Bottle Notes, Pinot Noir

2018 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir San Andrea Fault – Bottle Notes

Perched on a ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Fort Ross, Hirsch Vineyards is the birth ground of great pinot noir on the extreme Sonoma Coast. David Hirsch founded the vineyard in 1980 to grow fruit and make site-specific wine. From the start all efforts have been on the growing of fruit that makes wines profoundly characteristic of the site vintage after vintage. In 2002, after twenty-two years focused on planting and farming, David Hirsch made the decision to build a winery and start making his own wines.

Dark red in color. 12.9% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, cloves and forest floor. Medium to full bodied with medium acidity. Rich and earthy. Black cherry, cranberry, cola and mushroom on the palate. Nice length on the finish. My first bottle from Hirsch Vineyards but certainly not my first rodeo with a wine made from the vineyard having had the Williams Selyem version at many points in the past. More Burgundian than I expected but delicious and easy to drink. Best over the next 2-4 years.

My rating: 91 points.

The 2021 version on this wine is available at the winery for $65.

I look forward to following this winery and vineyards in the years to come.

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