2023 Pinot Noir Alder Springs Vineyard Mendocino

94 POINTS, DECANTER

"Very much in the same stylistic pocket as the 2022, this 2023 bottling offers a richer cherry fruit profile, accented by spicy clove. A bright, woodsy note runs through it, along with classic Alder Springs wild herbs and sagebrush. It’s slightly riper than expected for Mendocino, which builds out a fleshier mid-palate. My recommendation: buy both the 2022 and 2023—enjoy the 2023 now while the 2022 rests another year in the cellar. These are among the most electric, food-friendly wines coming out of the region. Produced by Dan Ricciato, director of viticulture for renowned consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown."

ABOUT THE VINEYARD

Tucked into the rugged hills of northern Mendocino County, Alder Springs Vineyard is a winegrower's dreamscape, where steep slopes, cool coastal breezes, and fractured sandstone soils come together to create magic in the bottle. Owner Stu Bewley’s “bonsai” approach means each vine is obsessively hand-tended, with most of its fruit dropped to concentrate flavor. The result is tiny yields, and intense character.