Hanzell

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Hanzell 2004 Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $65

Massive, complex, with amazing depth, an opulent, voluptuous wine of tremendous power and authority. It’s so beautiful now, you almost hesitate to cellar it, but these Hanzell Chards are built for the long haul. Positively volcanic in tropical fruit and toasty new oak, with a honeyed, caramel finish. Absolutely stunning. — S.H. (5/1/2007)

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Hanzell 2005 Ambassador's 1953 Vineyard Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley)

Price $180

This very expensive release is one of the rare examples of Chardonnay that absolutely requires bottle age. Dry and leesy now, with a mineral compactness, it shows a rich core of baked peach, spiced apple, butterscotch and smoky honey. As it warms in the glass, it develops great flavor and textural complexities. Should come into its own by 2009, and improve for many… — S.H. (8/1/2008)

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Hanzell 2005 Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $65

Few wineries in California can craft a Chard as rich, balanced and ageworthy as this. In its youth this ‘05 is flashy in lemondrop, pear and spicy anise, with a honeyed finish and crisp acidity. It’s quite addictively brilliant, a wine whose lush harmony mesmerizes the palate. But Hanzell Chards invariably age well, and this is a wine you can dependably put into… — S.H. (2/1/2008)

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Hanzell 2001 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $85

At four years of age, this Pinot is just hitting its stride. It has a youthful side in the still fresh cherry and raspberry fruit and vibrant acidity. But it’s turning mellow, as the oak melts into the alcohol, lending a soft, creamy infusion of vanilla bean. It’s so good now, it will be hard to keep your hands off it, but it should hold for another three to five years. — S.H. (12/15/2005)

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Hanzell 2009 Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $75

A tremendous Chardonnay. As always, the winery’s ’09 is bone dry, crisply acidic and minerally. You might call it austere at this point, with its tart finish of grapefruit. But a great Hanzell Chardonnay will improve for at least a decade, possible two, and this is a great Hanzell Chardonnay. The score reflects what the wine likely will be approximately eight years… — S.H. (2/1/2012)

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Hanzell 2004 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $90

Among California’s First Growth Pinots, Hanzell’s ‘04 is marked by a full-bodied, austere density that demands time in the cellar. It’s a very dry, fairly tannic wine, rich in ripe crushed black cherry, red cherry candy, tobacco, cedar and spicebox aromas and flavors that are impeccably balanced. Really defines the terroir of the estate, and should develop well… — S.H. (2/1/2008)

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Hanzell 1997 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $50

Irresistible aromas of blackberries, dark chocolate, kid leather and smoky oak are pure pleasure. In the mouth, there’s great depth of flavor, with juicy plum, pepper and dark berry notes. The sappy, silky-smooth texture is classic Pinot, while a long, rich, spicy finish indicates a long life ahead for this balanced, wonderful wine. — S.H. (12/15/2001)

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Hanzell 2008 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $95

With Pinot Noir, the magic trick is to have it taste sweet and ripe, and yet to finish bone dry. Few wineries in California accomplish this as regularly as Hanzell, and here they come again, with this wonderful 2008. It’s entirely consistent with their past history, being dry, a little tannic and tantalizingly rich in cherry, raspberry and cola fruit. Enjoyable now… — S.H. (2/1/2012)

Most Reviewed Designations

Ambassador's 1953 Vineyard Sebella

Most Reviewed Varietals

Chardonnay Pinot Noir

2009 Russian River Vineyards Estate Grown

Rich flavors of cherries, persimmons, cola, anise and oak flood the…

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