The 2001 Pinot Noir Cuvee Alyce (198 cases made from Burgundy clones 114 and 115) exhibits excellent sweetness along with cherry, raspberry, and earth characteristics. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with medium to full body as well as a tight, but promising personality, it should provide handsome drinking for 4-5 years. For a winery founded only in 1996 (situated down the road from Dehlinger and Kistler), this estate is on fire, producing Burgundian-styled offerings that are the products of natural yeast fermentations, gentle handling in the cellars, with the Pinot Noirs kept on their lees, and no fining or filtration at bottling. If readers have not yet tasted the wines of Walter Hansel, they are missing some stunning wines. All of the cuvees enjoy 45-65 percent new oak.Tel. (707) 525-3614; Fax (707) 528-2415