Pablo Walter
Walter Hansel Winery
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018
I have consistently said, if this is not the best, it’s one of the very best Ca Pinot producers for the money. If my memory is still good, I think this was $38ish.
This 18 is the first look of six. It is drinking nicely but will still ascend for another five yrs. When that occurs, add a point, maybe two.
The nose shows a dark core of blackberries, spiced plum, strawberries, cherries and pomegranate. Cinnamon, clove, light nutmeg, vanillin, sweet, forest floor with dry leaves, dry & moist herbaceous notes, tree sap with some bark, withering & slightly candied; dark, red flowers, red & pink roses wrapped in violets.
The body is round, lush and the experience is almost Burgundian. Ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, strawberries, plum and hovering blueberries. Dark spice with expansive, circular mouth heat, tree sap, eucalyptus, moist & dry herbs, moist, volcanic laced clay, limestone chalkiness, dry crushed rocks, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, mid berry cola/licorice, some char of grilled meats, tobacco, leather, oak shavings, slightly candied & floral; dark, red flowers, red & pink roses wrapped in violets, grand, round acidity and a finish that is well balanced/structured, good tension & length with a round elegant finish that lasts nearly two-minutes. — 5 months ago
Walter Hansel Winery
The South Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
2023 vintage. Medium heavy body. Plushy frontal fruit. Spicy denouement. Pinot not Pinot. Exactly what this is iz questionable but it is delicious. And then the Chards come out at night…3.25.26. — 6 months ago
Walter Hansel Winery
The Estate Vineyards Chardonnay 2021
Excellent chard, beautiful golden color, fragrant pear on the nose, good full bodied follow through on the palate. Only demerit is the slightest acidic twist at the back end. But that mellows after breathing awhile. Don’t overchill — 3 years ago
Walter Scott
Cuvée Anne Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2021
Walter Hansel Winery
The Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir 2025
Pinot noir from engagement gift, solo steak night during finals. Very happy w it; Russian River valley, CA (Santa Rosa, CA) — 4 months ago
Walter Scott
Cuvée Ruth Pinot Noir 2023
2023 vintage. Light-medium body. Rhubarb, cherry, earth and concentration in waves. Great OR pinot value. 04.23.25. — a year ago
Weingut Josef Walter
Centgrafenberg Franken Trocken Pinot Noir 2015
Drinking right at its apex. Beautiful mature nose: sweet Pinot fruit, sous-bois, a little mushroom, old oak fully absorbed, and very expressive minerals. But the palate is the story. Velvety, sweet-fruited, seamless and polished, with gorgeous tannin quality and all the oak now integrated into the wine instead of sitting on top of it. Mature, elegant, luxurious, but still alive and precise. A rare 11-year-old Franconian Pinot caught perfectly. — 3 months ago
Walter Scott
Seven Springs Vineyard Chardonnay 2018
Berdegue magnum — 7 months ago
Walter Hansel Winery
The North Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015
I’m late to writing this having worked my way through half a case since 2019, but the wine was outstanding throughout and still seemed to have a lot of life in Jan ‘26. Deep, dark, sweet fruit, edges may have rounded over time but maintains a gentle acidity and earthy finish. Raspberry, tart cherry, plummy finish, a depth that few other WH North Slopes have. Wish I had more. — 8 months ago
Walter Hansel Winery
Cahill Lane Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
From 100% Wente clones that get max hang time, large and tiny berries packed together, pale lemon with subtle aromas of citrus and stone fruits. On the palate flavors of apple, lemon and lime flavors, crisp acidity, long finish ending with rich mineral character. Perfect now! — 3 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Zuccardi Polígonos del Valle de Uco — Tupungato Semillón 2021, El Peral, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷
Overview
100% Semillón from El Peral in Tupungato, grown around 1,200 meters above sea level. Part of Sebastián Zuccardi’s terroir-focused Polígonos project, the 2021 was fermented with native yeasts and both fermented and aged in large, untoasted French oak, with no malolactic fermentation, a fascinating combination that helps explain its texture without sacrificing freshness.
Aromas & Flavors
Lemon, ripe pear, green and yellow apple, white fruits, and subtle honeyed notes emerge with impressive aromatic generosity. There is also a quiet flinty character underneath the fruit that gives the wine another dimension.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, mellow, and beautifully smooth, with a soft creamy texture that initially feels almost understated. Fresh acidity gradually reveals itself underneath, giving the wine balance, energy, and a surprisingly persistent finish.
Food Pairings
Scallops, grilled white fish, roasted chicken, creamy risotto, ceviche, or richer seafood dishes. Its combination of texture and freshness gives it considerable flexibility at the table.
Verdict
A cerebral Argentine white that makes you think—and rethink—what the Southern Cone can do with Semillón. Expressive and generous without becoming loud, with a wonderful tension between softness, aromatic intensity, and freshness.
Did You Know?
This Semillón comes from El Peral in Tupungato, where Zuccardi’s Polígonos project explores individual Uco Valley villages through specific varieties. The 2021 growing season was comparatively cool and humid, allowing slow maturation while maintaining a strong balance between sugar and acidity.
🍷 Personal Pick
This one overdelivered beautifully. I loved the contrast between its delicate, almost mellow mouthfeel and the generosity of flavors and aromatics underneath. Smooth, expressive, and quietly complex, this is exactly the kind of cerebral white that keeps me exploring beyond Argentina’s obvious grapes. — 6 hours ago