“For a winery founded only in 1996 (situated down the road from Dehlinger and Kistler), this estate is on fire, producing Burgundian-styled offerings that are the products of natural yeast fermentations, gentle handling in the cellars, with the Pinot Noirs kept on their lees, and no fining or filtration at bottling. If readers have not yet tasted the wines of Walter Hansel, they are missing some stunning wines.” – Wine Advocate

Do you like your Pinot boisterous, DEEP, polished? Intense, explosive? Do you also hate paying upwards of $75+ for the best of the Russian River Valley such as Williams Selyem, Rochioli, or DuMOL? Well, well, slaps bottle this bad boy packs all that deep, intense fruit in the back with room to spare in your wallet.

Double the 94 points to begin with! And, dear Ops, we find that utterly conservative when Vinous puts it best: “This is impeccably done in an overt style that captures the essence of the Russian River Valley.”

A unicorn of a bargain - not that it should need it. Walter Hansel outstrips the competition even at full-blown retail. Most gets scooped up by their mailing list cause as Wine Advocate says “the Hansel wines, besides being delicious, provide excellent value. Bravo!”

Cuvée Alyce is a flagship in the lineup, as Mr. Hansel explains, “Alyce was my mom, and she was the life of the party. There is a section of vineyard right in the middle of the North slope where the soils are very heavy adobe clay, resulting in the vines struggling to produce a crop of more than 1 ton per acre. It is a field blend of clone 777 and 115. This minimal crop yield tends to produce wines that are big, rich, ‘over the top’ flavors; perfect for Alyce!”

Strawberry and cherry jam? Yup. Fresh tilled soil and forest floor? Check. Spices, savory herbs, licorice and a nice blend of oak? All aboard! Explosively aromatic and hauntingly stylish, with a lush, forward style. But it never teeters overboard and still retains great acidity with everything in perfect balance. Truly a delight to drink, and one of our favorite Pinots every vintage!

The only bad news? Very little to be had.

Going, going…

94 Points – Vinous *“Stephen Hansel’s 2023 Pinot Noirs from bottle are just as strong as they were when I tasted them just prior to bottling. The wines all show the brightness and savoriness of a cool, late-ripening year. Hansel’s 2023 Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce offers terrific density and power, but it is also tightly wound at this stage. Readers should be in no rush. Time in the glass reveals a Pinot endowed with notable textural presence and fine balance. Cuvée Alyce is a blend from sections on the North and South Slopes planted on clay, where wines tend to naturally offer a good bit of breadth. This is impeccably done in an overt style that captures the essence of the Russian River Valley. Drink 2026-2035.”

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The 2023 Pinot Noir Cuvee Alyce pours a deep ruby color and is layered with aromas of leather, baked cherries, truffle, and crushed flowers. The palate is rounded, with a medium-bodied frame, a silky texture, ripe tannins, and an elegant, ripe finish. It has a more supple and pliant feel and is approachable now or over the coming 10 years. With the exception of the Sauvignon Blanc, all of these wines from Walter Hansel were aged for ten months in barrel. Drink 2025-2035.”