- Practicing Biodynamic
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Hirsch Vineyards (Fort Ross-Seaview AVA)
- Originally planted in 1980 by David Hirsch
- Sandstone soils over clay loams
- 1,200 to 1,550 ft. elevation
- 75% Pommard-Wädenswil, 19% Swan, 6% Mount Eden clones
- Hand-harvested
- Native yeast fermentation
- Barrel selection from their oldest vines and best blocks
- Aged 26 months in 40% new French oak
- 575 cases produced
- 13.8% abv
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2021
Country:
United States
Region:
California
Appellation:
West Sonoma Coast
Variety:
Pinot Noir
Color:
Red
Farming Practice:
Practicing Biodynamic
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | US-HIR-41-21 | 12/750ml |
Tasting Notes
On the nose, the 2021 Reserve is already showing a complex interplay of fruit and savory aromatics. It opens with notes of fresh dark cherries and cassis, with hints of oyster shell and earth. On the palate, the attack is silky and sapid, with a seductive fullness. The tannins are fine-grained, long and impressive. This is a complex, structured wine that will benefit from time in the cellar.
Press & Reviews
James Suckling
Score
98
Date
2023-12-23
"#30 Top 100 Wines of 2023: 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."
Jeb Dunnuck
Score
98
Date
2024-06-28
"The 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve Estate 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."
Vinous
Score
97
Date
2024-01-16
"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."
VinePair
Score
96
Date
2024-04-17
"Hirsch Vineyards is located on the extreme Sonoma Coast in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. The dramatic topography and distinct soils in this region lead to some of the most expressive and well-balanced examples of Pinot Noir coming out of California. We're continuously impressed by this producer, and the 2021 Reserve bottling is no exception. The nose is brimming with complex notes of thyme, tarragon, white pepper, and vanilla. The palate has dazzling acidity, deep red fruit, and grippy tannins that suggest this bottle is in it for the long haul. Enjoy this wine over a nice dinner or cellar it for a few years to see how it evolves."
Wine Advocate
Score
96
Date
2024-02-22
"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."
Decanter
Score
94
Date
2024-08-07
"A selection of fruit from across the properties, the best Hirsch wines go into the reserve. Barrel selection that tells the story of our vines; for 2021, it was block 8, Raschen Ridge 15, 17, West Ridge, 7 and 12, East Ridge 4,5, 23 and 25 and Maritime 16 and the original Old Vineyard 1, 2, and 3 with luscious darker fruits, marked by cherry flesh, and juicy tayberries and a smoked sea salt savoury character announcing the aromas. The palate shows ripe red cherry flesh and perfectly picked raspberry; all brightened by mountain scrub, sappy pine tar and black tea."
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2022
James Suckling
Score
98
Date
2025-04-11
"A rich and layered red with blueberry, raspberry, peach and sandalwood aromas and flavors. So complete and broad shouldered, with framed and polished tannins and gorgeous fruit in the finish. A blend of top vineyards and a selection of the best wines. One for the cellar. A couple years of bottle age will make it even better."
2022
Decanter
Score
97
Date
2025-01-13
"David Hirsch idealised the Reserve wine to be a blend of the vineyard's best blocks each vintage. The goal is to show Hirsch in a bottle like no other. The 2022 release is a well-structured wine that opens with a lovely umami and savoury quality, evolving into a floral, citrus, and mineral 'classic' Hirsch finish—a wine with a long life ahead."
2022
VinePair
Score
96
Date
2024-04-17
"Hirsch Vineyards is located on the extreme Sonoma Coast in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. The dramatic topography and distinct soils in this region lead to some of the most expressive and well-balanced examples of Pinot Noir coming out of California. We're continuously impressed by this producer, and the 2022 Reserve bottling is no exception. The nose is brimming with complex notes of thyme, tarragon, white pepper, and vanilla. The palate has dazzling acidity, deep red fruit, and grippy tannins that suggest this bottle is in it for the long haul. Enjoy this wine over a nice dinner or cellar it for a few years to see how it evolves."
2022
Vinous
Score
96
Date
2025-01-30
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate Reserve is a blend of the top blocks on the ranch. Powerful and imposing, the 2022 is seriously deep. It is another wine that is going to require a number of years to soften. Dark red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, iron, dried herbs and orange peel linger. As good as the Reserve is, as a blend, it obviously does not offer the same nuanced expression of site as some of the other wines in the range."
2022
Wine Advocate
Score
95
Date
2025-08-07
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Reserve is a blend of fruit from several of Hirsch's vineyards, including Maritime, West Ridge and Block 8. It has slowly opening aromas of blackberries, mossy bark, potpourri, cinnamon and bitters. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with wild fruit! It's framed by barely-there, silky tannins and mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish."
2020
James Suckling
Score
97
Date
2022-12-18
2020
Jeb Dunnuck
Score
97
Date
2023-11-29
"The 2020 Pinot Noir Reserve pours a rich ruby with a bit of youthful purple and has aromas of black raspberry, wild herbs, menthol, and fresh soil. Medium to full-bodied, with an angular structure, it has driving energy with wonderful balance, revealing notes of fresh red cherry, herbes de Provence, and saline. An outstanding wine from this challenged vintage, drink it 2023-2040."
2020
Decanter
Score
95
Date
2023-03-30
2020
Wine Advocate
Score
93
Date
2024-02-22
"At this stage, the 2020 Pinot Noir Reserve seems to have escaped impact from the season's devastating wildfires and heat. The nose offers a core of cranberry sauce with accents of dried orange peel, hibiscus, tea leaves, earth and spice. The light-bodied palate has a concentrated core of spicy fruit framed by grainy tannins and refreshing acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish."