Pax Mahle Wines

Alder Springs Vineyard Syrah

9.283 ratings
9.329 pro ratings
Mendocino Ridge, North Coast, California, USA
Syrah
Lamb
Top Notes For
Jake Hajer

It’s close to being stunning, but too young. Too raw. Sour black cherry. Pine cone. Pencil, unripe fig. Background of fresh butchered game. Good acidity. Little oak.

It’s close to being stunning, but too young. Too raw. Sour black cherry. Pine cone. Pencil, unripe fig. Background of fresh butchered game. Good acidity. Little oak.

Sep 22nd, 2020
John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.5

Again, amazing.

Again, amazing.

Apr 28th, 2020
John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.6

So damn good.

So damn good.

Jan 23rd, 2020
Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

8.9

Fruit starting to fade in relation to the tannin. Time to drink up.

Fruit starting to fade in relation to the tannin. Time to drink up.

May 18th, 2018
William Hughes

Bay leaf, iodine, smoked meats, graphite, and savory spices surrounding a core of black fruits. Alder Springs produces grapes for many wines I love to drink.

Bay leaf, iodine, smoked meats, graphite, and savory spices surrounding a core of black fruits. Alder Springs produces grapes for many wines I love to drink.

Sep 8th, 2017
James Parker Huston, CWE

Sommelier Charlie Palmer

9.6

Guess who's back. Back again! Bravo Mr. Mahle and friends.

Guess who's back. Back again! Bravo Mr. Mahle and friends.

3 people found it helpfulAug 30th, 2015
Zach Cherry

Account Manager Worldwide Wine & Spirits

9.2

Magnum. Held up exceptionally well. Perfumy, concentrated, yet nuanced. Smoked meat hasn't cleared on this one, and I'm glad it hasn't. Rocking wine.

Magnum. Held up exceptionally well. Perfumy, concentrated, yet nuanced. Smoked meat hasn't cleared on this one, and I'm glad it hasn't. Rocking wine.

2 people found it helpfulJun 6th, 2016
Vanessa

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!

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!

1 person found it helpfulJan 26th, 2024
Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.2

Dark fruit and graphite. Tannins resolved. Probably just past peak, but drinking very well. Will pull the cork on my last bottle some time in the next year.

Dark fruit and graphite. Tannins resolved. Probably just past peak, but drinking very well. Will pull the cork on my last bottle some time in the next year.

1 person found it helpfulJul 18th, 2016
Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.3

Tasty as hell offering spice, bay leaf and meat stock flavors. Stretching finish.

Tasty as hell offering spice, bay leaf and meat stock flavors. Stretching finish.

Jan 12th, 2017