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

with Deked1

Brandon T

9.3

Very nice pinot - no food required! — 2 years ago

Blake Walker

9.4

Thought I grabbed a white til I popped the cork! Glad I did. Totally crushable. Bright ruby/violet hue. Fragrant, floral & pepper notes. Light bodied, silky smooth texture, ripe raspberries and cherries, smoky embers, lava rocks & sea salt. Mouth watering acidity, no hard edges, & a clean lingering finish. Wow. — 4 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.2

Really good. Taut, minerally, sea breeze. No malolactic. Tastes like it sits somewhere between Chablis and the Côte de Beaune. — 10 months ago

Shay A

9.1

Between 90-91 here.

For village level, this is quintessential Chablis. No reductive profile aromatically, simply lemon, honeysuckle, sea spray. While racy, this has good weight on the palate. Underripe peach, almond, and mineral/limestone-like tart profile at the finish. Good acidity. Followed over two days and stayed consistent. — a year ago

Daniel Bloom

9.4

N: Old boats, apples, Sea salt, iodine, shellac, caramel, burnt sugar, toffee.
P: Sea, citrus, crisp apples, brandied fruit peels, banana, , oh my, you could go on.
— 3 years ago

with Sarah

Bruce Leboff

9.2

Nice Cali Pinot. No burg barnyard but lovely - a hint of bramble berry on the nose with a Ho t of milk chocolate and tobacco. Smooth mouthfeel and a very long finish with an echo of delicate spice. Bravo #seasmoke — 4 years ago

with David

Daniel M

8.9

No notes, family lunch with sea food (oysters, sea snails, shrimps...). Nice Sauvignon nose with lemon and grassy notes. A bit of peach and grapefruit too. It's rather delicate. The palate is long, acid driven and with a delicate and smooth mouthfeel. The finish shows citrus and grassy notes. Great, inexpensive white Bordeaux that goes perfect with sea food — a year ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

For $35 at the Benchmark Bin Sale I’m happy.

Reductive in style with shades of oxidative. Golden apple, bruised pear, apple cider notes, lemon & lime citrus, green melon, some pineapple juice, ginger, crumbled chalkiness, limestone, saline, sea fossils, baguette crust, yellow lilies, white flowers w/mixed greens. Good acidity with a nicely balanced finish.

Visited the property in October 2022 and it is impressive. The walk through the Clos de Goisses vineyard was spectacular. Ate two bunches of the unpicked Pinot Noir, which only furthered the reason I can no longer eat table grapes. As well, the view of the Cote de Blancs from there is stunning! — a year ago

Ana María

8.9

Vino alegre y ligero, rosas. No se le notan los 15 grados o yo soy una alcohólica. Pega con carne y con arroz, o sea, con todo. — 4 years ago

with Bernat