoyed with our version of Chicken Bistro Ralph (a butter, lemon and caper sauce). Should hold for several more years.
Yellow apples, pears, lemon curd, limestone, oregano, and other various spices. Butterscotch and English biscuits. Lovely structure and acidity. The minerality is subtle but graceful.
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Decanted at 3:30 and tasted from 4:45 to 6pm. Again it needs the air but just wonderful wine. Very crystalline and bright with lots of minerality. Lemon, apple and white florals dominate. Really delicious.
Sampled from a pristinely-cellared bottle, Hanzell's 2013 Chardonnay remains medium golden in color and highly aromatic, delivering a bouquet of citrus, white peaches, honeycrisp apples, wet stones and jasmine. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (14.3%) and with well-proportioned oak, it delivers flavors in line with the aromas. Layered and dense on the mid-palate and lengthy on the back end, this is holding up beautifully. Comparably cellared bottles will last longer than previously projected. Drink now-2028.
Tasted at a friend’s house. Small tasted. Really delicious, balanced old world style. Crystalline, but deep and full of flavors ranging from lemon citrus, green apple, white peach/nectarine, white florals and a minerally finish. Excellent!
Best on night three. First night was fairly sharp with acidity not integrated with fruit. By night three there was more harmony. Very old world in styling.
Classic Sonoma Chardonnay from old vines. 2013 Hanzell Chardonnay. Last bottle from cellar. Sharp mid-gold; honey suckle, stone fruit, vanilla, wine lees nose; mid-body; softening acids; long rich lush finish. As noted before, Meursault-like. 17-17.5 UC Davis scale; 92-93 other scales. w/halibut.
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
≈110 min decant into a plastic, cylindrical pitcher which was then capped & refrigerated. After 50 min it was returned to its bottle & placed in a Vini-Cool for ≈1 hr before I 1st tasted it.
N: Closed; Lemons, toast, hints of of toffee; Intensity lurking?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with a LOVELY melding of frt & oak BEAUTIFULLY balanced by an acidity which SEAMLESSLY evolves into a LONG finish with a balanced, ELEGANT, very slight tanginess. A graceful, POLISHED wine for now & through '22 *easily*, + I suspect longer, given its track record for aging. Went WELL with the night's Oxtail Aspic & Roasti Potatoes. My EXC/EXC+, trending towards the higher? // Day 2: Held VERY well [even though I forgot to apply "Private Preserve" to the small amt remaining on Day 1 :( ], likely a result of its ELEGANCE, balance, & ACIDITY. [As of mid Jun '20, wine-searcher only shows this avail in magnums].
Note: 1st tasted on 7/15/17.
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Decanted for a couple hours, definitely needed a little time.
Medium golden yellow. Lush and tropical nose with a little butter, honeysuckle and citrus. Medium acidity (6/10) with a medium plus body. Great palate with lemon curd, pears, and brioche. Long finish. Drink till 2025.
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Well...I followed a recommendation to decant this white wine for at least 30-60 minutes. I am not used to doing that to a white wine. I am now a convert. It really changed with some air. The acidity increased and tropical fruits and pineapple came out. Very nice! Excellent wine!
I finally broke down and decanted a Hanzell Chardonnay (I'll cop to a mental hurdle in decanting white wine). Sure enough, the first glass straight from the pour was fairly reductive with matchstick and sulfur. Nearly like a dry riesling at first. With time, a high acid, but full flavor Chardonnay emerged with citrus and pineapple, but always maintaining a flinty character. Really no hurry with this one.
Hanzell makes some of the best chardonnay coming out of California - and this is no exception. The nose was full of granny smith apples, lemon zest, and hints of vanilla and freshly baked croissants. The palate is medium bodied, good crisp acidity and well made wine. This 7 year old chardonnay feels so young and vibrant - this can easily last another 5+ years. Overall, really enjoyed this California chardonnay - this is not overly oaked, just the right balance. Hanzell has really hit it out of the park with this one.
Krotida Wine Gang Tasting, Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Vertical Tasting (Fita): 75% stainless steel , 25% barrel, lees stirred for 2 months, all of the barrel fermented portion goes into malolactic fermentation, 12 months in 60 gallon French oak barrels, bottled 04-08/5/2015, alcohol 14.3% Medium to high intensity, nutty, biscuit again, light floral and citrus notes. The wine is very light in the palate, nutty, oaky, citrus, pear, apple, medium to high acidity, long finish. Spicy, a bit of heat, needs time and gets more defined
This linear and steely Chardonnay is drinkable but unimpressive. I am a fan of the Hanzell story, and the property is amazing... I just wish their wines were better. Light yellow in color; medium in body; nose of lemon rind, creme brûlée, butterscotch, and saline. Tastes of grapefruit, green apple, buttered toast, vanilla bean, and minerals, with a round, almost oily finish. 14.3% alcohol. I know the difference between subtle and simple is in the eye of the beholder, but I think this trends towards the latter.
I struggled with Hanzell's wines for several years while I was a member. If I drank them too early, they were all acidity and steel. If I drank them too late, they were viscous and undefined (like this one). I concluded there was no happy medium (and cancelled), but try this if you like aged Chardonnay that is balanced but light on fruit, with a nice story (who needs taste when you have narrative!)... just don't expect (or pay) too much. Drink now.
