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Mayacama Vintner Member Stephen Hansel produces outstanding Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Estate embodies the essence of the Russian River Valley, with some of the most consumer friendly wines anywhere in California.
Antonio Galloni says:
"It is refreshing to taste with proprietor Stephen Hansel. At a time when so many of the world's best wines are increasingly unaffordable for the normal consumer, Hansel has kept his prices decidedly reasonable. As I have written before, Hansel's wines epitomize what the Russian River so well; namely rich, butter Chardonnays and forward, juicy Pinots.”
Robert Parker says:
"This is an enviable winery run by Stephen Hansel with exceptionally high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that he sells at modest prices, which speaks to his commitment to serious wine consumers."
"Some of the best values in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir emerge from Stephen Hansel's winery in the Russian River Valley."
"Combining quality with reasonable prices and Estate-grown grapes, you can't do much better than Stephen Hansel's Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.
"This is a source for very fine Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs at some of the most realistic prices to be found in Northern California."
The Wines
2017 Chardonnay, Cahill Lane | 91+ pts Robert Parker
The 2017 Chardonnay Cahill Lane, from Wente clone vines, features white peach, Bosc pear, gunflint hints and rocky notes with toasty and citrus character. The palate is light to medium-bodied and lightly creamy in texture with concentrated citrus fruits, juicy freshness and a long, saline finish
2017 Chardonnay, Cuvée Alyce | 94 pts Robert Parker
The 2017 Chardonnay Cuvée Alyce opens with new oak aromas of toast, smoke, nutmeg and a gunflint hint with pie crust, spiced red apples, warm yellow peaches and loads of savory nuances—honey, hazelnuts, dried hay—at the core. Medium to full-bodied, it packs a wallop of flavor in the mouth, giving up oodles of warm fruits, spices and savory flavors, with great freshness to lift the very long, layered finish. This is fabulous!."
2017 Chardonnay, Meadows | 92 pts Robert Parker
"The 2017 Chardonnay The Meadows Vineyard gives smoke and gunflint aromas to begin, with red apple skin, crushed shell, flaky pastry, white peach and white blossoms. The palate is medium to full-bodied, creamy and pleasantly weighty in the mouth with concentrated fruits, juicy freshness and a long, minerally finish. 544 cases produced.
2017 Pinot Noir, North Slop| 93 pts Robert Parker
The 2017 Pinot Noir The North Slope has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and scents of Bing cherry, blackberries, tart cranberry, dried citrus peel, tobacco leaf and tree bark with dried rose petals. It's medium-bodied, silky and intense with nuanced fruits, grainy tannins and juicy freshness, finishing very long and savory.
2017 Pinot Noir, Cuvée Alyce | 94 pts Robert Parker
The 2017 Pinot Noir 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!
2017 Pinot Noir, South Slope | 92 pts Robert Parker
Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir South Slope (all Dijon clone 777) has a savory nose of toast, dried leaves, pipe tobacco, dried rose petals, amaro and tangerine peel with a core of blackberries and cranberries. The palate is medium-bodied and silky with fine, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long.
The Offer
2017 Chardonnay, Cahill Lane - $46
2017 Chardonnay, Cuvée Alyce - $36
2017 Chardonnay, Meadows - $28
2017 Pinot Noir, North Slope - $44
2017 Pinot Noir, Cuvée Alyce - $48
2017 Pinot Noir, South Slope - $42
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