Husch Vineyards

Owner(s) Zack Robinson, Amanda Robinson Holstine
Web site www.huschvineyards.com
 
Link to this site
Husch Vineyards

Founded in 1971, Husch is the oldest winery in the picturesque Anderson Valley. The vineyards are comprised of some of the earliest varietal plantings on the valley floor. In 1968, Tony and Gretchen Husch bought the 60-acre Nunn ranch between Philo and Navarro on Highway 128. The land was well known for growing apples and grains. They soon planted eight acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Gewurztraminer grapes on the cool slopes of the property. The plantings sweep down towards the pristine Navarro River. The first official crush was in the fall of 1971.

In 1979, Hugo Oswald Jr. bought the 6,000 case Husch Winery from the Husch family. The Oswald family had been growing pears in the Santa Clara Valley, but when the area was expanding they sold the land and headed for the southern tip of Mendocino County. Today Husch Vineyards remains owned and operated by the 3rd generation of the Oswald family: Zac Robinson and Amanda Robinson Holstine. Winemaking is under the direction of Brad Holstine. Al White, in charge of all viticulture operations, has been with Husch since 1973. Through the years Husch has modernized and expanded, but it has never lost its initial rustic charm or reputation for great wines. Currently, 21 different wines are produced.

The tasting room is in a refurbished pony barn dating back to the late 1800s and is open daily. There are three Pinot Noirs: an Anderson Valley blend, an Anderson Valley Reserve, and the Knoll (original estate plantings of Pinot Noir).

Reviewed Wines

2019 Husch Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.53, 4,717 cases, $25. A blend of grapes from throughout the Anderson Valley from the warmer Boonville area all the way through to the norther cooler “deep end” vineyards. Harvest Brix 23.3º-26.1º. 10% whole cluster. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 23% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The aromas and flavors of candied darker cherry, raspberry, ripe strawberry, red licorice, and spice are quite agreeable upon opening and acquire intensity over time in the glass. Light-to-mid-weight in style, with gracious tannins, uplifting acidity, and a quenching finish. A chivalrous wine that will be equally enjoyable on its own or at the dinner table. Score: 91. Reviewed August 19, 2022 ARTICLE »

2018 Husch Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $21.99 (K&L Wines, San Francisco, CA). Grown, produced and bottled by H.A. Oswald Family, Philo, CA. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of red pie cherries, spice, loamy earth and oak. Energetic cherry, strawberry and dried herb flavors greet the palate and proceed to some length of finish. Beautifully balanced, with merged tannins and juicy acidity. This wine grows in appeal over time in the glass. Score: 91. Reviewed November 12, 2020 ARTICLE »

2017 Husch Vineyards Knoll Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

12.9% alc., pH 3.50, TA 0.60, 504 cases, $42. · Harvest Brix 22.6º. 25% whole cluster. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 40% new. Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Intriguing aromas of cherry, raspberry, pitch and pine needle. On the palate, there is plenty of tasteful, earth-kissed cherry fruit in a middleweight, agreeable style. Refined and sophisticated, with subtle tannins, a delicate touch of oak and a very long-lasting and juicy finish. The earthiness is very cordial. This wine does not taste like any other wine reviewed for this study of old vine Pinot Noir making it particularly distinctive. In addition, it overdelivers for the price. Score: 95. Reviewed August 27, 2020 ARTICLE »

2013 Husch Ferrington Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.8% alc.,130 cases, $38. Clones 115 and Wädenswil 2A. 30% whole cluster, Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. This wine has still not shed the significant new oak veneer. Aromas of black cherry and oak spice lead to a mid weight core of rustic and earthy black raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors underlain with notes of pine, cedar and oak. A unique wine that will please lovers of feral and woodland character. Score: 90. Reviewed July 24, 2016 ARTICLE »

2013 Husch Knoll Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.60, $40. A limited bottling from vines that were the first planting of Pinot Noir in the Anderson Valley. Many original vines remain. Harvest Brix 25.4º. 20% whole cluster. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. · Moderately light ruby red color in the glass. Muted fruit aromas of cherry and strawberry with added notes of wood and tobacco leaf. A structured wine, with lighter fruit flavors of red berries and cherry. A bit shallow on entry and finish with tannins and alcohol sticking out more than one would like at the end. Score: 87. Reviewed July 8, 2017 ARTICLE »

2012 Husch Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $18. Small lot fermentation. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels. · Moderately light cherry red color in the glass. Aromas of black cherry pie glaze, dried herbs and tobacco lead to mid weight flavors of black cherry and boysenberry with modest oak seasoning. Soft tannins, and a juicy, tart cherry finish with decent cut. Score: 87. Reviewed April 5, 2015 ARTICLE »

2011 Husch Nash Mill Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., 26 cases, $38. A 4-acre vineyard located in the hills above Husch. The vineyard takes its name from the history of logging at the site. Jim Barr planted the 4-acre hillside vineyard in 2003 after adding a total of 150 tons of crushed limestone. 3 Dijon clones. · Moderately light reddish color in the glass. Aromas of red cherries swamped by oak. A very demure Pinot Noir with gentle flavors of red cherries and berries and oak under tow. A subtle green note is detectable in the background. The tannins threaten to drown the shallow fruit. The more I taste this wine, the less I like it although it retains some sneaky charm. Score: 86. Reviewed December 18, 2013 ARTICLE »

2010 Husch Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., TA 0.57, 2,555 cases, $23. Released January 1, 2013. Grapes were picked a half month later than normal. 25% whole cluster. Aged 9 months in 25% new French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Bright cherry, strawberry and peat aromas lead to mid weight flavors of black cherries and spice. Very flavorful, with balanced tannins and a cherry-driven finish that goes on and on. One of the most consistent Anderson Valley bottlings in every vintage. Very good. Reviewed June 23, 2013 ARTICLE »