Hanzell's winery is physically modeled after Clos de Vougeot. This iteration of their Chardonnay reminds me of what any producer from Clos de Vougeot would dream of...ripe fruit that retains impressive structure. Medium golden in color, the 2013 is a highly aromatic wine that delivers a core of citrus, pit fruits, wet stones and white flowers. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (14.3%) and judiciously oaked, it is layered and dense on the middle palate and finishes with impressive length. As I have previously stated, this is an alluring, sensual admixture of old and new world. Well-cellared bottles will hold up nicely. Drink now-2023.
Great color. Mild yellow. Excellent nose! Crisp apples. Great taste. Ever so mild oak. Fruity, nice acidity and extremely refreshing. Mellow finish. So goo! Had it with bbq wings and chicken thighs. Was an excellent compliment.
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benefitted from an hour decant. delicious: crisp green apple, ripe melon, and a touch of honey. clean on the pallet. solid wine to pair with delicate seafood.
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This is the second time I have had the 2013 and it was just as pleasurable. A lovely nose of white flowers and a touch of peppermint. Medium body on the palate, I am reminded of the best of Chablis with its stoney minerality and a highly acidic finish.
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Impressive wine. Ripe and tropical on the nose, a hint candied, with touches of toast and marzipan. But the palate is where it’s at. It’s vinous, luminous, and velvety, and shines bright with crunchy green apple, pear, quince, and lemon citrus flavors that are animated by vivid focus, elegant minerality, and vibrant acidity. Long, tactile, and pithy on the seamless finish. Lovely.
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Hanzell dinner at Table, Donkey and Stick (Chicago, IL): Slightly funky on the nose, but it's definitely well within limits for me. The richness and fatter style of the wine is on full display here, but it's still of manageable proportions. A little lacking in acid, but not by too much. Somehow, this doesn't feel as well-integrated, and there's a bit of an angular sense about this to me.
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This was good, but it was overshadowed by the Ramey Ritchie Vineyard 2013 that we drank side-by-side with it. By comparison, the Hanzell seemed a little clunky and overwrought. It was still good, just heftier. Not too sweet, or too oaky, just more wound up still maybe. Don't know that I'd be in a hurry with it.
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First go around with this wine, very impressed. Green apple, peach, pear, and lemon notes up front. Nice core with mineral notes, wet stone, and honey. Vibrant acidity, nice long finish.
Lean, with nice balance and the most minerality I've experienced in a Cali chardonnay. Really felt like it could use another year or two to relax a bit. There were deeper secrets concealed there that need some time to emerge.
Monthly Tasting Group: Worldwide Chardonnay (Oceanaire, Mpls, MN): Pale green collor. Drank 1 glass over an hour. Same bottle as Chablis28. Very tart tonight, sour grapefruit, sour lemon, kind of aggressive right now, but the stuffing is there. 90+ to 91(+)pts
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A bit tightly wound tonight. Currently dominated by grapefruit and lemon notes with decent minerality. Like that the oak is already pretty well integrated and there seems to be some hidden upside. Coming after the 2012 though, a little disappointing at this early stage. This was a single exploratory btl and I may grab a couple more based on the producer's track record or, I may just wait for 2014. Scored within the context of where its at today 89-90pts and against its own stellar track record in other vintages.
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What a pleasureble wine to enjoy on a hot Spring Day in NYC (86 degrees!). Warm baked apples and cinnamon waft over you like a Thanksgiving pie that just came out of the oven. The wine has a lovely mouthfeel, creamy and slightly buttery that rolls all over your tongue. Sea salt and punch of acidity follow. The finish is long, tempting you back for more.
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Peaches and cream! A wonderfully tasty sip, and great representation of bigger Cali style Chard. A small winery founded in 1953 at the southern end of the Mayacamas, Hanzell focuses only on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the tradition continued from founder James Zellerbach who spent extensive time in Burgundy. The winery abides by sustainable (and some biodynamic) farming principles, and is working towards becoming 100% self-sustaining; always an added bonus when this sort of philosophy is associated with wines that are really, really good! This bottle wasn’t shy in the least; a dairy/vegetal note upon opening quickly blew off and left both a nose and palate brimming with ripe fruit and wonderful creaminess. Pear, peach, golden apple, green melon, and starfruit were all immediately present, with vanilla, cedar, cinnamon, and white pepper joining in after a few minutes. The wine maintained a pleasant toastiness throughout, while also providing herbal qualities (sage, rosemary, caraway) and a slight sense of stone/slate. The finish carried that peaches and cream character (and maybe some orange creamsicle??) combined with touches of brown sugar and honeycomb. A rich, full wine certainly, it still carried enough acidity to cut through the density and hold a pleasant balance. Though not inexpensive, this bottle still felt like it was punching well above its weight class; Hanzell indicates on their website that this Chardonnay has the legs to go many years, and I think I may just have to get another bottle or two and find out!
Lovely once again. Last opened for Christmas, and Easter bottle doesn’t disappoint. Light in the glass almost silver with hint of green. Fresh and vibrant. Good acidity. Sancerre like in style. Tasted next to a Ramey Chard, same vintage, and difference was striking. Both offered so much, but completely different styles.
