Walter Hansel, Cahill Lane Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Quite the surprise: I thought this would be falling off from peak, and perhaps it is, but this was eminently drinkable. Fragrant; a nice medium body, ripe fruit, with a hint of sassafras on the finish.

2004 vintage

PnP (two nights). Has pushed towards the silky, lush fruit side of the equation, having lost its structural edge since the last bottle in 2010. The fruit is very expressive and has some nice complexity with baking spice and crushed dried leaves. Length was short. Fruit is fresh and should hold in this state for some time to come.

2004 vintage

Really singing now; great full-fruit and body pinot

2004 vintage

always a great bottle

2004 vintage

Nice fruity mixture on the nose on opening. Nice round fruit flavor in the mouth with a spicey/peppery finish. If I had more, I'd be thinking about finishing it off before too long.

2004 vintage

blueberries soaring thru bacon and all spice.

2004 vintage

Smelled of blueberries and bacon. A little smoky and fruity. I enjoyed it.

2004 vintage

Forgettable. Stored properly since release. Falling apart. Drink up. Some fruit, no structure, little balance, completely one dimensional. Don't get me completely wrong, does not suck, especially for the price. But....

2004 vintage

Pull another, not corked. PnP (2 nights). From memory. Beautiful Cali pinot that leans toward red berries and expressive spice. Really nice acidity and somewhat lush fruit and texture.

2004 vintage

Sad as it was only slightly corked and the many good nuances were noted, just not appreciated.

2004 vintage

Excellent depth and mouthfeel. Initially, quite a bit of meatiness / earthiness on both the nose and palate, developing a bit more sweetness and resin ultimately making this wine both better and more complex. In the end, not the flavors I'm looking for, but a well made wine.

2002 vintage

This is the RRV emulating Gevrey.

2002 vintage

Decanted 2 hours. Ruby with violet tint. Gorgeous nose of dark cherries, flowerrs, spice and earth, but it had a complexity as the aromas were all in harmony. Palate had plush, lingering, layered fruit that again was in great balance. The tannins were soft and the acidity adding lift to the terrrific flavors and making the finish seductive when coupled with the layered fruit. My note from 2 years ago seems similar except there was no doubt this time how …

2002 vintage

Much nicer than the last couple. Aromatic nose of red raspberries, mushrooms and powdered sugar. Nice tastes of copper pennies, cranberries and forest floor. Complex and very drinkable.

2004 vintage

Substantially different than the last 2 bottles. Nice spicy, cinammon-clove-pepper nose. Smooth drinking bing cherries and baking spices. No hint of excess alcohol.

2004 vintage

A bit more time on this bottle has given this a wonderful edge of meatiness, earth, while the darkfruit pinot shines through amid glycerin tinged with subtle acid. A superb wine.

2004 vintage

A little less enthusiastic about this than at last tasting. As a a tannic, masculine monster it's impressive, but there's a certain finesse missing. Meaty with an agressive attack of blue/red fruit. There's just a touch of pruniness; so I wonder about further age. Hold off for 2 years on the last bottle to see what happens.

2004 vintage

Popped and poured. Nose has hints of funky iodine and cherry. First 30 minutes this was tight, revealing a searing, alomst effervescent acidity along with a ton of strawberry and tart cherry. With air, more fruit emerges, some plummy-vanilla notes and earth poking around all the citrus-laced acidity. Wonderful with food. In a good space, but doesn't budge much with time. I think this will hold a couple more. good stuff.

2002 vintage

See eaelier description, overpowered by alcohol.Too bad has a nice nose with some funkiness.

2004 vintage

Had at Brix in Yountville. Light ruby color. The nose on this wine is very attractive. Dark fruits, red cherries and violets. Medium bodied, concetrated and quite thick for a Pinot. This is savory and has low acidity. I really liked this one.

2004 vintage

Opened not decanted. Warm grapes with dark spice on the nose; cinnamon, dried orange peel, clove with a spicy peppery finish. Makes the tongue tingle. Very good.

2004 vintage

Medium to dark ruby red. Scents of dark cherries and plums in the bouquet with some slight hints of cedar. It tastes of sweet black cherries macerated in cognac. Nice long, sweet, enjoyable finish. 50+5+12+16+8=91

2002 vintage

CORKED

2004 vintage

Very tasty cherry and spice. Still a bit strong on the alcohol, maybe needs another year or two. A really good Pinot.

2004 vintage

Opened not decanted. Cherry / plum in color; loads of spice on the nose with a little heat; a dry citrus / cherry finish. Good.

2004 vintage

Drank two bottles at The Owl at Twighlight. Ruby color, cherry aromas. Wonderfully smooth and pleasant to drink. Cherries with a touch of Indian spice. It was a crowd pleaser at the table.

2004 vintage

Translucent ruby. Aromas of dark cherry and a little funk transitioning as well to the palate but then something like a tart strawberry-watermelon jolly rancher with a single tiny drop squeezed from a wet saddle. Flavors integrate later on but right after opening things are a little awkward. Balance is pretty good: acid is med-high? tannins are moderately stiff but small grained and support the flavors well. The finish is quite long and pleasant. Would drink again and serve to …

2002 vintage

Not terribly impressed. Too much alcohol. Nice red fruit and impressive nose, with a brown sugar finish. But the alcohol overpowers this wine.

2004 vintage

Brought to a dinner at E&G. A great drinker right out of the bottle with spice, strawberry on the palate and nose. Great wine.

2004 vintage

Third bottle of the evening, not decanted. Raspberry pie crust on the nose with a touch of brown sugar; on the palate farily high acid with a citrus and sour cherry finish that is a lttle sharp. Very good.

2004 vintage

Very nice pinot and great QPR. Too bad Dave Brown purchased them all. Enough fruit to satisfy my sweet tooth yet a very nice earthiness/pinot funk that makes the wine complex. This was similar to some of the Merry Edwards wines that have fruit and earth but at a fraction of the price. Good stuff!

2002 vintage

This wine was a big funk bomb on the nose! It could have easily been confused for a premier cru burg. It had wonderful, precise, fruit, and a great spice to it. I really enjoyed this wine. Will hunt for more...

2002 vintage

Still quite young with an exuberant intensity of fruit; very dark garnet; a bit reticent on the nose, faintly herbaceous and floral. Need time to calm down and mellow out a bit into something more elegant.

2004 vintage

Very much a French style of Pinot Noir it is leaner and the acidity and tannins balance the fruit. It is very structured and harmonious but likely needs a few more years to really give up what is all there. 50+5+12+16+8=91

2002 vintage

Not decanted. Dark red violet. Brooding nose of dark cherries, earth, and smoke/leather that kept drawing you back for another sniff. Palate followed nose with mouth-coating fruit drifting into noticable tannins, refreshing acidity and a long finish. Had this with Copper River Salmon and the combination was superb.

2002 vintage

decanted over an hour, this is a beautiful dark red wine with a rather subdued nose and a very sophisticated and reserved flavor. Would buy again.

2002 vintage

Bistro Verdu: This wine was very distinctive to me, showing notes of red berries, earth, light smells of leather, someone mentioned a bit of fresh grass, a slight dose of eucalyptus, and even maybe a touch of mint or other spice/herbs. Not a big wine, on the palate it was vibrant, well balanced, and refreshing after being doused with so so much fruit in the other wines!

2002 vintage

Anita: Nice dark leather/earth; med. acidity, otherwise could be fooled into being Burgundy. Good dark berry notes. Very well made and apparently very well-priced.

2002 vintage

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Walter Hansel, Cahill Lane Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

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