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! — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Brendan Baker

9.2

No notes, but this was bright, complex and perfect w/Thai food. At Khom Loi Sebastopol (Restaurant recommended even more highly than the wine)🔥 — 5 years ago

Lizz Harrell

9.4

2014 - wonderful — 6 years ago

with Dan

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The six acre Rice-Spivak Vineyard Pinot Noir is located south of the town of Sebastopol. Vines are set on Goldridge sandy loam along with volcanic ash.This starts off with bright aromas of rose petal with blood orange rind, smoke, red cherry preserves and guava puree. The aromatic range is simply gorgeous here. On the palate, the wine reveals a silky mouthfeel and wonderful minerality. With gobs of mouth-watering acidity, red and dark fruits mingle with spicy undertones. Highly complex and downright delicious, this will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2030- 93 — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Second stop in Sonoma with Andrew Berge of Spell Estate, La Pitchoune and Tiny House to name a few. The next single vineyard Pinot Noir is the Umino Vineyard from the Sebastopol Hills of the Russian River Valley AVA. It is aged in 33% new French oak and only 49 cases produced.

Deep ruby red with a purplish core. Dark floral notes on the attack of the nose followed by crushed gravel and dark raspberries. Medium plus acidity (7/10) and medium plus bodied. Rich palate with dark cherries, cigar box and a little earthy. Dry and long finish. Needs a bit of time to round out. Drink till 2027. $$ — 8 years ago

with India

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

Pillow Rd. Vineyard is situated to the southwest of Sebastopol, not far from the southern tip of the Russian River Valley, and planted to two acres of Chardonnay and seven acres of Pinot Noir. Clones 777, 115, and Pommard made up the first plantings in 2000, with Calera and Swan being added later (replacing Gravenstein apple trees). The vineyard has courted her fair share of suitors, originally being one of Duckhorn’s sources for its Goldeneye Pinot Noir. The first commercial vintage under the Pillow Rd. label was 2006. I’m not sure whether Ladera had entered the scene at that point, but it was definitely in time for their release of the 2009 vintage. In 2016 PlumpJack Group acquired Ladera’s Howell Mountain vineyard and winemaking facility, and while it appears the Pillow Rd. Vineyard wasn’t included in that sale, I haven’t seen anything that spells that out explicitly. Regardless, what is certain is that Napa Cab makers can’t quit this Russian River Pinot vineyard. It had some kinks to work out, but ultimately it’s built for pleasure and not complexity, and it eventually got there. Cherry cola, sassafras, baking spice, butterscotch, and just enough of a citrus edge to keep from losing its balance. — 8 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.5

This wine we opened a couple days ago the 2019 Raen Sonoma Coast Royal St. Robert Cuvée Pinot Noir. From Sebastopol, California. The Mondavi boy's, Carlo and Dante, have done a wonderful job with this one.

On the nose there is juicy strawberry, cherry, raspberry, orange peel, mushroom, hibiscus, spice, dried roses and forest floor.

On the palate is strawberry, cherry, raspberry, cranberry, mushroom, spice, black tea, forest floor and earth.

This wine is medium bodied with a beautiful smooth fresh mouthfeel medium to medium+ acidity and medium fine polished tannins that has a long red fruit forest floor finish. I wish everyone one a Happy Thanksgiving and continued health. Please stay safe and have beautiful day with family and friends. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

light ruby, amber rim; red cherry, strawberry, plum, pine cones; tart red fruits, spicy finish; light bodied, high acidity, fine grained tannin provides nice backbone , 12.6% ABV; one of two appellation Pinot’s Ted Lemon makes, 50% of the blend comes from the Twin Hills vineyard just south of Sebastopol, 17% comes from declassified vineyard designated from Hirsch, Mays Canyon, The Pivot, The Haven and Thieriot vineyards, and remaining 33% is press wine from these same vineyards; $60 — 5 years ago

