Cellar Favorite: 1970 Hanzell Vineyards Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | FEBRUARY 9, 2026

The 1970 Pinot Noir is quite simply one of the greatest American wines I have ever tasted. Dark, layered and so expressive, the 1970 opens beautifully with time in the glass. Deeply pitched spice, macerated cherry, leather, tobacco and game are some of the many nuances that gradually reveal themselves over time. At nearly 56 years of age, the 1970 is a time capsule into the early days at Hanzell. What a treat it is to taste this from a perfectly stored bottle. The 1970 was made from vines planted in 1953 by viticulturist Ivan Schoch using cuttings from To-Kalon, where Schoch was also the manager at the time. The widely accepted history is that Schoch used cuttings from Peter Martin Ray that originated in Burgundy and that were brought into California by Paul Masson. Unforgettable. 98/2026-2032

Hanzell’s 1970 Chardonnay is wild. It, too, has aged impeccably. The wine’s orange-ish hue and exotic flavor profile suggest the presence of some botrytis. Apricot jam, papaya, passion fruit, honey and dried flowers sweep across the palate. Rich and viscous, the 1970 is obviously fully mature, and yet it remains suspended in time by veins of supporting acid and more than enough structure to carry the mid-palate and finish. It’s an extraordinary testament to the quality and ageability of the wines from this pioneering Moon Mountain estate. All of this fruit is from the original 1953 plantings, done with clonal material taken from Stony Hill. 96/2026-2030

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