January 25, 2012
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Hirsch Vineyards
| Owner(s) | David Hirsch |
| Web site | www.hirschvineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
David Hirsch was one of the first visionaries to plant Pinot Noir on the true Sonoma Coast and now farms 68 acres of Pinot Noir and 4 acres of Chardonnay on his 1,100-acre property. Initially, he moved to the area to farm trees but a friend suggested the ridges would be perfect for growing Pinot Noir. The first two acres were planted in 1980. A winery was built in 2002. A second label, Bohan-Dillon, is also fine and less expensive. Hirsch supplies fruit to many prominent California (and at times even Oregon) wineries including Littorai, Williams Selyem, Faille, and Siduri.
Beginning in 2011, Hirsch is converting the entire property to biodynamics. He is bringing in sheep and cows. Andrew Lorand is consulting on the conversion.
Hirsch produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay under the Hirsch Vineyards label. Several different winemakers have been involved with Ross Cobb currently in charge. The focus is on lower alcohol wines that allow the site to show through and not necessarily critic-pleasing wines. Production is 5,500 cases annually.
Tours and tasting are by appointment (plan on a full day if driving from more populated areas of Sonoma and try to time your visit when it isn’t raining - Cazadero receives 80 inches of the wet stuff each year). Every true pinotphile should make the pilgrimage some time in their life. The wines are sold through a mailing list and retail distribution. David's daughter, Jasmine, started at the winery with the 2008 vintage, helps out in the vineyard and cellar, but is primarily a spokesperson for Hirsch Vineyard and travels handling sales and marketing.
Articles About Hirsch Vineyards
Blast from 2011 World of Pinot Noir (8.33 3/12/2011)
California Chardonnay Tasting (7.25 9/5/2009)
California Pinot With Plenty of Noir (8.37 5/13/2011)
Celebrated Vineyards Focus Tasting (7.24 8/28/2009)
Hirsch Vineyard: Grand Cru on Sonoma Coast (6.63 8/4/2008)
Legacy of Mike Bohan (6.45 11/12/2007)
More Princely Pinots (8.42 8/11/2011)
Recent Chardonnays to Recommend (8.37 5/13/2011)
Small Sips of Pinot (8.7 12/16/2009)
West Sonoma Coast Vintners (8.32 3/1/2011)
Reviewed Wines
2009 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., $26.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of red and
black berries, mushrooms and forest floor. Light to medium weight flavors of dark red fruits
with a slight stem and herbal note, finishing with a crisp and uplifting riff. Good.
Reviewed August 13, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Hirsch Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.0% alc., $44.
Fermented and aged in glass, stainless steel and oak. All estate fruit.
·
Very
fragrant with scents of apple pie, brioche, yeast and wet rocks. Crisp and juicy
with flavors of white peaches, apples and yeast with apple hi-notes persisting on
the acid-driven and minerally finish. Very good.
Reviewed May 15, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $28.
·
Deeper and earthier than the 2006 version of this wine
with exotic woods and oak toast adding interest to the cherry fruit.
Medium-weighted core of cherry and cranberry fruit with a silky
mouthfeel and a good grip of acidity on the refreshing finish. Not an
epiphanic wine, but well-priced and direct. Decent (+)
Reviewed December 16, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Hirsch San Andreas Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., pH 3.67, 1.642 cases,
$60. Blended from 26 fermentation lots composed of fruit from 36 farming blocks and represents the totality of
this site in this vintage. Aged 21 months in French oak barrels.
·
Very restrained aromatics. More giving on the
palate with layers of interest including black cherry and cranberry fruit, cola, baking spices and a little sauvage.
Still young and tight, it has the harmony to age for years. Very good (+).
Reviewed March 12, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Hirsch Vineyards San Andreas Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $60.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Very
lovely aromas of a wild berry mix with accents of spice and oak. Wow!
A mid weight core of dark red cherries and berries coats the mouth,
uplifted with bright acidity that leads to a refreshingly juicy finish. A
seamless wine lover’s wine with charming elegance that should age
gracefully.
