Urban Grape in the South End is a store where a designer would feel right at home. I had the pleasure of tasting David Hirsch's wines from Hirsch Vineyards who in his previous career was a designer in New York before he discovered the world of the Burgundy varietals. He brought them to Sonoma in 1980 where he created the prized Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that has made his wines so coveted.

We tasted through four of his wines

2010 Hirsch Vineyards Chardonnay

2010 Hirsch Vineyards "Bohan Dillon" Pinot Noir

2009 Hirsch Vineyards "San Andreas Fault" Pinot Noir

2009 Hirsch Vineyards "East Ridge" Estate Pinot Noir

They were all excellent, the Chardonnay was a very pure expression minimally oaked with acidity that lingered in the mid palate. The Pinot Noir's were absolutely outstanding, all slightly different, with balanced savory wild fruit and acidity that also allowed the terroir of the Pacific ocean and soils to shine through. Very pure expressions of Pinot Noir in the way that only diligently cared for Pinot Noir can reflect back.

Hirsch started his Pinot Noir vineyard on "The True Coast" area of Sonoma.

The True Coast area, which had previously been considered too cool to ripen grapes, had been used primarily as grazing land for sheep. David Hirsch came along in 1978, and planted a Pinot Noir vineyard here in 1980. Today, at least 25 to 30 wineries, mainly small, are now in the True Coast area, primarily growing Pinot Noir--but also Chardonnay, with a little Syrah and Zinfandel as well. Flowers the best known was one of the earliest to be established.

Thanks to TJ Douglas owner at Urban Grape, David Hirsch from Hirsch Vineyards and Matthew Sandock from Classic Wines for arranging this tasting and allowing us the pleasure to sample this small production and difficult to acquire wine.