2017 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Just as it was from barrel, the 2017 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard shows the effects of heat spikes that were especially challenging at this estate. Dried fruit, roasted notes, washed out flavors and mid-weight structure are impossible to escape. I had hoped élevage might help the Hirsch come together, but that never really happened. I would prefer to drink the 2017 on the early side.
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Very attractive, fresh red-cherry and raspberry aromas here. Plenty of pristine, fine, red-floral perfume and stony nuances, too. Very pure yet restrained style (give it time) with a core of very attractive, fresh red cherries and a web of super fine, long and silky tannins. This has striking acidity with salient and expansive, fresh red fruit lighting up the finish. Try from 2023.
Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir One Acre is youthfully shy on the nose, opening to pipe tobacco, peppercorn, rosewater, autumn leaves, blackberries, black cherries, warm dusty earth and spicy touches in the undercurrent plus red berry sparks. Light to medium-bodied, it's rounded and silky in the mouth with nuanced fruit, grainy tannins and integrated freshness, finishing very long and layered.
Intense, layered, subtle nose. Very sweet and rich fruit inside a briary corset. Hedonistic and quite bumptious and insistently fruity on the palate. Slightly dry tannins on the end at the moment. Big and bold. (JR)
About the producer
Littorai stands as one of California’s most quietly influential estates, defined by organic and biodynamic farming, site transparency, and a restrained, Burgundian sensibility.