2019 Chardonnay Cuvée Alyce

Once again, Stephen Hansel turned out a set of highly attractive wines. The cool growing season of 2019 decidedly favors Chardonnay. A number of the wines are really impressive. The best wines in the lineup offer a combination of Russian River texture and vibrancy that is compelling. Things were a bit more challenging for the Pinots, which are lighter and more translucent than readers are likely to expect. That’s not a bad thing necessarily given the exuberance that comes so naturally here, but a signature of the year in Pinot Noir that readers will want to keep in mind. Overall, the 2019 Pinots are nervy and lack the volume of the very finest years. The North Slope Pinot is especially awkward, at least today.