Patz & Hall

Alder Springs Vineyard Chardonnay 1997

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.9

From magnum. This was the first vintage of Patz & Hall “Alder Springs Vineyard” Chardonnay. At the point of blending a flicker of original youthfulness with otherwise fully matured Chardonnay flavors. This is why we drink older wines. Rich, complex spice and toast, notes of tangerine, beeswax, dried apple, caramel, wildflower, sea breeze, exotic perfume, kiwi, crushed rock. A moderate yellow color. I was there when the grapes were picked. Short of help, we all pitched in to harvest. A miracle. — 8 days ago

Juan, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Halcon Vineyards

Prado Alder Springs Vineyard Roussane Marsanne 2012

Donald Williams

9.5

It doesn’t get much better than this. A beautiful Rhone white blend. Aged better than expected. — 3 years ago

with Bonnie

Y Rousseau

The Musketeer Alder Springs Vineyard Tannat 2012

Donald Williams

9.4

Meg was right about 5+ more years of aging. Just getting close to perfection. — 3 years ago

with Bonnie

Under the Wire

Sparkling Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

It’s not just the name of the 2018 Under the Wire Alder Springs Sparkling Pinot Noir that is more than a mouthful. This is a beautiful, multi-layered sparkler with floral notes, hints of fragrant herbs and strawberry along with crisp acidity and a subtle mousse. It’s somewhere between a white and rosé, having taken on a copper hue from brief skin contact. The Alder Springs is a great food wine with room to develop. — 8 days ago

Pax Mahle Wines

Alder Springs Vineyard Syrah 2011

Vanessa

9.3

Hello, California Syrah!!

From everything we’ve read, the Alder Springs Vineyard sounds like a truly majestic place.

It’s isolated in an undeveloped part of northern Mendocino County, situated in California’s North Coast region, where the steep and rugged terrain meet sweeping views of the ocean, bordered by rivers, redwoods, and snowcapped mountains… elevation stretches up to 1,800 feet above sea level.

It’s no wonder so many acclaimed producers, like Pax Mahle, source their fruit from here, where vines are sustainably farmed and cared for by Stuart Bewley. We were fortunate to visit Pax in Sebastopol in 2022, where we picked up this 2011 Cahto Ridge Alder Springs Vineyard Syrah. We’ve been waiting patiently to taste it. And here we are.

100% Syrah. Whole cluster fermented. Aged 12 months in neutral French oak barrels.

This wine is deep ruby trending towards garnet. The aromas are concentrated with ripe boysenberry, black cherry, blackcurrant, next to violet, black peppercorn, licorice, cured meat, peat moss, smoke, clove, leather and olive notes. On the palate, it is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, high alcohol (14.6% ABV), medium (+) fine-grained tannins, and a long, elegant finish.

It’s both elegant and wild all at the same time and we love it.

Cheers! — 10 months ago