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Medium yellow/gold, highly aromatic and delivering a core of citrus, pit fruits, wet stones and white flowers, this medium-bodied, vibrantly acidic Chardonnay continues to impress. Judiciously oaked and with beautifully integrated alcohol (listed as 14.3%), it has impressive mid-palate density and finishes very long. This is fleshing out nicely and is an alluring, sensual admixture of old and new world. Drink now-2023.
Light palate that is tasty but unfortunately lacking structure and acidity. Plenty of creamy honey soaked stone fruit on the front with a nice toasted quality in the mid and finish. Depth did improve quite a bit with air and when closer to room temp. Bought at the winery a few years back. I really enjoy everything they are doing.
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Wine of the night for our Christmas Eve Sha-Bang. Solid full bodied white with amazing light fruit notes and hint of vanilla oak. Bottle was gone quickly! We opened the Pinot as well from Hanzell, but this Chardonnay stole the show!
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Golden color. Nose initially very slightly reductive, slightest bit of funk, some golden honey notes. Palate rich body, some honey notes with a distinct mineral tinge, prominent vanilla note on finish but balanced with lemony citrus, not heavy at all. Overall very enjoyable, goes well with a rich pasta, think it has years to age yet. 91 pts, could have been a better qpr
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Terrific Chardonnay. Had a glass of another every day Chardonnay before opening Hanzell, and definitely a big difference. In comparison to other recent Hanzell vintages, this was a particularly good year.
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Hanzell Estate Chardonnay 1972-2013 (Swift & Sons): cream soda and the genesis of root beer. opens up to the frosty apple of repute. Stunning acid in the line up. Palate is tops over 2011, and with references of the 1998 and 2001 machine oil note that seems at the expense of fat in the 2011. '13 over '11 for the long haul. Drink to 2045+.
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Blending the best of the New World and Old World, Hanzell has crafted a beautiful Chardonnay. Medium yellow/gold, intensely aromatic and quite flavorful, it delivers a core of citrus fruit, buttressed by notes of wet stones, honeysuckle, anise and coriander. Medium-bodied, vibrantly acidic and with nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 14.3%), it weaves in just the right amount of oak and has great mid-palate density. Finishing long and crisp, this combines the ripeness of Sonoma with the struture of something from Puligny-Montrachet. Based upon Hanzell's track record, it should age gracefully. Drink now-2023.
Guilty pleasure wine. California meets burgundy. True to its roots but so well balanced. Bruleed pears, smoke, spices. Just delicious. Will age amazingly well.
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Light golden yellow in color. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of apples, lemons/limes & pear with overtones of floral notes of honeysuckle, wet stones & minerals, some hazelnuts, a hint of smoky/toasty oak in the background. Medium bodied with a good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of apples, lemons/limes & pear with minerals, spices & a slight touch of toasty oak, Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but will benefit and develop further with additional aging.
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P: MF body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by ALMOST puckerish acidity, this pretty much resolving by the LONG, spicy/tangy finish. LOVELY stuff for now & through '19, though given this bottling's track record of longevity, I'm likely being VERY conservative on the "through '19". 14.3% ABV 17/20 pts Jancis Robinson & 90 pts WS. [This vendor's $44.95 beats anything else I could find on wine-searcher by 10+%.]
Drank three bottles for Ashley's 30th B-Day party and as usual we loved it!! Smooth, rich and very well balanced, might just also be one of the best vintages we have seen from Hanzell.
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As an excuse to open this chardonnay I decided to prepare a beurre blanc and cook some local sea bass. Setting aside the 1/4 cup needed for the sauce my first impression was the color, kind of a light yellow/sage. Initial taste as it crossed the tongue was citrus and a little hay/grass. The finish was a weighty mouthful of subtly polarized steel and butter. After some time in the bottle everything evened out a bit. Paired OK with the meal but I did not like this as a stand alone wine. As our meal wound down neither my fiancé nor I cared to finish the last glass or so remaining in the bottle...which to me says a lot. That being said, the winemakers website does call this out as an "age-worthy collectible Chardonnay". So there you have it.
Sharp mid-gold; vanilla, ripe grape, stone fruit nose; intense varietal character; mid-body; semi-crisp; good Chardonnay depth; long rich finish; a little hot. w/swordfish
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Such a great Chardonnay. Nose of lemon. Green apple, lemon grass, slight oak, nice acidity with a touch of butter. Nice long finish. Decanted for two hours and sipped next two. Went wonderful with sautéed shrimp.
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Lovely freshness to this wine. Definitely taste the oak but it isn't overwhelming and feels quite "fresh" and not overbearing. Great fruit. Really enjoy this wine.
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Six courses on short notice with some great football: Light to medium lemon yellow color, but much bigger and denser on the palate than it looks. Still, this is a wine of finesse and elegance, more old world in style. The nose has lots of stony minerals, limestone, citrus and green apple and a touch of under-ripe white peach. As always, this wine needs time in a decanter (2 hours at least) to really open up and if you don't you will likely be disappointed. The flavors are reserved and lean at first but open up more over time as the acidity starts to give way. I get lemon, lemongrass, green apple, wet stones and a little butter and salinity on the finish. I think this is a gorgeous wine that will only get better with time in bottle. It went great with the seared sea scallops and arugula and fennel salad! It also paired well with the pheasant.
