Lovely and clean, it's also quite rich and dense and on the border of chewy. Raspberry candy dominates the nose after a decant and some time. The mouth is light and bright.
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Nice aromas of stems, forest floor, red and black cherries, and a bit of earth. Palate mirrors the aromas with added bits of leather. Elegant. Medium+ body. Excellent concentration. Nice moderately long finish although there is some heat as well. Entering window with tertiary characteristics . Nice.
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wowsa; rich and perfectly ripe black cherry, earth, spice; some je ne sai quoi; adequate acidity; a bit more oak than i prefer but others loved it that way, and the fruit stands up to it; would not have guessed cool climate pinot, bigger than my version of a hirsch style.
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Celebrating David Benoit’s birthday watching his Instagram Livestream. Enjoying this David Hirsch Pinot on International Pinot Noir Day during the Covid-19 pandemic. Red fruit- cherry and raspberry. Low aromatics.
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Great aromatics start with ripe red and black berries, flowers, cherry cola and baking spice. Riper on the palate with with slightly sweeter fruit and spice notes that detract from the mouthfeel for me. Good+ weight and length.
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Aerated to decanter 45 minutes. This is in a terrific spot just now with a lovely balance of secondary and to a lesser extent some tertiary qualities. That said it seems to have plenty of gas still in the tank. hey wonderfully long finish with a medley of soil, dark cherry, and brown spices. Drink or hold. highly recommended
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Nice to have such a balanced, yet expressive Cali Pinot vs. some recent examples. This was decanted 90 minutes but was pretty good out of the bottle with red fruits, tart cranberry notes, and some earth. Later this was open with ripe cherry fruit, some Burgundian earth, and a touch of alcohol but balanced and enjoyable with and without food. Maybe not worth the current price but that could be argued, and I might agree - very enjoyable New World Pinot. Drink now. A-
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Dark red in the glass. Some black cherry notes, but a lot of heat on the nose. Little discernible on the palate - warm cherry compote, brambly black cherry. Disjointed. Wondered if it was cooked.
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I can not imagine that this wine could improve any more. It must be on the peak of the mountain in it's life span. Elegant and smooth with the fruit and acidity in perfect balance, this wine is what one hopes for in a Pinot Noir.
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The last of my 2009 Herschs and the best. In a perfect spot. Medium body. Cherries, raspberries and a bit of cola perfectly balanced from a big bouquet though a constantly changing very long finish. Pretty much as good as a domestic Pinot can get.
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My notes are consistent with my impression of this wine a year ago, in 2017. Everyone has a different palate when it comes to pinot noir, but judging by the ascending trajectory of CT scores on this wine, just about everyone seems to agree that this W-S Hirsch has clearly improved with age. No rush to drink it, but it is in a really great place right now.
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Paired with cedar planked salmon. This was perfect, could not have been better. Darker than most WS Pinots, spicy, fruity nose. Absolutely smooth on the palate, balance was just right. Red fruit (not the usual WS cherries explosion, much more subtle), plenty of spice, good structure. Long finish. Patience rewarded, much better than the last bottle, which was quite good.
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uninspiring to say the least. Bottle purchased upon release and cellared in optimal conditions. Popped and poured. Drank over 2 hours. Flabby and over ripe. Not a lot of depth of flavor either. Not optomistic it is going to get any better. Drinkable and clearly a v good wine but disappointing. Glad this was my last bottle
Decent balance and some restraint for a California Pinot, but still a bit overripe with cherry cola notes that do not belong in a Pinot. A little flat on the finish. I wonder if I would like these wines more if they were harvested earlier? Much better than any RRV wine from the same producer. I wonder if they still make the current vintages in this style or have moved to a more restrained, balanced old world Pinot style. It appears there are still a lot of consumers who want there wine to taste like cherry cola and Dr. Pepper.
