The father/son team of Jay and Seth Birnbaum recently purchased Sunrise Hill Vineyard- famous for a bevy of vineyard-designate bottlings from the likes of Boundary Breaks, Forge and Damiani- from Kathy and Bob Ruis, retaining Bob as vineyard manager. Given such continuity, it’s no surprise that the Birnbaums’ first bottlings, all 2024, are true to their grape varieties and a pleasure to drink.
Sunrise Hill has been the source of Boundary Breaks' superb Gewürztraminers over the years, and the Birnbaum 2024 showcases the impeccable balance and structure this special vineyard imparts to a variety that can sometimes tend toward flabbiness. The ripeness is always there with Sunrise Hill, yet the acids are more than adequate. The typical Gewürz aromas and flavors of lychee, spice and rose petal are present, but in a harmonious, subtle way that makes this a great pairing with a wide range of foods.