95 Points, James Suckling
This is so crunchy and refined, with beautiful fresh strawberry, orange peel, citrus, flint and slate aromas. Medium-bodied, crisp and clean, with just a hint of tannin at the end. A blend of three vineyards: Hirsh 43%, Hellenthal 22% and Heitz 35%. What a gorgeous pinot. Drink now.
93 Points, Decanter
The Bohan Dillon Pinot Noir is Hirsch’s gateway to their lineup. As the ‘entry-level’ wine in the portfolio, this bottling outshines many everyday Pinots. It blends two coastal sites—Hirsch and Hellenthal—and an inland vineyard, Heintz. As a result, you get a wine that expresses both regions’ characteristics. The 2023 vintage shows a light ruby colour in the glass that matches the wine aromatics, leading into elegantly effortless notes of juicy red berries, soft, sweet florals, and a whisper of coastal herbs—nothing overpowers. On the palate, a touch of minerality meets tart cranberries and fresh raspberries, all lifted by well-integrated, mouthwatering acidity. Made to be drunk young, this easy medium-bodied Pinot is a go-to for a roasted chicken dinner or a pizza night.
Hirsch has been a force to be reckoned ever since David Hirsch first planted a Pinot Noir vineyard on a ridge overlooking the Pacific in the spring of 1980. Deemed ‘risky’ at the time, most assumed the grapes wouldn’t quite ripen. But, they did and the wines were special and it’s a recipe that others have been following since.
Iconic wineries like Kistler, Littorai, William Seylem and Failla fought over precious David’s grapes, each making a Hirsch Vineyard designated wine for many years. Those wines not only made their reputations as American masters of Pinot Noir but it established the Sonoma Coast as the premier Pinot Noir growing region in America and solidified “Grand Cru” status for the Hirsch Vineyard.
Then, in 2002, after twenty-two years focused on planting and farming, David Hirsch took another risk, making the decision to build a winery and start making his own wines. Fifteen years later, Hirsch stands with Kistler and company as producers of some of the most sought after Pinot Noirs in the world.
This year, they even received a perfect 100-point review for one of their Pinots, the 2021 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Raschen Ridge from critic James Suckling.
Then there was this insane quote from Antonio Galloni of Vinous:
“The wines I tasted [at Hirsch] were all magnificent, to the point that picking favorites is really a matter of personal preference more than anything else. Readers will not want to miss these extraordinary wines. Bravo!”