2017 Hirsch Vineyards San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 750 ml

Hirsch Vineyards stands at the very pinnacle of California Pinot Noir, alongside cult bottlings like Williams Selyem and Littorai. But as an estate-grown expression of the sea-sprayed True Sonoma Coast, Hirsch stands alone—and no wine better defines their style than this San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir.  

Hirsch sits alongside coveted Burgundy and Pinot Noir bottlings in some of the most exclusive cellars in the world, including The French Laundry, where Hirsch Pinots start at $250! We’ve got their 2017 San Andreas Fault—the wine that founder David Hirsch calls “the Hirsch Hirsch” because of its true expression of their complex and unique vineyard—for just $55. 

Bursting with freshness and vibrancy, the 2017 has notes of red cherry, cranberry, and orange peel announcing a lifted red-fruit palate with beautiful cut and definition, and black tea notes enveloping the palate as the fine tannins surface through the finish. It’s a quintessential example of what cool-climate viticulture next to the Pacific Ocean is all about—one that’s drinking perfectly now, but has its best years ahead of it. 

Our entire office rushed to grab their glasses when we realized that Sur was popping the cork on Hirsch’s 2017 Pinots. “Hirsch started the conversation on how close great Pinot Noir can grow to the coast,” he said as we gathered around, soaking up his excitement and swirling the captivating ruby-red Pinot in our glasses.  

The Sonoma Coast AVA is “absurdly extensive” according to the World Atlas of Wine, so over the years, an unofficial designation has emerged: “True Sonoma Coast” is the term many use to characterize the wineries that sit closest to the crashing waves, and the inimitable cool-climate wines they produce. 

No winery is truer to the ideals of this daring region than Hirsch. The 1,000-acre property was purchased in 1978 by David Hirsch, who had no plans to grow grapes on the overgrazed and eroded land. But a vintner friend suggested that Hirsch might have a site for world-class Pinot Noir on his hands. 

David looked to the best-kept part of the property, Madrone Ridge, and it was the first one he chose to plant. He started in 1980, and eventually began supplying Sonoma County wineries with his inimitable Pinot Noir. 

Perhaps the biggest month in Hirsch’s history was February of 1994, when three eventual Pinot Noir legends—Ted Lemon of Littorai, Burt Williams of Williams Selyem, and Steve Kistler—all visited Hirsch, and all left impressed. Each vintner began to produce a Hirsch-labeled single-site Pinot Noir. And in the following years, as David Hirsch sold every grape from the Hirsch vineyard and California Pinot Noir gained a foothold, the Hirsch name turned to gold. 

In 2002, David made the monumental decision to build a winery on the site and start making his own wines. And although there were some commercial aims, the number one reason he did it was to get immediate feedback on his grape growing. 

It’s as impossible to characterize Hirsch as it is Burgundy—located on the San Andreas Fault, the soils are a magnificent jumble, and the 72 acres of vines exist in 61 distinct farming blocks divided by soil, exposure, and topography. The blocks were developed separately, and are farmed, harvested, and vinified the same way.  

David Hirsch has been known to say that if you drink one Hirsch wine, let it be San Andreas Fault. Sourced from 42 of the site’s 67 blocks, it’s crafted to represent the many facets of Hirsch’s unique property. There is no higher expression of the True Sonoma Coast’s unique Pinot Noir conditions than Hirsch. We’re thrilled to have it, and to share it with you.