2017 Hirsch Pinot Noir Raschen Ridge

I loved the bouquet of the 2017 Pinot Noir Raschen Ridge, an exotic 2017 offering lots of Gevrey-like darker black (and almost blue) fruits, violets, peppery herbs, earth, and smoke. Medium-bodied and concentrated, with firm yet ripe tannins, it has a great mid-palate, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It has some upfront charm and complexity today (I'd be thrilled to drink a bottle), but it's going to hit its sweet spot in 2-3 years and have a graceful evolution over the following 8-10 years or more.

The 2017 Pinot Noir Estate Raschen Ridge has a bit more depth and persistence than some of the other wines in this range, but it, too, is lacking in its customary complexity. Candied cherry and red plum fruit give the 2017 a good deal of substance. I would prefer to drink the 2017 sooner rather than later, as the tannins are a bit gritty, and that will only become more obvious over time.

The 2017 Pinot Noir Raschen is pale to medium ruby and opens with touches of tar and scorched earth, fleshing out to sliced blueberries, violet, river rock, moss-covered bark, damp earth and a eucalyptus hint with a black fruit core. The palate is light to medium-bodied, with dark, earthy fruits that fan out in the mouth to savory nuances, a sturdy frame of grainy tannins and juicy acidity, finishing long on a perfumed note. 485 cases produced.