2003 George Wine Company Hirsch Vineyard Block 4A Pinot Noir

George Wine Company is a one-man Pinot Noir operation founded and run by George Levkoff, a one-time bond trader who gave up the trading life in the late 1990s to make wine in Sonoma Country. He apprenticed at Williams Selyem from 1999 to 2002 and worked at Brogan Cellars. Levkoff’s debut releases were 2003 Pinot Noirs made from grapes from Hirsch Vineyard. Levkoff sources grapes primarily from vineyards in the Russian River Valley. George wines are generally available only in restaurants and from the winery.

Sonoma Coast AVA runs from San Pablo Bay in the south to Mendocino County in the north. It includes 7,000 vineyard acres and earned AVA status in 1987. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean means it gets double the rainfall of nearby inland appellations and the ocean gives the appellation a relatively cool climate. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can thrive in these conditions, and there are numerous producers making critically acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.