Has progressed in last year. Fruit predominates, with just enough acidity--best is that you don't get overwhelmed by oak. I suspect this vintage will continue to get better with time.
Hanzell Chardonnays are terrific, but this year is particularly good. After having my share of over-oaked wines, nice to have one made with some finesse. Love the citrus flavors.
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Classed up next to the Sebella. Here the oak shows on the palate as a little vanilla. Some spice, but not tonnes. While all the bottles have been clean, there has been some different p/n/p expressions coming from this 2013 vintage. Very confident fruit to the palate. A fine example. 25% new French for 9m and that portion goes through malo, blended with the 75% stainless/no malo portion, then put back to neutral for 9 more months. About 7-8% of this wine is from the Ambassador block.
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Green apple to the nose, not getting flashy with too much oak. Palate shows oak just a little more, but not in an overtly new oak fashion. Big acid chard. Has a wild yeast vibe. This is not the sweet/tropical side of Chardonnay.
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3/22/2024 - VlgJeff wrote: 91 Points
PnP (as there was no time to decant), chilled. The wine improved as it was exposed to air. The color was a clear straw-yellow. A wonderfully balanced wine showing lemon juice and crème, stone fruit, green apple, minerality, very, very light oak, and balancing acidity. The partial malo creates a medium plus mouthfeel with a long finish. Should hold for several more years.
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1/17/2024 - mjgkng Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well cellared, and excellent vintage. Full body with fruit forward. Long finish. Consume now or within next 2 years.
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1/15/2024 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Mint chocolate chip aromas, rather arresting. For days…
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12/25/2023 - VlgJeff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. A clear medium straw-yellow color. A richer, fuller mouth feel due to the partial malo and with only light (unobtrusive) notes of oak. On the palate are notes of lemon, white fruit, green apple and minerality, with food friendly fresh acidity. A dependable Cali Chard that satisfies this Chablis lover.
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5/27/2023 - WetRock wrote:
Very pretty in a pure way. Light oak framing but I never noticed it the way some here have in the notes. It informs the build more than the expression. Never complex but it was so lovely I didn't care. Nothing in the way of oxidation. The maturity is only showing the way the fruit is less rich now. Went down quick.
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3/20/2023 - VlgJeff wrote: 92 Points
Some 9 months since our previous bottle of this wine and this bottle was very similar to that previous bottle, so I repeat that TN:
Decanted for 40 minutes. The color was a clear straw-yellow. A wonderfully balanced wine showing lemon crème, stone fruit, green apple, minerality, very light oak, and balancing acidity. The partial malo creates a medium plus mouthfeel with a long finish. Should hold for several more years.
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12/3/2022 - mpricher wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful Chard- the age has done something wonderful here. Thanksgiving dinner. Paired excellent. Voice of one young lady who’d sworn off Chard- “ I hate Chard, ILOVE this!” - Hanzell Chard - changing lives!
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11/27/2022 - acidqueen wrote: 92 Points
Light lemon yellow color. Still some oak left but not overwhelming. Richer style but with enough bright acid to keep it interesting. I am not a big California Chardonnay drinker but Hanzell is always a standout. Really good wine and years ahead of it.
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10/7/2022 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
A bit better integrated and more mellow oak than 3 years ago. Still not giving much. Decent Chardonnay flavours, toasty fruit but both still youthful and one dimensional.
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6/11/2022 - VlgJeff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Based on previous experience with this wine, and advice from OldWines (see below) this bottle was decanted for about 40 minutes during which time it opened and integrated. In fact, my experience is that all of Hanzell's wines benefit from decanting--how long is personal choice.
Our first bottle from this vintage. The color was a clear straw-yellow. A wonderfully balanced wine showing lemon crème, stone fruit, green apple, minerality, very light oak, and balancing acidity. The partial malo creates a medium plus mouthfeel with a long finish. Enjoyed with our version of Chicken Bistro Ralph (a butter, lemon and caper sauce). Should hold for several more years.
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6/11/2022 - tpbrown5 Likes this wine: 91 Points
If there’s a better Chardonnay made in California, I haven’t found it.
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5/14/2022 - Ahughes444 wrote: 86 Points
Maybe I'm drinking this wine too young but it's way over-oaked, making it way out of balance.
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3/1/2022 - domthesomm Likes this wine:
Yellow apples, pears, lemon curd, limestone, oregano, and other various spices. Butterscotch and English biscuits. Lovely structure and acidity. The minerality is subtle but graceful.
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9/25/2021 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted at 3:30 and tasted from 4:45 to 6pm. Again it needs the air but just wonderful wine. Very crystalline and bright with lots of minerality. Lemon, apple and white florals dominate. Really delicious.
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9/14/2021 - gew71walsh wrote: 90 Points
This is about the same as four years ago. Citrus on nose and palate, not too oaky. Nice pairing with a pecan crusted flounder.
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6/4/2021 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sampled from a pristinely-cellared bottle, Hanzell's 2013 Chardonnay remains medium golden in color and highly aromatic, delivering a bouquet of citrus, white peaches, honeycrisp apples, wet stones and jasmine. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (14.3%) and with well-proportioned oak, it delivers flavors in line with the aromas. Layered and dense on the mid-palate and lengthy on the back end, this is holding up beautifully. Comparably cellared bottles will last longer than previously projected. Drink now-2028.