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This was fantastic. Easily one of the best Williams-Selyem I've had. And one of the most well-balanced California pinots I've had in years. It was neither lightweight nor heavy, neither too rich nor too lean. Just the right amount of acidity, freshness, red berry fruit, subtle earth, and a velvety texture that coats the palate. This wine might not blow anyone away, but anyone who likes wine will certainly enjoy drinking this. I think this is the perfect pinot to serve to someone whose pinot preferences are leaning toward Burgundy but who still appreciates the California style. On a side note, in my opinion, the top Sonoma pinots from the 2009 vintage are just starting to turn the corner, opening up, and beginning their drinking window.
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Perfect wine to celebrate a 50th birthday--an elegant and complex pinot that evolved in the mouth and as we drank the bottle. Rose, cola, dark berry, spice.
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Pnp - consumed over 3 nights. The first W-S wine I have really enjoyed. Very fragrant nose of black cherry cola - almost Dr. Pepper like. On the palate the black cherry flavors are in prominent but held in check with nice acidity and an earthy almost red clay flavor. Very enjoyable.
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Consistent with prior bottle. Some secondary development -- more integrated tannins, longer finish, some delicate floral notes in the nose and some sweet raisin at the finish.
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Good acidity and cut to balance out the rich flavors of cherries, mocha and iron minerals. Finsishes with a nice mineral crunch and is a bit better balanced than the '08 so should continue to age well.
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Perhaps the most classical profile of any Williams Selyem wine I have ever had. Dark garnet color. This has a clean, mineral-driven nose. The finely delineated palate has deep black fruit flavors and an underlying stony note, balanced throughout by well-integrated acidity. This is more like a hedonistic expression of Clos de Vougeot (a bit like the 2009 Ferrington) than any New World Pinot Noir. A surprising improvement from the bottle I tried back in 2013, I wish I had another bottle of this to cellar for 5-10 years. Though I still think that the Williams Selyem range is too broad, these wines are more convincingly justifying the premium valuation as I move up the price list.
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A really nice core of plush cherry fruit with hints of ferrous minerals and red spice. I like the way this finishes with good cut and grip and while it's still a bit sweet for my taste, it's a very well made far west coast Pinot. Out of Magnum at Sutton Inn, NYC.
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Amazing wine, textbook WS Hirsch. Beautiful nose upon opening, slightly translucent color. Creamy blue fruits on the nose and on the palate plus cherries, very bright. Medium+ bodied, balancing acidity. Precise and focused. Long finish. Lots of life left, drinking very well now.
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Beautiful plum hue. Gorgeous nose with notes of blackberry, earth, letter, cinnamon, sage, and coffee. The palate has nice flavors of sweet cherries, coffee, and pie crust, with really nice acidity. This will keep for at least 3-4 years, but is delicious right now. I love WS Hirsch wines, and this one is no exception.
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Garnet color and a slight haze and opaque. Smells are cherry, raspberry, anise, and earthy notes. The tatses are sweet and sour cherry, raspberry, cola, and nice damp earthy taste and aromatics. The length was nice, and the body was modest with savory aftertast of earth and red fruit.
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Deep garnet. Nose of spice, cedar, earth and tobacco. Top notes are raspberries, hint of cherry and moist earth. Follows with cigar box, cola and currants and some unripe plum.
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Very good RRV Pinot, smokey and spicy with bold but not overpowering fruit. Firm tannins for a Pinot. Finished #2 in a blind tasting behind 2009 Martinelli Bella Vinga RRV, then 2008 Beaux Freres WV and 2006 Camille Giroud Latricieres-Chambertin.
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Dark garnet color. Heady aromas of freshly sanded cedar wood, ripe raspberries, cherry cola and charcoal. This is noticably alcoholic to me, with the 14.1% indicated by the label asserting itself in the form of a lingering burn on the nose. At first, the palate is very mute, pretty much like alcoholic grape juice with very little supporting acid and tannin. With aeration, the nose starts to take on a sweet, toasty crème brûlée scent, and the palate broadens a bit to encompass a bold blackberry flavor. This ends up being forward but still somewhat flaccid; overall it remains underwhelming. Considering there are Grand Cru Burgundies available for a similar cost, the QPR on this is abysmal.
