Hirsch Vineyards, “The Bohan-Dillon” Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2017
Hirsch Vineyards, “The Bohan-Dillon” Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2017
by sid_loves_wine
3 Comments
carcassus
Love Hirsch. Great winemaker
sid_loves_wine
Just so fuckin good. My first time with Hirsch’s “entry level” wine ($50, not cheap, but amazing QPR- got it for $35 on WineBid) and we were so into it- and also amazed at how beautifully it’s been evolving. Feels like a new release, maybe a ’21 max if I had blinded it. Unbelievably fresh, bright, and captivating, 12.6% ABV, airy red fruit and bright wild herbs jumping from the glass. Bing cherries and crunchy raspberries, thyme, a bit of salinity. Same flavors on the palate, airy red fruit with a bright earthy accent. If this is how fresh the fruit is showing after 8 years, it must have been an aromatic powerhouse in its youth.
You can practically smell the acidity. And wow, that is an acid-driven wine. Super extroverted and immediately sizzling on the palate with bright neon red jolly rancher and sea spray (not really “candied”…it’s just what came to mind.) The gentle salty quality is really notable, in a great way. I’ve had only a few more acid-driven Pinots than this which still felt balanced and friendly. Gentle grippy tannins are still there, definitely not coarse or rough, just indicating a serious wine even with all the bouncy, juicy fun to be had.
Our cat looks almost exactly like the one on the gorgeous label. Possibly my favorite label with an animal on it (alongside La Spinetta.)
We shared the 2019 Hirsch Maritime Pinot a couple months ago, which was even more complete and captivating in the abstract, but the QPR here is so good (1/2 the Maritime) that I was more excited to share this.
Reminds me a lot of the incredible Kelley Fox Mirabai, which is a similar retail price. If I was forced, I would take Mirabai over this- but I’ve only had this one Bohan-Dillon and only much younger vintages of Mirabai. I’d argue Mirabai just has a bit more “depth” in the same style of Pinot, maybe? Comparison time.
3 Comments
Love Hirsch. Great winemaker
Just so fuckin good. My first time with Hirsch’s “entry level” wine ($50, not cheap, but amazing QPR- got it for $35 on WineBid) and we were so into it- and also amazed at how beautifully it’s been evolving. Feels like a new release, maybe a ’21 max if I had blinded it. Unbelievably fresh, bright, and captivating, 12.6% ABV, airy red fruit and bright wild herbs jumping from the glass. Bing cherries and crunchy raspberries, thyme, a bit of salinity. Same flavors on the palate, airy red fruit with a bright earthy accent. If this is how fresh the fruit is showing after 8 years, it must have been an aromatic powerhouse in its youth.
You can practically smell the acidity. And wow, that is an acid-driven wine. Super extroverted and immediately sizzling on the palate with bright neon red jolly rancher and sea spray (not really “candied”…it’s just what came to mind.) The gentle salty quality is really notable, in a great way. I’ve had only a few more acid-driven Pinots than this which still felt balanced and friendly. Gentle grippy tannins are still there, definitely not coarse or rough, just indicating a serious wine even with all the bouncy, juicy fun to be had.
Our cat looks almost exactly like the one on the gorgeous label. Possibly my favorite label with an animal on it (alongside La Spinetta.)
We shared the 2019 Hirsch Maritime Pinot a couple months ago, which was even more complete and captivating in the abstract, but the QPR here is so good (1/2 the Maritime) that I was more excited to share this.
Reminds me a lot of the incredible Kelley Fox Mirabai, which is a similar retail price. If I was forced, I would take Mirabai over this- but I’ve only had this one Bohan-Dillon and only much younger vintages of Mirabai. I’d argue Mirabai just has a bit more “depth” in the same style of Pinot, maybe? Comparison time.
I love this cat wine! Agree good qpr