2011 Hirsch ‘West Ridge’ Estate Pinot Noir

Our West Ridge Estate Pinot Noir is an ethereal, fragile, and hauntingly aromatic wine. It is our lightest-bodied Pinot Noir, yet possesses a surprising ability to age. It will reward the patient collector, evolving into a complex, perfumed wine that our founder David Hirsch describes as “romantic.”

The rolling hills of the West Ridge are dominated by heavy black clay, which creates an inhospitable environment that stresses the vines and inhibits vigor. However, the West Ridge also has pockets of sand, loam and rock, creating a microcosm of the San Andrean complexity that defines all of Hirsch. These vineyards enjoy the cooling effect of the Pacific, but are protected from the full onslaught of wind and fog.

The foundation of the West Ridge Pinot Noir is Block 7, planted in 1992 with cuttings David Hirsch took from Mount Eden Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is a true massale selection, with a diverse genetic makeup. The lineage of these plants can be traced back to Paul Masson, who brought Pinot Noir cuttings from Burgundy to California in the late 1800s. The genetic diversity of the plants imparts greater complexity to the wine but also perpetuates the leaf-roll virus that came with the vines from Burgundy. This virus inhibits the ability of the vines to carry out photosynthesis and produce sugar. The result is wines that are more delicate, naturally lower in alcohol, and have extremely fine tannins.

Tasting Notes

The 2011 Pinot Noirs have always been notable for the purity of their fruit. Now with age, the freshness and precision of the vintage remains, with the added complexity of age. Fresh fruit is interlaced with notes of brine, mushroom and tree bark. The palate is at the intersection of primary and secondary development. An intellectual and distinctive wine, ideal for West Ridge lovers.