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1/16/2021 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at a friend’s house. Small tasted. Really delicious, balanced old world style. Crystalline, but deep and full of flavors ranging from lemon citrus, green apple, white peach/nectarine, white florals and a minerally finish. Excellent!
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11/14/2020 - brasstab wrote: 93 Points
Bright as the Holidays, which happen to be around the corner. Good cheer, indeed! Apples and stone with a vanilla kiss.
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9/27/2020 - Nanda wrote:
Best on night three. First night was fairly sharp with acidity not integrated with fruit. By night three there was more harmony. Very old world in styling.
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9/5/2020 - wiscgrad wrote: 93 Points
its been a couple years since I had my last bottle of this, and it has rounded out nicely. recent CT notes are spot on.
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8/15/2020 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Sonoma Chardonnay from old vines. 2013 Hanzell Chardonnay. Last bottle from cellar. Sharp mid-gold; honey suckle, stone fruit, vanilla, wine lees nose; mid-body; softening acids; long rich lush finish. As noted before, Meursault-like. 17-17.5 UC Davis scale; 92-93 other scales. w/halibut.
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6/9/2020 - srh Likes this wine:
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
≈110 min decant into a plastic, cylindrical pitcher which was then capped & refrigerated. After 50 min it was returned to its bottle & placed in a Vini-Cool for ≈1 hr before I 1st tasted it.
N: Closed; Lemons, toast, hints of of toffee; Intensity lurking?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with a LOVELY melding of frt & oak BEAUTIFULLY balanced by an acidity which SEAMLESSLY evolves into a LONG finish with a balanced, ELEGANT, very slight tanginess. A graceful, POLISHED wine for now & through '22 *easily*, + I suspect longer, given its track record for aging. Went WELL with the night's Oxtail Aspic & Roasti Potatoes. My EXC/EXC+, trending towards the higher? // Day 2: Held VERY well [even though I forgot to apply "Private Preserve" to the small amt remaining on Day 1 :( ], likely a result of its ELEGANCE, balance, & ACIDITY. [As of mid Jun '20, wine-searcher only shows this avail in magnums].
Note: 1st tasted on 7/15/17.
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5/15/2020 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for a couple hours, definitely needed a little time.
Medium golden yellow. Lush and tropical nose with a little butter, honeysuckle and citrus. Medium acidity (6/10) with a medium plus body. Great palate with lemon curd, pears, and brioche. Long finish. Drink till 2025.
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5/4/2020 - pas.vino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well...I followed a recommendation to decant this white wine for at least 30-60 minutes. I am not used to doing that to a white wine. I am now a convert. It really changed with some air. The acidity increased and tropical fruits and pineapple came out. Very nice! Excellent wine!
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4/22/2020 - R Z Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good, as always. Really opened up after about 45 minutes. Paired nicely with simply prepared halibut.
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4/19/2020 - gmbdds wrote: 92 Points
I finally broke down and decanted a Hanzell Chardonnay (I'll cop to a mental hurdle in decanting white wine). Sure enough, the first glass straight from the pour was fairly reductive with matchstick and sulfur. Nearly like a dry riesling at first. With time, a high acid, but full flavor Chardonnay emerged with citrus and pineapple, but always maintaining a flinty character. Really no hurry with this one.
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3/2/2020 - shaffej wrote: 92 Points
A very light burgundy style
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2/8/2020 - pgrzesik Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hanzell makes some of the best chardonnay coming out of California - and this is no exception. The nose was full of granny smith apples, lemon zest, and hints of vanilla and freshly baked croissants. The palate is medium bodied, good crisp acidity and well made wine. This 7 year old chardonnay feels so young and vibrant - this can easily last another 5+ years. Overall, really enjoyed this California chardonnay - this is not overly oaked, just the right balance. Hanzell has really hit it out of the park with this one.
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12/8/2019 - kostaslonis wrote: 92 Points
Krotida Wine Gang Tasting, Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Vertical Tasting (Fita): 75% stainless steel , 25% barrel, lees stirred for 2 months, all of the barrel fermented portion goes into malolactic fermentation, 12 months in 60 gallon French oak barrels, bottled 04-08/5/2015, alcohol 14.3%
Medium to high intensity, nutty, biscuit again, light floral and citrus notes.
The wine is very light in the palate, nutty, oaky, citrus, pear, apple, medium to high acidity, long finish.
Spicy, a bit of heat, needs time and gets more defined
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11/3/2019 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 92 Points
Granny Smith, creme brulee, lemon and acidity A-
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10/9/2019 - msuwine wrote: 89 Points
This linear and steely Chardonnay is drinkable but unimpressive. I am a fan of the Hanzell story, and the property is amazing... I just wish their wines were better. Light yellow in color; medium in body; nose of lemon rind, creme brûlée, butterscotch, and saline. Tastes of grapefruit, green apple, buttered toast, vanilla bean, and minerals, with a round, almost oily finish. 14.3% alcohol. I know the difference between subtle and simple is in the eye of the beholder, but I think this trends towards the latter.
I struggled with Hanzell's wines for several years while I was a member. If I drank them too early, they were all acidity and steel. If I drank them too late, they were viscous and undefined (like this one). I concluded there was no happy medium (and cancelled), but try this if you like aged Chardonnay that is balanced but light on fruit, with a nice story (who needs taste when you have narrative!)... just don't expect (or pay) too much. Drink now.
