For over 50 years, Hanzell Vineyards has grown, produced and bottled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir which have the unique distinction of being produced solely from our estate-grown fruit since 1961. These wines have been made by people, both past and present, who all have given the best of themselves to realize this shared dream “To produce wine equal to the finest in the world”.
The Wines
Hanzell Vineyards
The flagship wines from our Estate vineyards carry the iconic name Hanzell. The Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay and Hanzell Vineyards Pinot Noir are always our best efforts to interpret this unique site into age-worthy, collectible wines
To reach this goal many difficult decisions are made throughout the winegrowing year. By design and by nature, we set very low crop levels in all of our vineyards and then follow the traditions that are well established for great vineyard management. At harvest, we hand sort and pick the fruit, sorting again cluster by cluster as it comes into the winery. We farm all of our vineyards, youthful or mature, with the same exacting standards. For our flagship Hanzell wines, the average vine age is over thirty years old, and this is no doubt a major contributing factor to their longevity and age-worthiness.
After the wine is in barrel and aged appropriately, we come together to taste each and every barrel lot; with the Winemaker finalizing the blend for each wine. If a barrel or barrel lot is not up to the rigorous standards of the Hanzell style, it is not classified into the final Hanzell blend.
Hanzell Vineyards
2009
Glistening with a bright green-gold hue, the color of this wine speaks of the energy of this vintage. Subtle floral aromas of honeysuckle and jasmine lift the pear and lemon scents in the nose. With time in the glass or decanter, more breadth and complexity are added to the initial aromas. The flavors are still quite tightly wound; Hanzell minerality and lemon zest acidity balanced with ripe pear, honeydew and clove. As these flavors unfold, the richness and texture in the body become more and more evident. The concentration and vibrant structure of this wine suggest an extremely good vintage for aging in the cellar. Decanting one to two hours before serving is recommended.
Hanzell Vineyards
2009
Lovely red fruit aromas of pomegranate and cherry are enhanced by scents of rose petal, cardamom and clove. With time, the wine unfolds to reveal orange peel, pipe tobacco and a distinct earthiness reminiscent of a woodsy forest floor. Flavors of blackberry, pomegranate, tangerine and clean mineral are concentrated, yet lively and buoyant across the palate. Fine tannins and balanced acidity sustain the persistent fruit through a long finish. The clarity and concentration of flavor combined with the inherent structure will ensure many years of enjoyment and richly reward those with the patience to cellar. Decanting one to two hours before serving is recommended.
Hanzell Vineyards
Ambassador's 1953 Vineyard Chardonnay
2007
The original Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay vines, planted in 1953 by Ambassador Zellerbach, are now the oldest Chardonnay vines in California. Four barrels were blended to create this first-ever bottling of this historic single-vineyard bottling. 108 Estate Bottled Cases.
Allocated to Ambassador's Circle Collectors only.
Hanzell Vineyards
Ambassador's 1953 Vineyard Pinot Noir
2007
Our 2007 Ambassador’s 1953 Vineyard Pinot Noir was crafted by our winemaker Michael McNeill with deep respect for the traditions of Hanzell. The wine presents the individual character of this specific place and the cellar-worthy structure that defines the best vintages of the Hanzell Pinot Noir. Only four of the seven barrels produced from this small block were chosen for this bottling.
Allocated to Ambassador's Circle Collectors only.
Sebella
Hanzell Vineyards “Sebella” Chardonnay and Hanzell Vineyards “Sebella” Pinot Noir are the companion wines to our flagship Hanzell wines.
Grown, produced and bottled at the winery, Sebella Chardonnay allows us a way to work with and audition the Chardonnay fruit from our younger vineyards prior to their coming of age and inclusion in the Hanzell Chardonnay. Grown with the same exacting standards as all our vineyards, Sebella Chardonnay is a different interpretation of our fruit and site. With stainless steel fermentation and aging in more neutral oak (one to three year old barrels), Sebella Chardonnay has the signature of our vineyard’s minerality with the freshness of young Chardonnay fruit aromas.
Hanzell Vineyards Sebella Pinot Noir is highly limited to the rare bottling of the few select barrels not incorporated into the Hanzell Vineyards Pinot Noir blend. This wine is vinified in the same manner as our Estate wine but is usually from our younger vines with a more forward fruit profile.
Hanzell Vineyards “Sebella”
2010
One is immediately struck by the vibrancy of the aromas in this wine. Youthful and lively scents of honeysuckle, citrus blossom and guava are complemented by pear skin and our classic Hanzell minerality. Concentrated flavors of Anjou pear, honeydew melon and lemon focus and linger on the palate while clean acidity supports and balances the richness.
Hanzell Vineyards “Sebella”
2008
2008 "Sebella" Pinot Noir is the inaugural release of our companion label to the Hanzell Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir. Lovingly named after the owner’s children (Sebastian and Isabella), Sebella was created by following old world Grand Cru Domaine and First Growth Chateau classification philosophies. Once the Estate Pinot Noir is blended, the Winemaker reserves select barrels to craft a wine we may bring to table and enjoy serving now. This philosophy allows time for our Estate Pinot Noir, with its balance, intensity and structure, to age gracefully in our collectors’ cellars.
