2012 Hirsch 'Old Vineyard' Estate Pinot Noir

In 1980, my father David Hirsch planted his first vines at Hirsch, using cuttings brought from Oregon and planted on their own roots. Today just one acre of the Old Vineyard remains, and we farm it with painstaking love and attention, coaxing tiny yields from these gnarly old vines overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

For many years we sold the fruit from the Old Vineyard to another winery. In 2012, the contract expired and we were able to make the wine ourselves for the first time. The Old Vineyard gifted us with a wine of noble and austere character that is unlike anything else we’ve ever bottled at Hirsch.

It represents the vision of David and our longtime vineyard manager Everardo Robledo to craft pinot noir of heart and honesty on the True Sonoma Coast.

After a long slumber, this wine has begun waking up. The fruit is dark and savory, with notes of cedar, earth and plum skin. It has phenomenal structure and intensity, and could certainly age for another 10+ years. Only 102 cases produced.  

Vine age breakdown:
100% - planted 1980

• New oak: 35%
• Total production: 91cs of 750s, 11cs of magnums
• Alc: 12.8%
• Whole cluster: 40%