What a beautifully elegant and complex wine. The nose was an amazing melding of crushed strawberries and fuschia. Ripe berry and warm nectarine flavors layered with cinnamon, buttery pie crust and soft leather. Mineral notes and fruit integrating nicely with modest tannins. Pulled the cork a couple hours before we tasted. Not sure if more time will improve this wine. It's drinking so well now I'm not sure how it could get any better.
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a bit acidic for my taste. I got a lot more citrus and acid that most other reviews. it wasn't nearly as balanced as I'd hoped. I was a bit disappointed for how expensive this wine was. Hopefully will improve with age as I have another bottle.
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Excellent wine. It got better over the 2 hours that we drank it. It was big enough to go up against Jim's steak with chimichirrie sauce with lime and red onion
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couldn't resist taking an early glimpse of this one. it's a rich, deep, and complex wine. while it's showing youthful notes of oak and a little heat, the beauty of the cool fruit with layers of sap, floral aromatics, and just the right amount of warm soil are quite enticing. i think the oak and alcohol will integrate with time and i can't wait to revisit this wine with a little age on it.
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layers of wild berry, cardamom, truffle, cassis, earth and so much more; just right mix of fruit and savory; just right acidity; one of the best young pinots i have tasted recently
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This wine is a standout and has the potential to become a benchmark Hirsch Pinot with time in the cellar. Shockingly open right now. A red cherry color with knockout aromatics of red cherry, flowers, earth, and some overt oak on the back end. In the mouth, this is just stupendous, with tremendous life and vibrancy. Red cherry fruit stakes out its claim up front, pure and clean, followed closely by layers of glorious complexity -- earth, flowers, and light spice, along with a subtle oak influence. The acidity gives a tremendous zing, and there are some solid tannins showing on the glorious finish. Obviously in need of time, but this is surprisingly open and showing every element for a great Pinot right now. A
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4/28/2024 - 831900_ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely and clean, it's also quite rich and dense and on the border of chewy. Raspberry candy dominates the nose after a decant and some time. The mouth is light and bright.
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2/24/2023 - wabi47 wrote: 91 Points
some sweet baby fat is fairly quickly replaced by a tart mixed red berry, mineral, cedar and tea; good acidity. evolved over three days
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10/1/2022 - James Kim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice aromas of stems, forest floor, red and black cherries, and a bit of earth. Palate mirrors the aromas with added bits of leather. Elegant. Medium+ body. Excellent concentration. Nice moderately long finish although there is some heat as well. Entering window with tertiary characteristics . Nice.
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11/19/2020 - wabi47 wrote: 93 Points
wowsa; rich and perfectly ripe black cherry, earth, spice; some je ne sai quoi; adequate acidity; a bit more oak than i prefer but others loved it that way, and the fruit stands up to it; would not have guessed cool climate pinot, bigger than my version of a hirsch style.
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10/18/2020 - Ravi Deshpande wrote: 92 Points
Have always loved Hirsch- WS’s best wine IMHO. Didn’t take detailed notes, I just loved the ride.
I coravined this one and went back to it a month the later to find it considerably more subdued and possibly with cork taint. Strange.
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8/18/2020 - KC Wine Enthusiast Likes this wine: 95 Points
Celebrating David Benoit’s birthday watching his Instagram Livestream. Enjoying this David Hirsch Pinot on International Pinot Noir Day during the Covid-19 pandemic. Red fruit- cherry and raspberry. Low aromatics.
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8/16/2020 - missionpk Likes this wine:
Very nice. Full, but not overpowering. Still feels light. Some nice flavor and some very nice texture.
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7/28/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Great aromatics start with ripe red and black berries, flowers, cherry cola and baking spice. Riper on the palate with with slightly sweeter fruit and spice notes that detract from the mouthfeel for me. Good+ weight and length.
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5/29/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Aerated to decanter 45 minutes. This is in a terrific spot just now with a lovely balance of secondary and to a lesser extent some tertiary qualities. That said it seems to have plenty of gas still in the tank. hey wonderfully long finish with a medley of soil, dark cherry, and brown spices. Drink or hold. highly recommended
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4/6/2020 - MC wrote:
Nice to have such a balanced, yet expressive Cali Pinot vs. some recent examples. This was decanted 90 minutes but was pretty good out of the bottle with red fruits, tart cranberry notes, and some earth. Later this was open with ripe cherry fruit, some Burgundian earth, and a touch of alcohol but balanced and enjoyable with and without food. Maybe not worth the current price but that could be argued, and I might agree - very enjoyable New World Pinot. Drink now. A-
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10/29/2019 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 87 Points
Dark red in the glass. Some black cherry notes, but a lot of heat on the nose. Little discernible on the palate - warm cherry compote, brambly black cherry. Disjointed. Wondered if it was cooked.
