Walter Hansel The Meadows Vineyard Chardonnay, California, USA

沃爾特草地園霞多麗干白葡萄酒

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：1653

Bright floral aromatics lead to white and yellow orchard fruit, spices and crushed rocks in the 2010 Chardonnay The Meadows Vineyard. This is a fairly restrained Chardonnay for Hansel, with less overtness than is typically the case. In 2010, The Meadows speaks to class and elegance. There is a pointed, focused quality to the finish that is particularly attractive. The Meadows is a fabulous value in Russian River Chardonnay. In 2010 Hansel bottled the Meadows separately for the first time. Previously, this fruit had gone into the Estate Chardonnay. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. I was quite taken with the wines I tasted with proprietor Stephen Hansel earlier this year. In particular, the 2010 Chardonnays have turned out far better than I had expected. A year prior, the wines were heavy and clunky. Today, they are complete and beautifully balanced to a degree that is surprising. According to Hansel, in 2010 the Pinots were less affected by the heat spikes that year than the Chardonnays, echoing a common refrain among growers. As was the case throughout California, 2011 was an exceptionally long and cold growing season. Hansel lost the fruit for the Meadows bottling, a casualty of the October rains. At the risk of sounding repetitive, it is impossible not to realize how exceedingly fairly priced these wines are in today’s market. Stylistically, the Hansel Chardonnays show the richness from stirring of the lees and the use of 40-60% new oak. The Pinots are made from fully destemmed fruit and also tend towards the bolder side of things. Hansel reported that sugars were about a degree lower in 2011, especially for the Chardonnays. Consequently, he gave the Chardonnays a little less new oak than normal, but at the same time increased lees stirring to give the wines a bit more body. Ripeness of the Pinots was more consistent across the two vintages. Tel. (707) 525-3614

The 2010 Chardonnay The Meadows Vineyard offers up smoke, dried apricots, dried flowers and butterscotch. It is a soft, inviting Chardonnay to drink over the next few years. This parcel is planted with Hanzell clones on Goldridge soils and is the last to be harvested. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. This is an excellent set of wines from Steven Hansel. The Chardonnays are fermented and aged in barrels for a total of 10 months with lees stirring once a week for the first 8 weeks. Hansel favors Francois Freres and Seguin Moreau barrels, typically 50% new for the Chardonnays. The Pinots are made with fully destemmed fruit and aged in Seguin Moreau barrels, 70% new. Like many growers, Hansel was affected by late season rains in 2010. The estate was very aggressive with leaf pulling, which then created challenges, especially for the Chardonnays, when the heat spikes arrived. The 2010s have lower alcohol and higher acidities than the 2009s, but they also at times have a bit of heaviness from the very low yields of the year. The Pinots seem less affected by the weather in 2010. Vintage 2009 was much more regular, and that comes through in the consistency of both the Chardonnays and the Pinots.Tel. (707) 525-3614; www.walterhanselwinery.com