2023 Hirsch ‘Block 8’ Estate Pinot Noir Spring Release 2026

The Hirsch Block 8 Estate Pinot Noir is made entirely from a single block, a section of our vineyard that David Hirsch has long considered his grand cru parcel. This extraordinary vineyard produces distinctive wines with supple, elegant tannins, expressive fruit, balanced acidity and complex aromatics. In this wine you will find a pure and focused expression of one of the most unique sections of the Hirsch Vineyard.

Block 8 is the only location at Hirsch where we have the Boomer-Mendocino soil formation. Characterized by a reddish tint from high amounts of iron oxide, the rock and gravel content in the soil averages 40-70% throughout. This results in superb drainage, allowing the roots to run deep and pervasive. The vineyard is divided into seven sub-parcels, based on rock content, all planted in 1993. The cuttings came from our oldest vines (The Old Vineyard) and are a field blend of the heritage pinot noir clones of Pommard and Wädenswil.

Tasting Notes

The 2023 Block 8 shows this remarkable vineyard through the lens of an elegant, Old World vintage. The classic pure red fruit of Block 8 is intertwined with notes of plum skin, pomegranate, graphite and sweet dried cherries. On the palate, the wine is precise, sapid and beautifully complete, with an incredibly long finish.

Service Notes

The 2023 vintage produced wines that are expressive young, but due to their high acidity will go the distance in the cellar. While the 2023 Block 8 can certainly be enjoyed now, it will gain complexity and nuance with age.