Hirsch - Estate Chardonnay Fort-Ross Seaview Sonoma Coast 2023 750ml (13.2% ABV)

from the producer:

"As with all the wines from Hirsch, the purpose of our Chardonnay is to bring you a transparent expression of this unique vineyard site. Through our farming and winemaking, we strive to bring the acidity and minerality of the site forward, with fruit and oak playing a secondary role. With less than 4 acres of Chardonnay vines, production is very limited, and 100% of the fruit is kept for the Estate.

Our first Chardonnay vineyard was planted in 1994. That year, David Hirsch prepared 2.5 acres for planting on a rocky, 40% slope above his house. He was enamored with Barolo and had the crazy idea to put in Nebbiolo. Burt Williams, who had begun buying our Pinot Noir fruit for his winery Williams Selyem, told David he was nuts and should plant Chardonnay instead. Thus the old Chardonnay vineyard was born. The cuttings came from Joe Rochioli. Williams Selyem made the wine from 1997 to 2000; Kistler took the fruit through 2005. In 2002 David planted an additional 1.4 acres of Chardonnay on a sandstone hill in field 12, just over the hill from the old chardonnay vineyard. Together these two tiny plantings comprise our Estate Chardonnay, produced since 2006.

notes of green apple, Asian pear, stone fruit flowers and lemon curd. The acidity is present but balanced, and the mouthfeel is energetic. At this young age, the fruit is a bit shy. Drinkable and mouthwatering now, it will gain in weight and complexity with age. 

94 pts Vinous. We only got 6 bottles!

an electric and mouthwatering wine, with notable acidity and minerality. Upon opening, the nose is generous yet refined, with subtle notes of brioche, Fuji apples, Meyer lemon and a hint of saline. The palate leans Old World, with a focused mid palate and persistent finish. This is an incredibly classy wine, with fabulous mouthfeel and energy.

Orange peel, dried herbs (chive), beeswax, baked yellow apples, mineral-driven, crushed seashell, honeysuckle, white peach, medium bodied, distinctive and elegant. Long finish.

 laced with hints of tangerine oil, chamomile, citrus confit and white truffle. Like so many wines in this vintage, the Chardonnay is delicate and gracious. The 2023 is more understated than in some recent years, but it's classy and polished just the same.

region: Fort-Ross Seaview, Sonoma Coast, CA USA

varietal: Chardonnay

style: mineral white

farming/cellar: practicing organic and biodynamic, direct pressed and transferred to French and Eastern European oak barrels, 28% new, for fermentation and elevage. No yeast was added at any point. Primary and malolactic fermentations occurred in barrel. No lees stirring was employed. The wine was racked clean to stainless steel for one month before bottling.

pairing: