2008 THE SAGE
California
44% Chardonnay, 22% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 12% Marsanne
Our first vintage of The Sage has turned out beautifully. Some may find a blend of Chardonnay and Rhone varietals a bit radical, but we think they are perfectly at home together, especially at vineyards like Alder Springs. What is great about this wine is that it combines the richness of Chardonnay, the complexity of Roussanne and Marsanne, with the apricot, flowers and lime of Viognier. Fermented and aged in 66% new French Oak barrels, this wine is not shy. But it is also not over-the-top. It has a laser beam of focused aromas in the nose, combined with a density and richness that is rare for a wine with such detailed flavors and aromas. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 110 cases produced.
Review: Wine Spectator Insider Online, March 2010
A rich, creamy style, with bold fig, melon, spice and hazelnut flavors
that are full-bodied and mouthcoating. Complex and layered,
ending with a rich push of opulent flavors. Chardonnay, Viognier,
Roussanne and Marsanne. Drink now through 2014. - James Laube - 91 points
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2010
Bright aromas of peach and
flowers. Broad, sappy and almost surprisingly dry, with lovely peachy
intensity and a note of licorice. Finishes dry and persistent. This fruit
was picked early for acidity, notes winemaker Mike Hirby. - Stephen Tanzer - 90 points
2008 PINOT NOIR
Sonoma Coast
100% Pinot Noir
This is our first vintage of Pinot Noir from the 1 acre Avion Vineyard, perched at 1200 feet elevation above the famous Durell Vineyard. Fantastically rocky, the site is a natural for vines, and we have high hopes as we put into practice our viticultural philosophy. This Pinot Noir has a beautiful, lively bouquet of raspberry, strawberry and clove-studded cherries with just a hint of orange rind. The mouthfeel is sultry and smooth, with juicy flavors, soft tannins and a vibrant finish, echoing the rocky terroir of the site. Aged for 11 months in 66% new French oak barrels. 145 cases produced.
Review: Wine Spectator Online Edition, October 12, 2009
Broad, rich and fleshy, with generous ripe red cherry and plum flavors that
are clear and bright. Spice, loamy earth and bay leaf notes fill in the
details, with a very creamy texture. Drink now through 2014. 145 cases made. - MaryAnn Worobiec - 91 points
2008 RITUAL
Napa Valley
46% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 18% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah
Ritual has become our go-to wine for parties, cocktails, meetings, dinner, lunch, breakfast and any occasion we forgot to mention! This stuff is just the nectar of the vine. It has a huge nose of red and black fruits with licorice, spice and flowers. The texture is beautifully lush and smooth, letting the flavors of vanilla-soaked berries penetrate the taster’s senses. The wine hails from warm sites within Napa Valley with mostly shale sub-soils, and it shows in the wine’s powerful and intense finish. Aged for 10 months in 30% new French Oak barrels. 295 cases produced.
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2010
Good deep red.Raspberry, minerals and a hint of black olive on the nose. Saline, juicy and
tightly wound, with good floral lift to the bright flavors of crushed black
fruits, spices and wild herbs. Finishes spicy and lively, with hints of
leather, olive and meat. This got the lowest percentage of new oak of any of
the Relic 2008 bottlings. - Stephen Tanzer - 90 points
2007 ALDER SPRINGS VINEYARD SYRAH
Mendocino County
95% Syrah, 5% Viognier
This vineyard has been a staple of ours from the beginning, and it usually needs no introduction, but something in these steep hillsides in 2007 has resulted in one of the most aromatic and exotic Syrahs we’ve ever made. This may also have something to with the fact that we were finally able to snag some Viognier and co-ferment the skins with the Syrah. The inviting deep purple color and exotic perfume lead to a rich, dense, but relatively low-alcohol (14.5%) palate, which will leave you begging for another sip. The mouthfeel is lush and full, and the flavors leave a lasting impression of spice, flowers and ripe black fruits. We say crack one open now, get hypnotized by the aroma and watch the bottle empty itself! Aged for 11 months in 60% new French Oak. 160 cases produced.
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2009
Good bright ruby-red. Knockout nose combines raspberry, woodsmoke, crushed rocks and white pepper, plus a soupcon of white fruits (no doubt from the 5% Viognier component). Dense, spicy and light on its feet, with lovely perfumed flavors of raspberry and white pepper. Finishes with big, broad, dusty tannins and lovely lingering aromatic persistence. Not a fat style but very syrah. Like the Ritual, this is downright Old World in style. Stephen Tanzer - 92 points
2007 ARTEFACT
Napa Valley
96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Syrah
There is no doubt in our mind that 2007 is our best Artefact yet! The Cabernet fruit in 2007 was just stunning, and the addition of Rockledge Vineyard and Anselmo Vineyard Cabernet has taken it over the top in terms of richness, aromatics, complexity and flavor. We find an exotically spicy and rich nose full of clove, cardamom, blackberry, cherry preserves and vanilla. The palate is stacked and rich, with ultra smooth, plush tannins pushing the finish and leaving a lingering intensity. Aged for 21 months in 100% new French Oak. 170 cases produced.
