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! — 3 months ago

with Deked1

Maiki Machiela

9.1

Beautiful champagne, crisp, clean, and flavorful — 5 years ago

with Kim

Martin G Rivard

9.6

So, so, so freaking good and at a great price point! Thank you Stuart for knocking it out of the park with this one!!
😍👏👏👏😍 — 6 years ago

with Christine

GM Haggerty

9.0

Smooth finish, very slight herbal hints, wonderful with goat cheese…. And friends….. — 4 months ago

Chance Miller

8.9

Rose of Pinot noir — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Woodlands premium Cabernet every year is named after a family member. Shelley Anne is the wife of Stuart Watson, winemaker and part owner. The nose is herbal with notes of blackberry. I reckon I could pick this as Margaret River Cabernet in a blind tasting. On the palate vanillin oak is noticeable which is surprising at 15 years of age. Next night that vanilla oak was still poking through, which will probably always be there. The normal descriptors of bay leaf and cigar box somewhat subdued by the oak. One of my favourite Cabernets in Australia but not as much in 2008. 4 left in the cellar. It will be interesting to see any changes in the next 5 years. See previous note from November 2018. The 2009 the following year was an absolute stunner. Had another bottle of the 2008 37 weeks later on 12th November. Always a great bottle with a good BBQ Steak. Very Margaret River herbaceous and to be ultra critical this needs more mid palate fruit with blackberry and cassis to get a few more points. — a year ago

GM Haggerty

9.0

A little fruity, nice with seafood appetizer — 4 months ago

Chance Miller

8.9

Rob Stuart, tasting room on 3rd Street in McMinnville — 9 months ago

Chance Miller

8.9

French style — 9 months ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.1

Excellent. Approachable Nebbiolo, 2013--just enough age to make it enjoyable. Getting ready for our upcoming Italy trip! Looking for recommendations. Visiting Barolo et al and Puglia this time around.

Friends: where should we go? Who should we meet? What should we drink?

@Antonio Galloni @Bill Bender @P A @Kimberly Anderson @"Odedi" @Eric Shanks @Dr. Owen Bargreen @Ralph DiBiasi @David From The 504 @James Forsyth @David L @Mike R @Shay A @Stuart Scheff @David T — 5 years ago