2013 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault- USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (6/1/2017)
Purchased off the wine list at The Gage, Chicago. Red ruby hue. Nose of briary red raspberry cut with sandlewood, schist, and pulpy upper register florals. Understated but undeniably intense on the palate with layers of firm red mulberry fruit undercut by black cherry and anise. Brambles and subtle iron notes to complicate matters. Fresh acidity and austere, structured tannin leading to a long finish of red and black fruit cut with steely spine and grip. Lovely wine. (92 pts.)
Great note, thanks. When I’ve tasted through a bunch of producers’ 2013 Hirsch vineyard wines I’ve strongly preferred others’ versions. Littorai and Williams Selyem are excellent, and the Failla and Lioco are very good. Haven’t tried Siduri or others.
No doubt that the Hirsch vineyards possess an excellent combination of climate, vines, and vineyard management. But how often are non-owning winemakers able to produce the best results? Much better than the owner him/herself? I can’t think of many examples.
Thanks for the note. I had a '14 San Andreas last weekend and absolutely loved it. Went back this week and reloaded. Great acid lift and the 12.7 abv was a nice change of pace. Needs a few years for the wood to soften up but it’s a righteous wine.
Thanks for your replies. This was my first experience with this producer so it’s hard to compare but I would certainly like to taste more both horizontally and vertically. I enjoyed the lean but lithe qualities of the wine. Didn’t realize they had lots of bottling. More research is in order.