WALTER HANSEL
2021 PINOT NOIR
THE ESTATE VINEYARD
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Stephen Hansel turned out a brilliant set of 2021 Pinots that confirm all the promise I sensed in the tank samples just prior to bottling. The 2021s are deep, beautifully perfumed, and super-expressive. Readers will find a collection of Russian River Pinots that offers a compelling mix of fruit intensity and energy. Best of all, the wines remain exceedingly fairly priced, especially in today’s environment. These are among the very finest Pinots I remember tasting here.”
—Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media (Jan 2023)
Born with a love and a passion for agriculture, Walter Hansel enlisted his son Stephen to help him plant grapevines on the family estate in the Russian River Valley.
Throughout the 1980s, Walter and Stephen experimented with making wine for fun, and thanks to Stephen’s legendary Pinot Noir-producing friend Tom Rochioli, the father-son team learned the nuances of viticulture and how to translate that knowledge into stellar wines.
Walter Hansels’ vineyards comprise six different Pinot Noir clones, and The Estate Vineyards Pinot encompasses each, establishing a uniform balance and ultimate complexity.
The 2021 release was fermented in stainless steel with an addition of 5% whole clusters to a small number of tanks and matured in French oak for 12 months giving a style focused on the purity of the fruit with a hint of spice.
WALTER HANSEL
2021 PINOT NOIR
THE ESTATE VINEYARD
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$45
“The 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate Vineyards is gracious, elegant, and silky. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, spice, and mint are nicely laced together in a juicy, mid-weight Pinot that delivers the goods. The 2021 offers tons of immediacy but marries that with a good bit of energy. This is a very serious wine with a bright, bright future.” 92 Points | Antonio Galloni | Vinous
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Customers that enjoy Walter Hansel’s Estate Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two outstanding wines from Walter Hansel…
WALTER HANSEL
2021 PINOT NOIR
THE NORTH SLOPE
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$48
“The 2021 Pinot Noir The North Slope is a heady, explosive Russian River Pinot. A burst of dark red/purplish berry fruit opens first, followed by sweet floral and spice notes that build effortlessly. This exuberant Pinot is an absolute delight. The North Slope has a touch more savoriness than is the norm in these wines.” 92 Points | Antonio Galloni | Vinous
WALTER HANSEL
2021 CHARDONNAY
CUVÉE ALYCE
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$39.99
“The 2021 Chardonnay Cuvee Alyce is a classic Stephen Hansel wine. It offers notable richness but also a great deal of transparency. Hansel blends two variations of Wente Clone Chardonnay (Hyde and Hudson) with some clone 76 for his Cuvee Alyce, a Chardonnay that exudes class.”
94 Points | Antonio Galloni | Vinous
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