Uli Klumpp

9.2

Phenomenal, really nice expression of Sebastopol Hills and its higher elevation subtlety. Dark fruit, spices, good structure based on smooth tannins and solid acidity. — 6 years ago

Donald Patz

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.0

A BTG offering at Angèle and what a delight. Pleasant Hill - aka JENKINS RANCH - is a proven Pinot Noir site in the as yet unofficial “Sebastopol Hills” area of Russian River Valley AVA. 2014 with 3-4 years of bottle time is bridging youthful juiciness with a flicker of aged character. Nice work — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The nose reveals, floral, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, blue fruits, baked strawberries & dark berry creme de cassis, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, salted caramel, dark chocolate, anise, steeped fruit tea, limestone minerals, crushed dry rocks, dark asian spices, dark mocha powder, touch of black pepper, herbaceous notes, dark rich soils, notes of smoky grilled meats, dry brush with red & dark dry florals.

The body is full with a noticeable tannin structure. The structure, tension, length and balance are coming together, but better in another 2-3 years. It has an enticing, sexy mouthfeel. Floral infused, slightly candied, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, stewed black plum, blue fruits, kirsch cherries, baked strawberries & dark berry creme de cassis, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, salted caramel, dark chocolate, anise, steeped black fruit tea, limestone minerals, crushed dry rocks, dark asian spices, dark mocha powder, touch of black pepper, herbaceous notes, dark rich soils, notes of smoky grilled meats, dry brush with bright violets and red & dark dry florals. The acidity is round and waterfallish. The finish is; gorgeous, rich, ripe, elegant, well balanced fruit and earth with a slight edge to the fruit and persists on the palate minutes.

Photos of; Kosta Browne winery and tasting room in Sebastopol, tasting lounge area, the original founders of Kosta Browne; Dan Kosta, Chris Costello & Michael Browne and high point shot of their winemaking facilities. — 7 years ago

Eva Dehlinger

9.3

Excellent Syrah from Sebastopol — 10 years ago

with Max

Shengli Hu

9.2

Grapes sourced from Teac Mor, in between Russian River valley and Sebastopol, 14 miles from ocean. All neutral oak only felt as texture on the palate. Very reductive. Yellow flowers, honeysuckle, yellow apple, mushroom texture, minerality, elevated acidity, medium body, broadly textured on the palate. — 4 years ago

Rob Pendell

9.1

Velvety smooth, like an Elvis painting. — 5 years ago

David L

9.6

17’ Château Boswell True Course Chardonnay. Sourced from the 1/3 of each Rued, Ritchie, & Sebastopol Vineyards in Sonoma County.
Melka with a home run Chardonnay!
Wow... this Chardonnay is playing in the deep end. Full- body to say the least. Pear, peach, honeycomb. Perfect amount of acidity/minerality from the center of the palate to the back. Top 10 bottles of California Chardonnay I’ve had this year.
Edit - Throw this into a decanter for a short period of time. — 6 years ago

David L

9.4

16’ Hartford Court Jennifer's Vineyard Chardonnay. Vineyard is located in Sebastopol Hills in Russian river.
As of late. I’ve noticed California Chardonnay’s have changed for the better. Now they have power and finesse. Which I absolutely adore. This is a perfect example of just that.
It’s a balance beam act of pear, slightly more citrusy fruits then I picked up in there other single vineyards. A bit of spice & the right amount of acidity. Very well-made wine. Something I wouldn’t age. Drink them all up by 2022. — 7 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

Nicely chilled starter on a warm Sebastopol Friday evening. — 8 years ago

Ruth Barnard

9.0

Purchased at winery outside Sebastopol, March 2018. Excellent. — 8 years ago

Karen Karpick

8.9

our favorite sparkling in sebastopol. enjoyed with breakfast on the porch & farm fresh eggs, creamy goat cheese, avocado and berries. — 9 years ago

with Matt

Dick Phillips

9.2

Smooth very fruitful. Luv it — 10 years ago