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9/6/2019 - kevin h wrote: 89 Points
Shy wine. Not giving much at present. Generic Chardonnay and oak flavours. Needs time.
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8/10/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Light gold color. Small glass, brief note. This is always a treat, plenty of crystalline minerality, medium weight, citrus, spice.
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7/30/2019 - Nanda wrote:
A crisp and precise Chardonnay. Still quite young and primary but well balanced and in a restrained style.
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7/24/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Hanzell's winery is physically modeled after Clos de Vougeot. This iteration of their Chardonnay reminds me of what any producer from Clos de Vougeot would dream of...ripe fruit that retains impressive structure. Medium golden in color, the 2013 is a highly aromatic wine that delivers a core of citrus, pit fruits, wet stones and white flowers. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (14.3%) and judiciously oaked, it is layered and dense on the middle palate and finishes with impressive length. As I have previously stated, this is an alluring, sensual admixture of old and new world. Well-cellared bottles will hold up nicely. Drink now-2023.
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6/1/2019 - SammyD1974 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great color. Mild yellow. Excellent nose! Crisp apples. Great taste. Ever so mild oak. Fruity, nice acidity and extremely refreshing. Mellow finish. So goo! Had it with bbq wings and chicken thighs. Was an excellent compliment.
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5/28/2019 - mpricher wrote: 91 Points
Bright fruit. Floral kisses on the nose. Great color.
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5/12/2019 - rg2177 Likes this wine: 93 Points
benefitted from an hour decant. delicious: crisp green apple, ripe melon, and a touch of honey. clean on the pallet. solid wine to pair with delicate seafood.
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3/30/2019 - jmull Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is in a beautiful place. Oak mostly integrated, fruit still vibrant, nice acidity and excellent length. 92.
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3/11/2019 - KVM wrote:
In excellent condition. Very good with just a touch of bitterness on the finish.
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1/12/2019 - jgreco Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is the second time I have had the 2013 and it was just as pleasurable. A lovely nose of white flowers and a touch of peppermint. Medium body on the palate, I am reminded of the best of Chablis with its stoney minerality and a highly acidic finish.
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12/4/2018 - Baron Slick wrote: 93 Points
Impressive wine. Ripe and tropical on the nose, a hint candied, with touches of toast and marzipan. But the palate is where it’s at. It’s vinous, luminous, and velvety, and shines bright with crunchy green apple, pear, quince, and lemon citrus flavors that are animated by vivid focus, elegant minerality, and vibrant acidity. Long, tactile, and pithy on the seamless finish. Lovely.
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11/22/2018 - Gruffalius wrote: 89 Points
Fairly clean though a little reticent.
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10/14/2018 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light-mid gold; oak, honey, older Chardonnay nose; mid-body; good acids; starting to soften; long rich lush finish (Meursault-like). w/seafood.
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10/8/2018 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
Hanzell dinner at Table, Donkey and Stick (Chicago, IL): Slightly funky on the nose, but it's definitely well within limits for me. The richness and fatter style of the wine is on full display here, but it's still of manageable proportions. A little lacking in acid, but not by too much. Somehow, this doesn't feel as well-integrated, and there's a bit of an angular sense about this to me.
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9/9/2018 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was good, but it was overshadowed by the Ramey Ritchie Vineyard 2013 that we drank side-by-side with it. By comparison, the Hanzell seemed a little clunky and overwrought. It was still good, just heftier. Not too sweet, or too oaky, just more wound up still maybe. Don't know that I'd be in a hurry with it.
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8/8/2018 - prof b wrote: 80 Points
Flabby, lacking acidity, uninteresting.
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7/21/2018 - wiscgrad wrote: 93 Points
agree with most recent notes. tons of sour citrus but very refreshing. tons of upside.
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6/24/2018 - brianofthevine Likes this wine: 92 Points
First go around with this wine, very impressed. Green apple, peach, pear, and lemon notes up front. Nice core with mineral notes, wet stone, and honey. Vibrant acidity, nice long finish.
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6/19/2018 - SnowMeadow Likes this wine:
Lean, with nice balance and the most minerality I've experienced in a Cali chardonnay. Really felt like it could use another year or two to relax a bit. There were deeper secrets concealed there that need some time to emerge.
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6/11/2018 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice, austere style of Chard. Good acidity and minerality. Best to serve about 60 deg. Too much chill hide some wonderful flavors.
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5/6/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Worldwide Chardonnay (Oceanaire, Mpls, MN): Pale green collor. Drank 1 glass over an hour. Same bottle as Chablis28. Very tart tonight, sour grapefruit, sour lemon, kind of aggressive right now, but the stuffing is there. 90+ to 91(+)pts
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5/6/2018 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
A bit tightly wound tonight. Currently dominated by grapefruit and lemon notes with decent minerality. Like that the oak is already pretty well integrated and there seems to be some hidden upside. Coming after the 2012 though, a little disappointing at this early stage. This was a single exploratory btl and I may grab a couple more based on the producer's track record or, I may just wait for 2014. Scored within the context of where its at today 89-90pts and against its own stellar track record in other vintages.
