A NOTE FROM OUR WINEMAKER

Fall Release, 2024

Greetings,

I have always loved a drought vintage, and dreaded them too. Droughts are a particular kind of torture for a farmer: waiting and counting every inch of rain, hoping for more, remaining unsatisfied. But they can result in deeply compelling wines, and 2022 was no exception.

2022 was the third year of drought in California. The vines were noticeably smaller, less vigorous, and produced fewer clusters. Those clusters that did appear were small, with tiny berries. Exactly the kind of grapes every winemaker dreams of, but the bookkeeper in me was worried about the low yields.

Those worries were justified, as the Pinot Noir yields in 2022 were only 55% of normal. But the wines are a gift: dark-fruited, concentrated and glossy, yet with freshness and charm. While drought vintages tend to be tannic, the 2022 summer at Hirsch was mild, and the light intensity was close to average. This kept tannins in balance.

The result is wines of pleasure and purity. 

The 2022 vintage shone its light equally on the East Ridge and West Ridge Pinot Noirs, resulting in superb examples of both bottlings. The East Ridge tannins could not be tamed by the vintage, and they are still present in all their ferocious beauty. Fortunately, the sapid 2022 fruit is deep and rich enough to balance the structure.

The West Ridge is heartbreaking in its purity, elegance and focus; it may well prove to be the wine of the vintage. This is the bottle I will be reaching for as I wait for the East Ridge tannins to mellow in the cellar.

Last but certainly not least, the 2022 San Andreas is not to be missed. In this wine you will find an evocative expression of our wild coastal mountains and a hint of the Pacific Ocean. The palate is juicy, fresh and high-toned, with lithe tannins and a very long finish.

My complete vintage report for 2022 can be found here, as well as more information about the 2022 vintage wines.

The 2022 vintage was both a gift and a heartbreak. It's a joy to be able to share the wines with you, and for us farmers to remember, as my father David Hirsch likes to say, to play the small averages. 

With gratitude,
Jasmine Hirsch
Winemaker & General Manager