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8/8/2019 - theharve wrote: 92 Points
no signs of decline
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3/9/2019 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 95 Points
I can not imagine that this wine could improve any more. It must be on the peak of the mountain in it's life span. Elegant and smooth with the fruit and acidity in perfect balance, this wine is what one hopes for in a Pinot Noir.
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3/6/2019 - brygct Likes this wine: 95 Points
Impressive creation from a winemaker at the peak of his powers. Cabral masterpiece that just sang in the glass. Decanted for an hour.
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1/25/2019 - brujazz wrote: 95 Points
The last of my 2009 Herschs and the best. In a perfect spot. Medium body. Cherries, raspberries and a bit of cola perfectly balanced from a big bouquet though a constantly changing very long finish. Pretty much as good as a domestic Pinot can get.
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7/3/2018 - Jonathan T wrote: 94 Points
My notes are consistent with my impression of this wine a year ago, in 2017. Everyone has a different palate when it comes to pinot noir, but judging by the ascending trajectory of CT scores on this wine, just about everyone seems to agree that this W-S Hirsch has clearly improved with age. No rush to drink it, but it is in a really great place right now.
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2/19/2018 - Edclr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, has this wine ever evolved. Fruit still bright, long finish, very soft tannins. Nicely balanced.
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10/20/2017 - kkleg Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great fruit and complexity, with a long finish. Delicious.
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9/4/2017 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 95 Points
Paired with cedar planked salmon. This was perfect, could not have been better. Darker than most WS Pinots, spicy, fruity nose. Absolutely smooth on the palate, balance was just right. Red fruit (not the usual WS cherries explosion, much more subtle), plenty of spice, good structure. Long finish. Patience rewarded, much better than the last bottle, which was quite good.
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4/14/2017 - Oskiwawa wrote: 83 Points
uninspiring to say the least. Bottle purchased upon release and cellared in optimal conditions. Popped and poured. Drank over 2 hours. Flabby and over ripe. Not a lot of depth of flavor either. Not optomistic it is going to get any better. Drinkable and clearly a v good wine but disappointing. Glad this was my last bottle
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4/3/2017 - dlduchon wrote: 86 Points
Decent balance and some restraint for a California Pinot, but still a bit overripe with cherry cola notes that do not belong in a Pinot. A little flat on the finish. I wonder if I would like these wines more if they were harvested earlier? Much better than any RRV wine from the same producer. I wonder if they still make the current vintages in this style or have moved to a more restrained, balanced old world Pinot style. It appears there are still a lot of consumers who want there wine to taste like cherry cola and Dr. Pepper.
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2/10/2017 - Naso wrote: 93 Points
Cherry cherry cherry - what more can I say
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1/20/2017 - Jbird73 wrote: 92 Points
Really a great place for this wine. Drink now. Lovely nose of dark red fruits, silly smooth. Enjoyed with a nice Italian dinner.
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1/18/2017 - Jonathan T Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was fantastic. Easily one of the best Williams-Selyem I've had. And one of the most well-balanced California pinots I've had in years. It was neither lightweight nor heavy, neither too rich nor too lean. Just the right amount of acidity, freshness, red berry fruit, subtle earth, and a velvety texture that coats the palate. This wine might not blow anyone away, but anyone who likes wine will certainly enjoy drinking this. I think this is the perfect pinot to serve to someone whose pinot preferences are leaning toward Burgundy but who still appreciates the California style. On a side note, in my opinion, the top Sonoma pinots from the 2009 vintage are just starting to turn the corner, opening up, and beginning their drinking window.