Reviewed May 15, 2011
ARTICLE »
2006 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.6%
alc., $28. Hirsch Vineyards “village” wine. The family cat is featured on the label.
·
Moderately light in color. Attractive gathering of aromas of cherries, spice, herbs
and oak. Oak-toned delicate cherry flavor with soft tannins. A very approachable
light drink. Decent.
Reviewed December 16, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $30.
·
A simple Pinot Noir that makes a pleasant overall impression. Earth, damp
leaf and spiced cherry scents with red Pinot fruit flavors enhanced by tones of herbs
and oak. Light in the mouth with a good acid kick on the backend.
Reviewed November 12, 2007
ARTICLE »
2006 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $30. This wine is
composed of barrels that do not make the grade for the Estate label. None was produced in 2004 and
2005 due to low crop yields. Yields and tonnage in 2006 were very generous, exceeding all vintages
over the previous nine years. At least twice as much fruit was dropped in 2006 as harvested in 2005.
The bunches and berries were not unusually large, but very compact.
·
A simple Pinot Noir that makes a
pleasant overall impression. Earth, damp leaf and spiced cherry scents with red Pinot fruit flavors enhanced
by tones of herbs and oak. Light in the mouth with a good acid kick on the backend.
Reviewed August 4, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
15.1% alc., $50. The first
Chardonnay release from Hirsch fruit that formerly was vinified by winery clients.
·
Intriguing aromas of green apples, wet stones and smoke. Tangy apple flavors
with oak playing a supporting role. Hi-tone acidity and remarkable minerality.
Really good.
Reviewed September 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Hirsch Vineyards M Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 448 cases $50. The label says: “It is
a Marvelous and Mellifluous Middle cuvee of our site of fruit from 22 blocks. A wine for grownups.”
·
The nose is flat and subdued initially but opens with swirling to aromas of deeply spiced cherries and
roses with a whiff of alcohol. Highly structured and built for the long haul. Very earthy with notes of game
and oak spice accentuating the black cherry fruit. Not particularly expressive now, but you get the feeling
there is plenty of pleasure waiting to get out. Velvety soft in texture and beautifully crafted. A keeper.
Reviewed August 4, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Hirsch Vineyards Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $55. Composed of 32 blocks
from the Hirsch estate.
·
Very complex and constantly evolving aroma mix of dark cherries, cranberry, wet
stone, Xmas spices including clove and cinnamon, mint and oak. Earth-dusted black fruits with a hint of
raisin. Soft in the mouth with slippery tannins and an appealing elegance.
Reviewed August 4, 2008
ARTICLE »
2003 Hirsch Vineyard Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
15.1% alc..
·
Flamboyant and sexy perfume of
crushed black cherries and blackberries with a lovely accent of oak and dried herbs. Alcohol peeks out a
skoosh. Delicious dark red fruit compote that coats the tongue. Hedonistic, but silky and satiny, with a
nice tang on the finish.
Reviewed August 4, 2008
ARTICLE »
2002 Hirsch Vineyard Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc..
·
Ripe plump cherries and oak
spice with an infusion of floral scents. Earthy and dusty cherry fruit with some shroom and tangerine peel.
Still sporting some tannin creating a dry finish. Still has plenty of life left.
