Hirsch Vineyards' San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir is a gem from the Sonoma Coast in California, showcasing the exceptional terroir of the region. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this wine epitomizes elegance and complexity. Displaying a deep ruby hue, its aromas captivate with a bouquet of dark cherries, blackberries, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, layers of juicy red fruit intertwine with hints of earthiness and spice, creating a harmonious balance. The fine-grained tannins contribute to a velvety texture, and the vibrant acidity lends a refreshing quality to the wine. A true masterpiece, the Hirsch Vineyards San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir is a testament to the superb craftsmanship and natural beauty of the Sonoma Coast.

Tasting Notes

As with the other Hirsch Pinot Noirs of this vintage, the 2020 San Andreas is notable for its dark fruit and serious structure. The wine opens with notes of elderberry, blackberry, fresh red plums, and dried cherries. With air, notes of five spice, chai tea and dried orange peel emerge. The overall impression is exotic and reminiscent of our coastal redwood forests. The palate is juicy upon opening with, firm, chewy tannins. With air, the fruit gains weight and the palate fills out, balancing the tannins. The structure and dark fruit of the 2020s remind us of the exceptional 2012 and 2015 vintages. This is a savory and intellectual year that will reward the patient drinker.

About the Winery

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.

The wines from Hirsch Vineyards give the passionate drinker an experience of the clash of opposites meeting in Nature and Life: the edge of the continent washed by the sea; the eviternal grinding of the North American and Pacific plates along the San Andreas Fault; the wet winters and dry summers caused by the ocean and desert climates; the dripping rainforest and parched pastures; the contact and intermingling of cultures: Native American, Mexican, Russian, European; the change in rural economy from logging and ranching to winegrowing.

In the wines of Hirsch Vineyards you find a natural balance and consistency in the harmonious resolution of these opposites. This complex, unique site produces fruit and wines of unusual acidity and balance with a vintage specific concentration of pinot noir or chardonnay fruit. These are wines to be enjoyed now or laid down for future consumption.

https://www.hirschvineyards.com

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