July 20, 2021: 2016 Hirsch Vineyards Block 8 Pinot Noir
“In the pantheon of classic California Pinot Noir sites, Hirsch Vineyards is at the pinnacle. A two-hour drive north from the town of Sonoma itself, this remote, maritime estate has deservedly built a reputation for producing complex and age worthy wines.” Decanter Magazine
David Hirsch planted his first vines in 1980, making it the oldest premium Pinot Noir vineyard on the True Sonoma Coast. In the early 1990s, the vineyard became one of the most sought-after sources for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in California, and wineries such Littorai, Williams Selyem, Kistler and Failla all made Hirsch-designated wines.
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. The primary motivation was to provide feedback to their farming decisions: In other words, they built a winery to become better farmers.
The 2016 Hirsch Block 8 Estate Pinot Noir is made entirely from a single block, a section of the Hirsch Vineyard that David Hirsch has long considered to be his grand cru parcel. This extraordinary vineyard produces distinctive wines with supple, elegant tannins, explosive fruit, balanced acidity and complex aromatics.