Hirsch ‘Raschen Ridge’ Estate Pinot Noir 2021

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. I was lucky enough to snag us 12 bottles.

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!”