2010 Husch Knoll Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 200 cases, $40. Original plantings that were the first Pinot Noir vines in Anderson Valley dating to late 1960s. Harvest Brix 25.9º-26.4º. 15% whole cluster fermentation. Aged 17 months in 50% new French oak. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. A very rustic and earthy wine with aromas of forest floor, mushroom, black cherry and a hint of oak. On the palate, the moderately sappy black cherry fruit is embellished with noticeable oak, very dry tannins and juicy acidity. There is a subtle sense of alcohol. Score: 89. Reviewed July 28, 2014 ARTICLE »

2009 Husch Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $18. 25% whole cluster. · Moderately light reddish color in the glass. Aromas of confected black cherries, raspberries, forest floor, potpourri, and vanilla. Mid weight flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, currants and sandalwood with a hint of citrus on the finish. Smooth and easy to drink with pleasing acidity and fine grain tannins. Even better the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. This is always a dependable wine that is easy on the wallet. You won’t find a better under $20 Pinot Noir anywhere in California. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Husch Knoll Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., TA 0.56, 410 cases, $40, release July 1, 2012. Old vines originally planted in 1971, the first Pinot Noir vines in Anderson Valley. The vines thrive in an outcropping of sandstone with shale lenses, possessing excellent drainage. 75% de-stemmed, 25% whole cluster. Aged 17 months in 50% new French oak barrels. · Moderately deep reddish-purple robe. Heady aromas of dark red cherries and berries with hints of spice and an earthy bent. Discreetly concentrated core of spiced black cherries, wrapped in big-boned, ripe tannins typical of this site, finishing with crispness and very impressive length. Considerable nuance lies within this special wine. A connoisseur's wine. Very good (+). Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Husch Nash Mill Vineyard Estate Bottled Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., 18 cases, $40. This winery is celebrating 40 years. The vineyard from which the grapes are sourced is located at the cool northern end of the Anderson Valley. Planted in 2003, the vineyard consists of four acres of Pinot Noir and includes clones Pommard 5 and Dijon 667 and 777. Very low yields due to frost in this vintage. · Moderately light in color in the glass. Embracing aromas of black cherries, black raspberries and woodshed picking up intensity over time in the glass. An hi-collared wine with crisp and bright flavors of dark cherries, dark red berries, cola, baking spice and Hoison sauce, wrapped in ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with an amazing persistence rarely seen in California Pinot Noir. Beautiful interplay between fruit and tannin. Class in the glass that will thoroughly please Pinot connoisseurs. Only available at klwine.com. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »

2007 Husch Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $17. Aged 9 months in French oak. · Moderately deep garnet color. Red fruits including strawberries and raspberries are featured in the aromas and flavors in a lighter-weighted style with a touch of savory herbs in the background. An easy drinker with gossamer tannins and a soft mouth feel. A consistently reliable producer of value-priced Pinot Noir. Available on the website at www.huschvineyards.com and through fine retail wine stores. Reviewed September 19, 2009 ARTICLE »

2007 Husch Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $23. · Enticing aromas of black cherries, fig, Provencal herbs and oak. A cherry bombast of moderate weight. Slightly creamy and easy to drink with fine grain tannins and a refreshing acid tang on the short finish. Consistently one of the best under $20 Pinot Noirs produced in California (full retail is $23, but it is often discounted in the retail market to $16.50-18.00). Good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Husch Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., 3,938 cases, $23. To be released in June 2009. Fermented in small, open-top fermenters and punched down three times per day. Aged 10 months in 25% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-violet color. A simple but thoroughly satisfying wine featuring red berries, crushed cherries, savory herbs, tobacco, and a deft touch of oak vanillin. Terrifically smooth mouth feel with gossamer tannins. Not a wine to contemplate and won’t send pinotphiles into ecstasy, but impossible to find a better easy-drinking California Pinot Noir for this price. Great Pinot bang for the buck. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »

2007 Husch Estate Reserve Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., 498 cases, $35. Released in the spring 2010. Best lots in the cellar given special handling and extended aging. 25% whole cluster. Aged 15 months in 50% new French oak barrels. · Very reserved nose which fails to respond to coaxing. Medium-bodied core of cherry cola and mocha flavors with a loamy underpinning. Tight and unyielding with little charm now. Good, but could receive more accolades with another couple of years in the cellar. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Husch Nash Mill Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., 12 cases, $40. This is a 4-acre vineyard in the hills above Husch. · Very subdued black cherry and dark berry aromas with a hint of toasted oak and mint. Very tasty and exotic featuring impressive mid palate richness. Deliciously vivid dark berry and red plum fruits are set off nicely by judicious use of oak and silky tannins. The flavors currently trump the aromas. Very good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »

2006 Husch Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., 5,598 cases, $23. Aged 10 months in 25% new French oak. · This wine gives you a lot of bang for the buck. Always crafted in an elegant, easily approachable style, it has mouthwatering acidity. Red cherry and raspberry flavors are front and center with a sidecar of spice and Dr. Pepper. Reviewed June 9, 2008 ARTICLE »

2005 Husch Vineyards Knoll Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

425 cases, $38. 25% whole cluster. Aged 15 months in 50% new French oak. Not tasted. The wine is available on the website. · Reviewed June 9, 2008 ARTICLE »

2004 Husch The Knoll Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 265 cases, $38. · This is a spirited Pinot that wows you with soft, dark fruits, a caressing texture, and sleek tannins. Plenty of style and grace. Reviewed June 3, 2007 ARTICLE »

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