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5/2/2018 - jgreco Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a pleasureble wine to enjoy on a hot Spring Day in NYC (86 degrees!). Warm baked apples and cinnamon waft over you like a Thanksgiving pie that just came out of the oven. The wine has a lovely mouthfeel, creamy and slightly buttery that rolls all over your tongue. Sea salt and punch of acidity follow. The finish is long, tempting you back for more.
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4/9/2018 - Wine Ratings Likes this wine: 92 Points
Peaches and cream! A wonderfully tasty sip, and great representation of bigger Cali style Chard. A small winery founded in 1953 at the southern end of the Mayacamas, Hanzell focuses only on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the tradition continued from founder James Zellerbach who spent extensive time in Burgundy. The winery abides by sustainable (and some biodynamic) farming principles, and is working towards becoming 100% self-sustaining; always an added bonus when this sort of philosophy is associated with wines that are really, really good! This bottle wasn’t shy in the least; a dairy/vegetal note upon opening quickly blew off and left both a nose and palate brimming with ripe fruit and wonderful creaminess. Pear, peach, golden apple, green melon, and starfruit were all immediately present, with vanilla, cedar, cinnamon, and white pepper joining in after a few minutes. The wine maintained a pleasant toastiness throughout, while also providing herbal qualities (sage, rosemary, caraway) and a slight sense of stone/slate. The finish carried that peaches and cream character (and maybe some orange creamsicle??) combined with touches of brown sugar and honeycomb. A rich, full wine certainly, it still carried enough acidity to cut through the density and hold a pleasant balance. Though not inexpensive, this bottle still felt like it was punching well above its weight class; Hanzell indicates on their website that this Chardonnay has the legs to go many years, and I think I may just have to get another bottle or two and find out!
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4/7/2018 - mpricher wrote: 92 Points
Lovely once again. Last opened for Christmas, and Easter bottle doesn’t disappoint. Light in the glass almost silver with hint of green. Fresh and vibrant. Good acidity. Sancerre like in style. Tasted next to a Ramey Chard, same vintage, and difference was striking. Both offered so much, but completely different styles.
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4/1/2018 - danscellar wrote: 92 Points
Easter Chard, fantastic as usual!!
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3/21/2018 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium yellow/gold, highly aromatic and delivering a core of citrus, pit fruits, wet stones and white flowers, this medium-bodied, vibrantly acidic Chardonnay continues to impress. Judiciously oaked and with beautifully integrated alcohol (listed as 14.3%), it has impressive mid-palate density and finishes very long. This is fleshing out nicely and is an alluring, sensual admixture of old and new world. Drink now-2023.
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1/27/2018 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 92 Points
Light palate that is tasty but unfortunately lacking structure and acidity. Plenty of creamy honey soaked stone fruit on the front with a nice toasted quality in the mid and finish. Depth did improve quite a bit with air and when closer to room temp. Bought at the winery a few years back. I really enjoy everything they are doing.
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1/2/2018 - mpricher wrote: 92 Points
Wine of the night for our Christmas Eve Sha-Bang. Solid full bodied white with amazing light fruit notes and hint of vanilla oak. Bottle was gone quickly! We opened the Pinot as well from Hanzell, but this Chardonnay stole the show!
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12/24/2017 - danscellar wrote: 92 Points
Super crisp and clean Chard!! Enjoy!
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12/3/2017 - fred o. Likes this wine:
Golden color. Nose initially very slightly reductive, slightest bit of funk, some golden honey notes. Palate rich body, some honey notes with a distinct mineral tinge, prominent vanilla note on finish but balanced with lemony citrus, not heavy at all. Overall very enjoyable, goes well with a rich pasta, think it has years to age yet. 91 pts, could have been a better qpr
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11/25/2017 - gmmilani Likes this wine: 92 Points
Terrific Chardonnay. Had a glass of another every day Chardonnay before opening Hanzell, and definitely a big difference. In comparison to other recent Hanzell vintages, this was a particularly good year.
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10/7/2017 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 92 Points
Granny Smith apple, minerality, acidity,
Tropical fruit, hints of creme brûlée. A/A-
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10/2/2017 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Hanzell Estate Chardonnay 1972-2013 (Swift & Sons): cream soda and the genesis of root beer. opens up to the frosty apple of repute. Stunning acid in the line up. Palate is tops over 2011, and with references of the 1998 and 2001 machine oil note that seems at the expense of fat in the 2011. '13 over '11 for the long haul. Drink to 2045+.
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8/16/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blending the best of the New World and Old World, Hanzell has crafted a beautiful Chardonnay. Medium yellow/gold, intensely aromatic and quite flavorful, it delivers a core of citrus fruit, buttressed by notes of wet stones, honeysuckle, anise and coriander. Medium-bodied, vibrantly acidic and with nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 14.3%), it weaves in just the right amount of oak and has great mid-palate density. Finishing long and crisp, this combines the ripeness of Sonoma with the struture of something from Puligny-Montrachet. Based upon Hanzell's track record, it should age gracefully. Drink now-2023.
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7/26/2017 - THECORKDORK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Guilty pleasure wine. California meets burgundy. True to its roots but so well balanced. Bruleed pears, smoke, spices. Just delicious. Will age amazingly well.
