The wine has aromas of red fruits such as pomegranate, cherry, and cranberry, as well as nuances of rose, lavender, sandalwood, and Indian spices. In the mouth, the aroma of red fruits intensifies, with impressions of blood orange and tobacco. Smooth tannins lead to a long and complex finish. We recommend decanting 1-2 hours before drinking. This is a historic winery founded in 1953 by James D. Zellerbach, who was involved in the European economic recovery plan as the U.S. ambassador to Italy after World War II. During his term as ambassador, Zellerbach became fascinated with European wines and dreamed of making California wines that could rival the wines of the top domaines in Burgundy. He hired chemist Brad Webb as the first winemaker and Ivan Skok as the grape grower, and succeeded in producing world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Zellerbach passed away in 1963, and Hansel Vineyards was sold to the Days in 1965. It is a little-known fact that during these two years, the wines from Hansel's 1961 and 1962 vintages were sold as Heights Cellars wines. In 1973, Bob Sessions was appointed winemaker. He continued the elegant and Hansel-like winemaking style established by the first winemaking team for the next 28 years. In 1975, Countess Barbara de Brie, an Australian living in London, purchased Hansel, and in 1991, her son Alexander de Brie took the helm of the winery. In 2006, Michael McNeill was appointed as the fourth generation winemaker, and continues to serve in that position today. The winery facility at the center of the winery grounds was commissioned by founder Zellerbach, who was a member of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tartvin, to be built in the style of the Chateau Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines planted around it at that time still produce healthy grapes. Chardonnay is known as the oldest grape vine in North America, having been produced continuously since 1953, and Pinot Noir is also known as the oldest grape vine in North America. The winery's name, "Hanzell," was named by combining part of the founder Zellerbach's surname, "Zell," and his wife's name, "Hana." At Hanzell, we believe that the grapes in the fields tell the whole story, so we do not touch the wine as much as possible. Chardonnay, known for its very elegant and delicate wine, is aged sparingly in French oak barrels, and only a portion of it is MLF. Pinot Noir is aged in new French oak barrels for about 50% of the total, after a long cold soak to bring out its delicate aroma. Hansel's wines, known for their long-term aging, develop complex flavors and deep aromas that can never be artificially created through bottle aging. The true potential of Hansel's wines can be brought out through this bottle aging. Not only young wines, but also Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that have been aged in the bottle are always decanted to maximize the flavor and aroma. A former member of In Pursuit of Balance (IPOB), an organization that once took the world by storm in California to explore well-balanced Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Hansel is known for producing elegant and vibrant wines reminiscent of Europe.