For fans of richer, fuller-bodied Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Walter Hansel's 2022 North Slope is going to be right in your wheelhouse.
This is classic Russian River Pinot Noir, offering the ripe fruit, texture, and generosity that made producers like Rochioli, Kosta Browne, and Paul Hobbs famous. The difference is that Walter Hansel still delivers that style at a price that won't leave you questioning your life choices.
Through Friday, June 27, we've got this at just $35.99/bottle, 20% off the regular price.
No further discounts apply, and with only 48 bottles up for grabs, I wouldn't think about this one too long.
Walter Hansel Vineyards was founded in the late 1970s when Walter Hansel began planting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in what would become one of California's most celebrated growing regions. His son Stephen took over the winery in the 1990s and was fortunate to learn from legendary neighbor Tom Rochioli, one of the pioneers of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Rochioli taught Stephen that understanding his vineyards and farming them meticulously was every bit as important as what happened in the cellar, a lesson that continues to guide the estate today.
After tasting through multiple Walter Hansel Pinot Noirs, I continue to find myself drawn to the North Slope bottling. It consistently delivers the richest and most complete expression of the estate's terroir, combining concentration and power with remarkable balance.
Just 500 cases of the 2022 were produced, and it is loaded with aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum, black raspberry, baking spice, and forest floor. This is certainly a bigger style of Pinot Noir, but it never feels heavy. Fine-grained tannins and bright acidity provide lift and structure, while the long, complex finish keeps you coming back for another sip.
If you're a fan of expressive California Pinot Noir with plenty of flavor and personality, I think you're going to love this one.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