Reviewed August 4, 2008
ARTICLE »
2009 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., $26. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of red and black berries, mushrooms and forest floor. Light to medium weight flavors of dark red fruits with a slight stem and herbal note, finishing with a crisp and uplifting riff. Good. Reviewed August 13, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 Hirsch Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.0% alc., $44. Fermented and aged in glass, stainless steel and oak. All estate fruit. · Very fragrant with scents of apple pie, brioche, yeast and wet rocks. Crisp and juicy with flavors of white peaches, apples and yeast with apple hi-notes persisting on the acid-driven and minerally finish. Very good. Reviewed May 15, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $28. · Deeper and earthier than the 2006 version of this wine with exotic woods and oak toast adding interest to the cherry fruit. Medium-weighted core of cherry and cranberry fruit with a silky mouthfeel and a good grip of acidity on the refreshing finish. Not an epiphanic wine, but well-priced and direct. Decent (+) Reviewed December 16, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Hirsch San Andreas Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., pH 3.67, 1.642 cases, $60. Blended from 26 fermentation lots composed of fruit from 36 farming blocks and represents the totality of this site in this vintage. Aged 21 months in French oak barrels. · Very restrained aromatics. More giving on the palate with layers of interest including black cherry and cranberry fruit, cola, baking spices and a little sauvage. Still young and tight, it has the harmony to age for years. Very good (+). Reviewed March 12, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Hirsch Vineyards San Andreas Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $60. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Very lovely aromas of a wild berry mix with accents of spice and oak. Wow! A mid weight core of dark red cherries and berries coats the mouth, uplifted with bright acidity that leads to a refreshingly juicy finish. A seamless wine lover’s wine with charming elegance that should age gracefully. Reviewed May 15, 2011 ARTICLE »
2006 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $28. Hirsch Vineyards “village” wine. The family cat is featured on the label. · Moderately light in color. Attractive gathering of aromas of cherries, spice, herbs and oak. Oak-toned delicate cherry flavor with soft tannins. A very approachable light drink. Decent. Reviewed December 16, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $30. · A simple Pinot Noir that makes a pleasant overall impression. Earth, damp leaf and spiced cherry scents with red Pinot fruit flavors enhanced by tones of herbs and oak. Light in the mouth with a good acid kick on the backend. Reviewed November 12, 2007 ARTICLE »
2006 The Bohan-Dillon Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $30. This wine is composed of barrels that do not make the grade for the Estate label. None was produced in 2004 and 2005 due to low crop yields. Yields and tonnage in 2006 were very generous, exceeding all vintages over the previous nine years. At least twice as much fruit was dropped in 2006 as harvested in 2005. The bunches and berries were not unusually large, but very compact. · A simple Pinot Noir that makes a pleasant overall impression. Earth, damp leaf and spiced cherry scents with red Pinot fruit flavors enhanced by tones of herbs and oak. Light in the mouth with a good acid kick on the backend. Reviewed August 4, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
15.1% alc., $50. The first Chardonnay release from Hirsch fruit that formerly was vinified by winery clients. · Intriguing aromas of green apples, wet stones and smoke. Tangy apple flavors with oak playing a supporting role. Hi-tone acidity and remarkable minerality. Really good. Reviewed September 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Hirsch Vineyards M Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 448 cases $50. The label says: “It is a Marvelous and Mellifluous Middle cuvee of our site of fruit from 22 blocks. A wine for grownups.” · The nose is flat and subdued initially but opens with swirling to aromas of deeply spiced cherries and roses with a whiff of alcohol. Highly structured and built for the long haul. Very earthy with notes of game and oak spice accentuating the black cherry fruit. Not particularly expressive now, but you get the feeling there is plenty of pleasure waiting to get out. Velvety soft in texture and beautifully crafted. A keeper. Reviewed August 4, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Hirsch Vineyards Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $55. Composed of 32 blocks from the Hirsch estate. · Very complex and constantly evolving aroma mix of dark cherries, cranberry, wet stone, Xmas spices including clove and cinnamon, mint and oak. Earth-dusted black fruits with a hint of raisin. Soft in the mouth with slippery tannins and an appealing elegance. Reviewed August 4, 2008 ARTICLE »
2003 Hirsch Vineyard Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
15.1% alc.. · Flamboyant and sexy perfume of crushed black cherries and blackberries with a lovely accent of oak and dried herbs. Alcohol peeks out a skoosh. Delicious dark red fruit compote that coats the tongue. Hedonistic, but silky and satiny, with a nice tang on the finish. Reviewed August 4, 2008 ARTICLE »
2002 Hirsch Vineyard Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc.. · Ripe plump cherries and oak spice with an infusion of floral scents. Earthy and dusty cherry fruit with some shroom and tangerine peel. Still sporting some tannin creating a dry finish. Still has plenty of life left. Reviewed August 4, 2008 ARTICLE »
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