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Walter Hansel Winery Cuvée Alyce Pinot Noir 2017
94 Points Another beautiful small-production Pinot Noir from Walter Hansel who continues to make a small amount of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay down the road from Kistler, at unbelievably sane prices. Limited. 94 Points Robert Parker: "The 2017 Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce is pale to medium ruby-purple with scents of warm cinnamon, spiced cranberry sauce, orange peel, dried roses, tea leaves, warm earth, crushed strawberries, blackberries, saline and woodsmoke—so many layers! It's medium to full-bodied and floods the mouth with warm fruits laced with classy new oak spices. It has a frame of fine, grainy tannins and wonderful juicy freshness, finishing very long and layered. So good! 938 cases produced." ...Some of the best values in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir emerge from Stephen Hansel’s winery in the Russian River Valley. He also has the wonderful Walter Hansel Wine & Bistro on Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa. Hansel reduced the crop size by 20%-30% through crop thinning in 2014 because of irregular berry size and improved the level of concentration. All of the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are bottled unfiltered."
Ratings on Delectable
Sipping Fine Wine 
Bright Ruby with aromas of ripe berries and baking spice notes, grapes from a section of vineyard in the middle of the North slope where the soils are very heavy adobe clay resulting in the vines struggling to produce a crop more than 1 ton to the acre, a field blend of clone 777 and 115.. On the palate flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum with herb, cedar and cinnamon. Smooth fine tannins, soft long finish ending with rich fruit and fresh acidity, great structure. Nice!
Bright Ruby with aromas of ripe berries and baking spice notes, grapes from a section of vineyard in the middle of the North slope where the soils are very heavy adobe clay resulting in the vines struggling to produce a crop more than 1 ton to the acre, a field blend of clone 777 and 115.. On the palate flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum with herb, cedar and cinnamon. Smooth fine tannins, soft long finish ending with rich fruit and fresh acidity, great structure. Nice!
9.3
Clive McNish
Great Sonoma Pinot, I really enjoyed this but it is a day two wine. On day one there were loads of wonderful flavours but some high acidity. On day two this has smoothed out and is delicious, the palate is full of sweet fruit, cinnamon, earth and cola with a long smokey and new oak finish. The rich smokey flavour is very apparent and of course this is the 2017 vintage, could be in my mind but is it possible that the fires had an influence? Either way this is great.
Great Sonoma Pinot, I really enjoyed this but it is a day two wine. On day one there were loads of wonderful flavours but some high acidity. On day two this has smoothed out and is delicious, the palate is full of sweet fruit, cinnamon, earth and cola with a long smokey and new oak finish. The rich smokey flavour is very apparent and of course this is the 2017 vintage, could be in my mind but is it possible that the fires had an influence? Either way this is great.
9.2
See all reviews and ratings on Delectable WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.