August 20, 2022 - Six+ years after the prior: The two most recent notes below generally describe this very well for us. To that we will add: This is elegant, and beautifully in balance. It was fabulous immediately upon opening, and it really sang for the next two hours. On the second night, gassed in between, it lost a bit — less verve, etc. On the third, it had faded more. We have one more, and will try to hold for a few years.
April 6, 2021 - Beautiful pinot. The real standout of this 2011 Hirsch Reserve is the nose - not lush, but elegant, sensuous, and positively delectable. The nose beckons sips, and more sips. Tart cherry and raspberry. No heat. After 3-1/2 hours, the nose and flavors are still singing, though I think the finish is getting a little shorter than upon opening the bottle. Over the next 5-8 years, while the fruit will gradually become less standoutish, I expect this will continue to be a super bottle to accompany an aged Pinot-friendly dinner, like salmon or grilled chicken.
November 26, 2020 - Served blind. Pinot outside Burgundy, not a lot of oak, ripe fruit with coolness; altitude or weather. Cool and minty, bit thin on palate. 91-92
November 23, 2020 - Nine years in, there's a great balance of freshness and age. Aromas are still bright and lively, with a nice burst of ripe pomegranate and cranberry bursting out of the glass. Candied raspberry, clove, dusty granite and slight roast game notes follow. Fruit remains juicy on the palate, and the game notes become a little more pronounced, along with barrel notes of leather and toast. Crisp acidity, tannins that still provoke a little tingle on the cheeks and gums but have mostly rounded out into velvety texture, and a long finish. Really nice showing from a meh vintage, and while there are probably still a few years left, but the balance of youth and age really seems to be hitting its ideal point.
March 13, 2020 - This had everything going on from the start, beautiful aromatics, balance, complete flavor profile featuring ripe fruit, structure, body and a lengthy finish. Drinking excellent right now!
June 2, 2019 - Delightful and drinking well.
September 3, 2018 - Drinking well now - integrated, bright and smooth
March 31, 2018 - Consistent with last year's bottle. Perhaps a bit more complex with a longer finish. The Hirsch Reserve wines are developing beautifully.
May 22, 2017 - Fresh red fruits -- raspberries, cola, nutmeg, plum and a long finish of clean acid balance well. This is a beautiful wine, drinking well, with many years left in it.
March 8, 2017 - Hirsch is very close to my favorite CA pinot taste profile... love Sonoma and Sonoma Coast