Walter Hansel 'Cuvee Alyce' Chardonnay; Russian River Valley 2023 (750ml)
Product price
Description
Walter Hansel's Cuvée Alyce Chardonnay comes from the highest-elevation section of the vineyard, planted with a selection of clones including Hyde Wente, Hudson Wente, and Clone 95. This 2023 vintage represents the winery's final release of white wine, made with ten months of barrel aging.
The wine shows an oily, textured presence in the glass, with aromas and flavors of orange confit, crème brûlée, and spice that open up with air. The palate carries notes of preserved lemon, apricot, honeycomb, and wet stone, moving through hazelnut with a full body that somehow stays weightless and silky. It's a substantial wine with clarity and elegance that will benefit from bottle age over the next several years.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Color | White |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Russian River Valley |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Producer | Walter Hansel Winery |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
The 2023 Chardonnay Cuvée Alyce emerges from the highest-elevation section of the vineyard and is planted with an assortment of clones, including Hyde Wente, Hudson Wente and Clone 95. Oily and textured in the glass, the Alyce offers lovely textural resonance within the context of the year. Orange confit, crème brûlée, spice and a kiss of French oak linger as the 2023 blossoms with air.
The last of Hansel's whites, the 2023 Chardonnay Cuvee Alyce offers more clarity in the range and is lifted with notes of preserved lemon, apricot, honeycomb, and wet stones. It's full-bodied, with a weightless, silky texture and elegant notes of hazelnut coaxing through the palate. It's a very strong offering that should improve over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032. With the exception of the Sauvignon Blanc, all of these wines from Walter Hansel were aged for ten months in barrel. (Jeb Dunnuck, July 2025)