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12/10/2016 - yatchisin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfect wine to celebrate a 50th birthday--an elegant and complex pinot that evolved in the mouth and as we drank the bottle. Rose, cola, dark berry, spice.
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12/1/2016 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Pnp - consumed over 3 nights. The first W-S wine I have really enjoyed. Very fragrant nose of black cherry cola - almost Dr. Pepper like. On the palate the black cherry flavors are in prominent but held in check with nice acidity and an earthy almost red clay flavor. Very enjoyable.
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11/26/2016 - PDavisMarble wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with prior bottle. Some secondary development -- more integrated tannins, longer finish, some delicate floral notes in the nose and some sweet raisin at the finish.
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10/22/2016 - dream Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good acidity and cut to balance out the rich flavors of cherries, mocha and iron minerals. Finsishes with a nice mineral crunch and is a bit better balanced than the '08 so should continue to age well.
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6/20/2016 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perhaps the most classical profile of any Williams Selyem wine I have ever had. Dark garnet color. This has a clean, mineral-driven nose. The finely delineated palate has deep black fruit flavors and an underlying stony note, balanced throughout by well-integrated acidity. This is more like a hedonistic expression of Clos de Vougeot (a bit like the 2009 Ferrington) than any New World Pinot Noir. A surprising improvement from the bottle I tried back in 2013, I wish I had another bottle of this to cellar for 5-10 years. Though I still think that the Williams Selyem range is too broad, these wines are more convincingly justifying the premium valuation as I move up the price list.
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1/29/2016 - kcp Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely. Deep, darkly fruited. Balanced. An aroma I could inhale forever. Very WS.
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12/16/2015 - dream Likes this wine: 90 Points
A really nice core of plush cherry fruit with hints of ferrous minerals and red spice. I like the way this finishes with good cut and grip and while it's still a bit sweet for my taste, it's a very well made far west coast Pinot. Out of Magnum at Sutton Inn, NYC.
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11/28/2015 - blaine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing wine, textbook WS Hirsch. Beautiful nose upon opening, slightly translucent color. Creamy blue fruits on the nose and on the palate plus cherries, very bright. Medium+ bodied, balancing acidity. Precise and focused. Long finish. Lots of life left, drinking very well now.
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8/14/2015 - MDRwinos wrote: 89 Points
Solid pinot. PnP. Good fruit and balance. Not sure its worth the QPR
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7/28/2015 - milcopa wrote:
Excellent. 95 points, had it with Afghan food from Helmand Palace in S F.
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6/27/2015 - kkleg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful plum hue. Gorgeous nose with notes of blackberry, earth, letter, cinnamon, sage, and coffee. The palate has nice flavors of sweet cherries, coffee, and pie crust, with really nice acidity. This will keep for at least 3-4 years, but is delicious right now. I love WS Hirsch wines, and this one is no exception.
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6/12/2015 - Boxster Guy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Absolutely beautiful.
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1/22/2015 - Cellar Baron wrote: 92 Points
Extremely well-balanced ... excellent!
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12/25/2014 - hackey37 wrote: 93 Points
Garnet color and a slight haze and opaque. Smells are cherry, raspberry, anise, and earthy notes. The tatses are sweet and sour cherry, raspberry, cola, and nice damp earthy taste and aromatics. The length was nice, and the body was modest with savory aftertast of earth and red fruit.
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12/24/2014 - dlcass Likes this wine: 92 Points
California style pinot with expressive nose; not Burgundian in style but nice.
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11/15/2014 - dlcass Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nice wine, smoked game, some chocolate notes, some spice. Great complement to a skyline chili type dish. Agree in early part of drinking window.
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9/5/2014 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
Rich and deep. Tremendous body with layers of fruit. Expressive raspberry and blueberry. In the early part of the drinking window. Hold till 2017.
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8/29/2014 - TonyKolish Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic.
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2/24/2014 - theodore3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great
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10/15/2013 - Scottlmatthews Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful
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8/21/2013 - PDavisMarble wrote: 93 Points
Deep garnet. Nose of spice, cedar, earth and tobacco. Top notes are raspberries, hint of cherry and moist earth. Follows with cigar box, cola and currants and some unripe plum.
