Pat Mead

9.2

Loved the 2021 Vintage and the 2022 is wonderful! Fruity, crisp and delicious!! One of my favorites! — 12 days ago

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

Jonathan Wall

9.1

2003. Last bottle was 3 years ago, and this one I liked better. Starts out austere with evidence of a difficult hot year. But after hours in the decanter it cycled thru some almost port like caramelized tapenades and ended the evening with a somewhat strange but delicious red crème brûlée thing. So if you have one… I suggest patience thru the awkward opening hours to get to the awkward good part. Cheers. — 2 years ago

Vicki Ausloos

9.1

Very smooth Nice finish of cherry and blackberry — 20 days ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

Complex Zinfandel field blend, with nice interplay of flavors and textures—fruit, tannin, acid and earth, that evolves in the mouth. Perfumed and drinkable by itself. Fine example of Sonoma County Zin. Tasted the 2021 vintage at the winery. — 2 months ago

Doug Powers

9.4

Served with wild Alaskan King Salmon caught with my buddies last month, this shows the diverse aromas of redfruits, wild herbs and floral notes that have always characterized this vineyard, lovely redfruit, modest structure, drinking super well tonight, kudos to Mark Vlossak!!! — 9 months ago

with Jim

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one.

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, plums, sweet cherries, chocolates, cedar, light caramel, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco light cola and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, plums, licorice, vanilla, cola, cedar, black coffee, chocolates, tobacco, earth, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Nice finish with fine grained tannins and red cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is already drinking very nicely. Showing nice complexity with a nice, soft mouthfeel.

Very true to the Terroir, without too much alcohol, which I liked.

Well balance and interesting. Fruit forward, rich and extracted.

Will age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Showing nice potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour in a decanter.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with Camembert cheese and prosciutto.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Oakville and Rutherford, were aged in French (mostly) and American oak barrels for 18 months.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Inky in color with a short purplish rim.

Strong nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, chocolates, light vegetables, wild flowers and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, currants, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, herbs, licorice, dark chocolates, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Napa Valley is already delicious.

Rich and engaging. Powerful and dark. Still a little unforgiving. Spicy and fruit forward.

Much earthier on the nose than on the palate. Only after 2.5 hours it balances out, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years, and has good potential to become a 94+ point wine. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

I Had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec. Grapes were handpicked and aged for 18 months in mostly French oak barrels.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$95. — 2 months ago

seph

8.9

Really like this, musky, tropical fruit notes in the very strong finish. One of my faves from our finger lakes wine trip! — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Light golden in color with a yellow tint.

Strong nose of gooseberry, limes, grapefruits, light earth, green apples, spices, grass and light sea salt.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, bitter herbs, light vegetables, light tropical fruits, spices, earth and white pepper.

Long finish with light almonds and spices.

This is a delicious Sauvignon Blanc based blend from Napa Valley.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. Has a light creamy feel, which is very enjoyable.

Nicely balanced and tangy, with a soft mouthfeel.

Showing nice complexity, which you don't usually see at this young age. I can see it getting even better in the next 3 years.

I had it all by itself by the pool.

A blend of 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Chardonnay and 13% Malvasia. Aged for 7 months in used French oak barrels. A small production of 600 cases.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — 2 years ago