SKU: 12121

Walter Hansel The North Slope Pinot Noir 2021

bot95
v92

750ml

$59.99

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Category	Red Wine
Varietal	Pinot Noir
Brand	Walter Hansel
Origin	California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Alcohol/vol	14%

Walter Hansel was a lifelong wine enthusiast who had the vision to plant his estate's original 250 vines in 1978. Today, Stephen, Walter's son, has taken up where his father left off, pursuing his vision of producing world-class Burgundian-styled Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all from the Russian River Valley. Steve Hansel's friend, famed winemaker Tom Rochioli, helped him in the early stages of his wine education by inviting him to work a couple of harvests at the Rochioli vineyards. Steve performed his first solo attempt in 1996 out of his garage.

At Walter Hansel Winery, the emphasis is on low yields (a miniscule range for most California wines from 1.5 to 2.7 tons/acre) for greater complexity. Since all their grapes are grown on their own property, they can exercise strict control in the vineyards, which are planted with 5 Pinot and 5 Chardonnay clones. Each clone was chosen for its specific acid and flavor variations. All of Steve's fruit is hand-harvested, and it is re-examined again at the winery. Hansel makes an average of 9 total passes through each vineyard. Each pass is time consuming and expensive but Stephen feels the vine rewards him with more concentrated flavors.

Only 909 cases made! Produced from 100% clone 115, from the block furthest north with a south to north facing slope. The winery uses only natural yeast during fermentation. Fining and filtration are minimal. The Pinots are held on the lees without racking for 12 months.

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The first thing you will notice in this fine Pinot is its glorious bouquet. Ripe cherries, plums, raspberries, spices, and sweet earth explode out of the glass, and lead to more of the same flavors in the mouth. Big, dense, velvety and pure, this glides across the palate with so many layers and silky tannins yet there is an exquisite balance to the wine. Hansel's California Pinots are clearly in a class of their own.

June 2023

Vinous

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.

Antonio Galloni

Walter Hansel The North Slope Pinot Noir 2021

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