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7/31/2013 - hdchappy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good RRV Pinot, smokey and spicy with bold but not overpowering fruit. Firm tannins for a Pinot. Finished #2 in a blind tasting behind 2009 Martinelli Bella Vinga RRV, then 2008 Beaux Freres WV and 2006 Camille Giroud Latricieres-Chambertin.
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6/15/2013 - Brian Love wrote: 94 Points
Extremely well balanced, mid-body Pinot.
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3/4/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo wrote: 89 Points
Dark garnet color. Heady aromas of freshly sanded cedar wood, ripe raspberries, cherry cola and charcoal. This is noticably alcoholic to me, with the 14.1% indicated by the label asserting itself in the form of a lingering burn on the nose. At first, the palate is very mute, pretty much like alcoholic grape juice with very little supporting acid and tannin. With aeration, the nose starts to take on a sweet, toasty crème brûlée scent, and the palate broadens a bit to encompass a bold blackberry flavor. This ends up being forward but still somewhat flaccid; overall it remains underwhelming. Considering there are Grand Cru Burgundies available for a similar cost, the QPR on this is abysmal.
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2/10/2013 - Castle Peak wrote: 94 Points
What a beautifully elegant and complex wine. The nose was an amazing melding of crushed strawberries and fuschia. Ripe berry and warm nectarine flavors layered with cinnamon, buttery pie crust and soft leather. Mineral notes and fruit integrating nicely with modest tannins. Pulled the cork a couple hours before we tasted. Not sure if more time will improve this wine. It's drinking so well now I'm not sure how it could get any better.
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1/26/2013 - fishies1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful, great balance. Wife thought it was a bit acidic, but I loved it. Probably a bit young at this point.
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10/17/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
2012 Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting (City View at Metreon, San Francisco, California): Dark cherry red color; black cherry, black raspberry nose; ripe, black cherry, black raspberry palate; medium-plus finish
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6/24/2012 - wineguy1968 wrote: 89 Points
a bit acidic for my taste. I got a lot more citrus and acid that most other reviews. it wasn't nearly as balanced as I'd hoped. I was a bit disappointed for how expensive this wine was. Hopefully will improve with age as I have another bottle.
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5/11/2012 - WineTime10 wrote: 93 Points
Soft and silky with bright red fruit. Tasted great alongside the Squab and elk we had at Saddle Peak Lodge.
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2/18/2012 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 92 Points
Excellent wine. It got better over the 2 hours that we drank it. It was big enough to go up against Jim's steak with chimichirrie sauce with lime and red onion
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1/22/2012 - jonwill wrote: 92 Points
Still early for this vintage, subtle cherry pie blended with caramel. A little hot.
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12/19/2011 - kthornton78 wrote: 93 Points
couldn't resist taking an early glimpse of this one. it's a rich, deep, and complex wine. while it's showing youthful notes of oak and a little heat, the beauty of the cool fruit with layers of sap, floral aromatics, and just the right amount of warm soil are quite enticing. i think the oak and alcohol will integrate with time and i can't wait to revisit this wine with a little age on it.
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11/6/2011 - wabi47 wrote: 93 Points
layers of wild berry, cardamom, truffle, cassis, earth and so much more; just right mix of fruit and savory; just right acidity; one of the best young pinots i have tasted recently
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11/5/2011 - SanFranSoxFan04 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Williams Selyem Winery Pickup Weekend (Williams Selyem Winery, Healdsburg CA): earthy, mushroom, perfumed roses, light smoky, orange citrus, olive
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8/19/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
This wine is a standout and has the potential to become a benchmark Hirsch Pinot with time in the cellar. Shockingly open right now. A red cherry color with knockout aromatics of red cherry, flowers, earth, and some overt oak on the back end. In the mouth, this is just stupendous, with tremendous life and vibrancy. Red cherry fruit stakes out its claim up front, pure and clean, followed closely by layers of glorious complexity -- earth, flowers, and light spice, along with a subtle oak influence. The acidity gives a tremendous zing, and there are some solid tannins showing on the glorious finish. Obviously in need of time, but this is surprisingly open and showing every element for a great Pinot right now. A
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