Chardonnay

Score

94

"Jasmine Hirsch says the grapes for the Hirsch Estate Chardonnay come from a parcel her father, David Hirsch, planted for Burt Williams of Williams Selyem fame. Additional grapes come from a smaller parcel added in 2002, from a sandstone bluff just over the hill from the original slope. It is pressed, settled, and both primary and malolactic fermentations are conducted in French and Eastern European oak barrels (27% new). No stirring racked to stainless steel on the fine lees the last few months of elevage. Heady aromas of wild fennel and thyme with lemon oil, jasmine, acacia, and seaspray. Fresh and bright, focused, and linear with a real savoury quality. The palate yields a fabulously rich texture. It was a higher-yielding vintage, which was good for this bottling, says consulting winemaker Michael Cruse. Its generosity is balanced by tart, pithy grapefruit acidity, and the finish reveals a wealth of ocean spray and seashell mineral character, along with more pithy lemon and lime zest."

Score

16.5

"Highly scented – a nasal decongestant?! Very good, emphatic palate entry combined with great citrus freshness. Chalky finish. More of that grapefruit flavour."

Score

93

"The 2021 Chardonnay pours a medium straw color and jumps from the glass with sea spray, lime blossom, green apple candy, and delicate flinty lift. It's medium-bodied but has a fantastic silky texture, with a hint of pineapple, Meyer lemon, and bread dough. It has a lovely viscosity and has freshness without harsh edges. Drink 2023-2033."

Score

96

"#4 Best 50 Wines of 2023: David Hirsch founded Hirsch Vineyards in 1980, and his daughter Jasmine is now the general manager and winemaker, shaping the next generation of the family,s wines. Their vineyard is located on the steep coastal ridges of the Fort Ross Seaview AVA on the Sonoma Coast. Adjacent to the San Andreas Fault, the area is known for its extreme topography; the elevation and proximity to the Pacific Ocean make it a cool-climate site that lends itself to elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vineyard is comprised of 61 farming blocks over 72 acres, fragmented by unique soil compositions and sun exposure. While most of the land is dedicated to Pinot Noir, there are four acres of Chardonnay planted across two different sites, one on a 40 percent slope above David,s house, and another on a sandstone hill. The resulting wine is strikingly elegant, with balanced components that would appeal to crisp Chablis drinkers and oaked Chardonnay obsessives alike. There are aromas of baked apples, stone fruit, flowers, and lemon curd. But this wine is more about the palate, with mouthwatering acidity and a silky, round texture. The tension between the two will leave your head spinning (in a good way)."

Score

94

Score

95

"The 2021 Chardonnay Estate is precise and detailed despite its inherent generosity. The nose offers pure crushed apple, flint, dried hay and jasmine aromas. The medium-bodied palate features highly concentrated, savory and floral fruit. It has a luxuriously satiny texture, refreshing acidity and a long, nuanced finish."