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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.7 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 47 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Sperls on 7/11/2023 & rated 92 points: Very nice mature CA Pinot. Cherry cola, hint of sweetness and spice and a little savoriness, medium finish. (386 views) | | | Tasted by wineoracle on 2/23/2021 & rated 92 points: Dark red color. Cherries, raspberries, and other red fruits along with herbs and spice. Nice slightly tannic finish. Surprisingly youthful. (1182 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 10/25/2020 & rated 92 points: This is still youthful with wonderful ripe dark cherry fruit and superb freshness and grip. It actually needed a good hour open to calm down and show perfect balance with a wonderful mineral complexity on the cherry-spice infused finish. The Hirsch Vineyard is one of WS's most consistently excellent bottlings for aging. (1405 views) | | | Tasted by Vinophiliac559 on 11/6/2019 & rated 92 points: At a great spot age wise, mature red pinot fruit, some savory spice, doubt this will improve further, for me most identifiable with older Arcadian pinot as it has an animalistic quality to the fruit, high toned and savory but not quite earthy/sous bois. Very enjoyable. (1689 views) | | | Tasted by rosenst1 on 9/6/2019 & rated 92 points: PnP. Medium red. High toned almost floral savory nose of red fruits and spice, especially sage. Red fruits and spice on the palate w good intensity; seems a bit lacking in the Hirsch iron/Gevrey flavors but good penetrance and length on the finish. Very good showing at age 11. (1558 views) | | | Tasted by MC on 9/30/2018: PNP and similar to my last note this is what you want in Cali Pinot. Balanced wine that shows solid fruit but also some earth and a long finish. Very enjoyable. Drink now. A- (1927 views) | | | Tasted by rosenst1 on 4/6/2018 & rated 92 points: Cellared since release. PnP. Medium dark red with lightening at the edge. spicy nose with a hint of iron or intense mineral - pretty Hirsch typical. Good palate intensity - quite linear with the fruit subsumed by the mineral component. Finish is long but echoes spice and mineral. I think this has aged well; never a vineyard which yields showy fruit driven wines so quite typical. Perhaps not as intense as some but showing quite well at age 10; unlike others I don't find this over the edge. (1568 views) | | | Tasted by kkleg on 10/20/2017 & rated 92 points: A bit subtle, but enjoyable. I prefer the 2009 right now. (1714 views) | | | Tasted by djarcara on 9/24/2017 & rated 88 points: Medium body. Dark cherry fruit, black tea, leather, soy sauce, and cola predominate the palate. The finish is a bit astringent. On the backside of its drinking window. Drink up. (1474 views) | | | Tasted by brujazz on 7/21/2017 & rated 92 points: Day 1 - Very good, but unfortunately about a year late in drinking it. Well balanced with a fruit filled bouquet and middle flavors. However, you could tell that a short time ago there was a lot more. What was there was complex right up to the finish, which really wasn't there. Too bad, it probably once was a contender. Rating 90
Day 2 - much better. Very near what I expected. Cherry cola up front. Elongated, complex finish. Rating up to a 92. (1637 views) | | | Tasted by Don and Pam on 5/30/2017 & rated 92 points: tasting nicely right now (1324 views) | | | Tasted by Deadhead on 3/12/2017 & rated 93 points: Bright fruits. Well balanced. Delicious. (1239 views) | | | Tasted by jasonkle on 2/12/2017 & rated 90 points: Starting to lose some fruit. Drink up. (1275 views) | | | Tasted by Deadhead on 1/5/2017 & rated 94 points: Our first bottle of wine in 2017 - what a great way to start the year!!! We love Hirsch vineyard wines from WS. This is fantastic. Smooth - well integrated. Wonderful mix of red and black fruit. An elegant wine. I wish we were allocated more... (1186 views) | | | Tasted by Tony Poli on 12/25/2016 & rated 95 points: With Christmas dinner at a restaurant (kitchen is under construction). One of the better Hirsch WS Pinots we have had. Bright red color. Lots of dark cherries and some smoke on the nose. The palate was silky smooth, with cherries dominant, but lots of spice and other secondary flavors running around in the mouth. Long, pleasant finish. Terrific. (1039 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 10/22/2016 & rated 90 points: Well-done west coast Pinot with flavors of sharp cherry, mocha and iron minerals. Finishes with a nice mineral crunch. Ready now. (1203 views) | | | Tasted by MC on 9/24/2016: Popped and poured. Better with 30 minutes of air but drinking very well, delivering exactly what you want in Cali pinot, and should hold for quite some time. A-/A (1056 views) | | | Tasted by M DU VIN on 8/5/2016 & rated 91 points: From magnum. (1096 views) | | | Tasted by Moonie on 7/18/2015 & rated 86 points: Stemmy and acidic. Mediocre. Bought on release. (2018 views) | | | Tasted by wineretriever on 11/17/2014 & rated 92 points: While a bit tight. at first, it displayed after an hour sitting in glass cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, crushed black rock, and dried leaves. Medium body with medium plus acidity on the palate; enjoyable concentration. Medium plus finish. Good stuff but won't touch other bottle for a few years. (2516 views) | | | Tasted by PVJC on 11/7/2014: Drank after a Kosta Browne '07 Sonoma Coast with no decanting. Was disappointing vs. expectations. Somewhat monolithic and hoped would evolve and improve after being open for a while but didn't change much, and same on day 2. (2157 views) | | | Tasted by vino_per_tutti on 6/21/2014 & rated 91 points: Decanted - recommended. Great garnet color. Sweet bing cherry, Asian spice and mushroom on the nose; tart cherry, forest floor, mushroom on the palate. Round, lingering finish. Delicious. (2428 views) | | | Tasted by blaine on 5/31/2014 & rated 95 points: "Wow, I love this wine. That's what I kept saying as heather and I enjoyed this amazing wine!! Gigantic nose, monster blue and red fruit. More blue. Palate seems to be gulpable, lush, yet restrained...I'm working to restrain myself...so freakin good. Best Pinot of the year, none of the year's smoke...if it's there, it's in the category of smoky oak. But it's not smoky, it's perfect. Long tart finish. Perfectly balanced, perfect wine. (2360 views) | | | Tasted by kkleg on 3/17/2014 & rated 94 points: - Crimsom color - Dark fruit, spice, and cola on the nose. Strawberries, raspberries, cola, spice, and nutmeg on the palate, with a touch of earth. This wine reminds me why the Hirsch is my favorite WS bottling. This will last for many years but it is drinking beautifully now, so why wait? (2008 views) | | | Tasted by wabi47 on 1/11/2014 & rated 92 points: silky mixed berry, some floral notes; medium body with fullness through mid palate; good balance; california style but with some elegance as well. (1719 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Williams Selyem Producer websitePinot Noir Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.
Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.
Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.
The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.
Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.
In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.
With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.
Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Sonoma CountyMendocino CountySonoma Coast * Sonoma Coast AVA (Wikipedia)
* Sonoma Coast AVA (Wine Institue) |
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