January 2, 2014 - Opened and poured, this light bodied, light red to pink pinot broadcasts an oaky, medicinal nose of mushroom and an odd musky note of pinot clone. Lithe and feminine, this is showing its age and I must say following an '04 KB, this wasn't even in the same ball park. Day two + under vac-u-vin, tart cranberry, herbal, vegetal. Not a fan of this bottling at all. Drink now, going downhill.
December 1, 2011 - Lots of tart cranberry upfront with some greenness/earthiness to give it lots of depth. I too, used a vac-u-vin for a second and third day. Fruit had faded, but was very drinkable both days...
April 1, 2011 - PnP with Sockeye fillet, light bodied, pink to clear at the edges. Pinot musk, oak and mushroom, with a mineral edge and red fruits. Deft weight and balance. Lots of sour cherry and strawberry on the palate, perhaps slight brett, perhaps just the sour notes. Some greenness. Smooth with decent finish. Drink now. Day two under vac-u-vin showing somewhat darker profile, but also slightly faded...coaxing yields some cola notes, with additional tart cranberry on the palate.
First planted in 1980 by farmer David Hirsch, the Hirsch Vineyard is located on the mountain ridges above the northern California town of Fort Ross at 1500 feet above the ocean surface and 3.5 miles as the crow flies from its crashing waves. One of the pioneers of a region known as the Extreme Sonoma Coast, this 72 acre vineyard is planted mostly with Pinot Noir which thrives above the fog line in the unique and powerful mix of sunlight and cool ocean breezes. Within several years of its planting, the vineyard was recognized as a top source of Pinot Noir.
December 12, 2008 - 50+4+13+16+8=91
January 5, 2008 - not as clean as last bottle
October 24, 2007 - Beautiful, classic Hirsch Vineyard, cherry flavors with a smooth, long finish. Best Failla I've tried yet!
May 15, 2006 - Nose of raspberry, strawberry, red cherry and slight vanilla. Some spice. medium body, and acidity. medium finish. very enjoyable.
January 20, 2006 - Deep transparent ruby with flecks of garnet. Rich, immediately giving nose of thick strawberry, raspberry, elegant but present oak, and a distinct note of orange juice. Weak on the front of the palate, but the moderate acidity spreads the wine across the middle and back of the mouth, with plenty of ripe, elegant fruit, fresh earth, and oak. Finish is strong and has some of the orange/grapefruit notes that were present on the nose. Made in a more restrained style than the 2002 Failla, the only other pinot I have had from this label. Needs some time to sort out the oak and a tad bit of heat, but has the potential to drink real nice with another ~12 months in the bottle. 50+5+13+16+8=92
December 4, 2005 - Great chardonnay but showing LOTS of youth. Definitely not the drink-immediate style. Very focused and loads of acid. Showing "lean" right now without much fruit .. very much like drinking a moss-covered rock. Medium body, and finish develops with some air. Definitely hold for another year or 2, minimum. No rush at all.