2021 Hirsch Pinot Noir Estate Reserve
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve comes from top selections from across the estate vineyards. In the glass, it amplifies things further, pouring a rich red color and offering lovely depth on the nose, with notes of kirsch, resinous mossy earth, raspberry coulis, candied roses, and dark stones. Leaning toward full-bodied but not heavy, it’s persistent all the way through, with extended length, ripe tannins, and a clean, earthy finish with notes of black tea. This exceptional wine takes all its components and amplifies them without ever feeling weighted. Drink 2026-2046. Located in Fort Ross, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, David Hirsch purchased his estate in 1978 and planted his first vines in 1980. His daughter Jasmine Hirsch took over as winemaker with the 2019 vintage. They have been practicing biodynamic viticulture since 2011 and were fully converted over in 2014. Their focus and attention are on the site, resulting in wines that offer elegance and purity, with transparency in regard to their sense of place. While I have been a fan of these wines for a long time, they are continuing to push the bar higher and higher, slowly evolving their style to find balance and a new level of completeness in the resulting wines today. For readers who have not checked in on the Hirsch wines in a while, I would highly encourage you to seek these 2021s out.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve has layered aromas of cranberry sauce, blueberries, lavender, mint, woodsmoke and meaty undertones. The medium-bodied palate is seamless and expressive. It has an ultra silky texture, vibrant acidity, highly concentrated, complex flavors and a long, spicy finish. It's gorgeous now yet offers the stuffing and structure to age gracefully in the cellar.
The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate Reserve is a powerful, dense and tannic wine. In many ways, the Reserve is done more in the older Hirsch style, in which the tannins are quite imposing. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, dried herbs, spice, menthol and dried herbs fill out the layers. The Reserve is quite potent, but it does not have the textural finesse of the very finest wines in this range—although that is a pretty small quibble at this very high level.
Aromas of grilled seaweed, oyster shell and iodine with ripe strawberry and citrus rind. Full-bodied with lots of juicy fruit and structure. Fine tannins that are toned and focused. Excellent length. Holding back still. Try after 2026.