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7/17/2017 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light golden yellow in color. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of apples, lemons/limes & pear with overtones of floral notes of honeysuckle, wet stones & minerals, some hazelnuts, a hint of smoky/toasty oak in the background. Medium bodied with a good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of apples, lemons/limes & pear with minerals, spices & a slight touch of toasty oak, Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but will benefit and develop further with additional aging.
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7/15/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
CA Chards vs. White Burgundies (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Attractive toasty/forest floor aromas
P: MF body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by ALMOST puckerish acidity, this pretty much resolving by the LONG, spicy/tangy finish. LOVELY stuff for now & through '19, though given this bottling's track record of longevity, I'm likely being VERY conservative on the "through '19". 14.3% ABV 17/20 pts Jancis Robinson & 90 pts WS. [This vendor's $44.95 beats anything else I could find on wine-searcher by 10+%.]
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7/13/2017 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Like all the others,clean, crisp and very well balanced.
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5/14/2017 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Drank for Mothers Day, the Girls loved it as usual
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4/28/2017 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Lovely texture to the palate, creamier palate, but still very well checked oak. NOT tropical. Not woody like the Pahlmeyer was showing.
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4/16/2017 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Family loves it, not over oaked or too much butter. Good consisten stuff.
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4/1/2017 - danscellar wrote: 92 Points
Drank three bottles for Ashley's 30th B-Day party and as usual we loved it!! Smooth, rich and very well balanced, might just also be one of the best vintages we have seen from Hanzell.
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3/25/2017 - RedNectar wrote: 89 Points
As an excuse to open this chardonnay I decided to prepare a beurre blanc and cook some local sea bass. Setting aside the 1/4 cup needed for the sauce my first impression was the color, kind of a light yellow/sage. Initial taste as it crossed the tongue was citrus and a little hay/grass. The finish was a weighty mouthful of subtly polarized steel and butter. After some time in the bottle everything evened out a bit. Paired OK with the meal but I did not like this as a stand alone wine. As our meal wound down neither my fiancé nor I cared to finish the last glass or so remaining in the bottle...which to me says a lot.
That being said, the winemakers website does call this out as an "age-worthy collectible Chardonnay". So there you have it.
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3/8/2017 - mpricher wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic - drinking golden rays of sunlight!!
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2/19/2017 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sharp mid-gold; vanilla, ripe grape, stone fruit nose; intense varietal character; mid-body; semi-crisp; good Chardonnay depth; long rich finish; a little hot. w/swordfish
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2/17/2017 - cablover123 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Such a great Chardonnay. Nose of lemon. Green apple, lemon grass, slight oak, nice acidity with a touch of butter. Nice long finish. Decanted for two hours and sipped next two. Went wonderful with sautéed shrimp.
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2/16/2017 - jonanator wrote:
Lovely freshness to this wine. Definitely taste the oak but it isn't overwhelming and feels quite "fresh" and not overbearing. Great fruit. Really enjoy this wine.
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2/11/2017 - Three Cellars Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice Chardonnay.
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1/15/2017 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Six courses on short notice with some great football: Light to medium lemon yellow color, but much bigger and denser on the palate than it looks. Still, this is a wine of finesse and elegance, more old world in style. The nose has lots of stony minerals, limestone, citrus and green apple and a touch of under-ripe white peach. As always, this wine needs time in a decanter (2 hours at least) to really open up and if you don't you will likely be disappointed. The flavors are reserved and lean at first but open up more over time as the acidity starts to give way. I get lemon, lemongrass, green apple, wet stones and a little butter and salinity on the finish. I think this is a gorgeous wine that will only get better with time in bottle. It went great with the seared sea scallops and arugula and fennel salad! It also paired well with the pheasant.
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1/15/2017 - bherbst4114 wrote: 94 Points
My favorite example of French style in Cali. Crisp enough for light foods but balanced for anything.
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12/29/2016 - gew71walsh wrote: 91 Points
Has progressed in last year. Fruit predominates, with just enough acidity--best is that you don't get overwhelmed by oak. I suspect this vintage will continue to get better with time.
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12/24/2016 - gmmilani Likes this wine: 92 Points
Hanzell Chardonnays are terrific, but this year is particularly good. After having my share of over-oaked wines, nice to have one made with some finesse. Love the citrus flavors.
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12/9/2016 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Classed up next to the Sebella. Here the oak shows on the palate as a little vanilla. Some spice, but not tonnes. While all the bottles have been clean, there has been some different p/n/p expressions coming from this 2013 vintage. Very confident fruit to the palate. A fine example. 25% new French for 9m and that portion goes through malo, blended with the 75% stainless/no malo portion, then put back to neutral for 9 more months. About 7-8% of this wine is from the Ambassador block.
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9/23/2016 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Green apple to the nose, not getting flashy with too much oak. Palate shows oak just a little more, but not in an overtly new oak fashion. Big acid chard. Has a wild yeast vibe. This is not the sweet/tropical side of Chardonnay.
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7/31/2016 - mpricher wrote: 92 Points
A little ting and tart at this point but so much much more to give. Will be interesting to see how this vintage evolves!
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7/22/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 91 Points
Good but a little muted. Stone fruit, honey, lemon curd, and some light creamy oakiness. Nice mix between old and new world.
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2/22/2016 - gew71walsh wrote: 89 Points
Citrus overtones. Probably needs another year or two of settling in the cellar.
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