Review: Wine Advocate #186, Dec 09
I enjoyed the 2007 Artifact [sic], which includes Petit Verdot and Syrah in the blend. Deep black currant, licorice, white chocolate, earthy, smoky notes are accompanied by full-bodied flavors, sweet tannins, and good freshness as well as precision. Dense and chewy, consumers can enjoy this impressively- endowed 2007 over the next 10-15 years.
This tiny estate has a small production, but the quality of its wines is very high. - Robert Parker - 93 points
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2009
Bright, full ruby. Reticent but pure aromas of blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, pepper and herbs. Suave and silky on the palate, with black and red fruit flavors nicely lifted by a floral component. Less peppery than the 2006 and more complex and refined. Finishes very smooth, with lush but serious tannins and a subtle lingering note of dark chocolate. Stephen Tanzer - 91-93 points
2006 ARTEFACT
NAPA VALLEY
70% CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 18% PETIT VERDOT, 12% SYRAH
Artefact, our Napa Valley Cabernet-based blend, made with a nod to the old Bordeaux tradition of blending in a little Hermitage, comes from a cooler climate, Coombsville - east of the city of Napa - and a considerably warmer site in St. Helena. These complementary sources and varietals lead to a very complex wine. Aromas of cassis, Asian spice, vanilla and toasty oak introduce an extremely supple and lithe palate, with focused, concentrated flavors of plum, cherry and chocolate. The finish is long and elegant. To give this wine an added element of complexity and elegance, we aged it in 100% new French oak for 22 months. 180 cases made
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2009
Bright ruby-red. Black raspberry and cassis aromas complicated by smoke, pepper, cedar and herbs. Fat, supple and sweet but with very good aromatic lift to the velvety, slightly liqueur-like dark berry flavors. Licorice and pepper notes lift the finish. Not especially complex but very smooth. Stephen Tanzer - 90 points
Review: Wine Spectator Online
Minty herb, sage and dried berry flavors are elegant and supple, full-bodied
and smooth-textured, offering hints of pepper, sage and dusty berry. Ends
with a long, full finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Best
from 2010 through 2016. 180 cases made. James Laube - 91 points
Review: Wine Advocate #180, Dec 09
Relic fashions some intriguing blends, the finest of which is their superb 2007 Artefact, a combination of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Petit Verdot and Syrah. An inky/purple color gives up scents of melted licorice, white chocolate, blackberries, and charcoal. Full-bodied with sweet tannins, a lush, heady mouthfeel, and a long, layered finish, this hedonistic, lavishly rich red can be drunk over the next decade. - Robert Parker - 92 points
2006 ALDER SPRINGS VINEYARD SYRAH
MENDOCINO COUNTY
The 2006 growing season at Alder Springs was considerably warmer than Napa, and it shows in this wine’s rich, ripe, full style. We have continued to use whole clusters and to foot-stomp selected lots, providing the wine huge complexity, body and exotic aromatics. This wine is purple/black. Aromas of blackberry, black pepper and jasmine jump from the glass and lead to exotic varietal flavors of raspberry, ginger, boysenberry and coffee. It also has the compacted structure to age very well, yet its 18 months in French oak have made it immensely appealing now. 164 cases made
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2008
Saturated bright ruby. Sappy crushed berries, violet and brown spices on the nose. Juicy and fresh, with intense black fruit and floral flavors that capture the entire palate. The impressively long finish features huge but well-buffered tannins that coat the teeth. Offers very strong potential, especially given the fact that these vines are just a few years old. Hirby continues to move to higher-altitude blocks of syrah on this large property. Stephen Tanzer - 91-93 points
Review: Wine Spectator
Rich, smooth and savory, with spicy, beefy wild berry, raspberry, sage and loamy earth flavors that are focused, ending with firm, ripe tannins and good berry-laced length. Drink now through 2013. - James Laube - 90 points
2007 Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir
Mendocino County
2007 has produced our best Pinot to date from Alder Springs. Seriously. This is partially due to the growing season and partially due to the new blocks we are getting at Cahto Ridge, which are just spectacular! This is a more vivid, aromatic and intense Pinot than we have ever produced. It still tastes like Alder Springs with cola, clove and mineral aromatics, but with refined tannins, the fruit really stands out and the wine finishes with intensity. Aged in 55% new French oak. 135 cases made.
Review: Wine Spectator
Rich and loamy, with mineral, sage, dried berry and cherry fruit that's
medium-weight, complex and focused, ending with tight tannins and a long,
persistent finish. Very young. Drink now through 2016. - James Laube - 92 points
Review: Wine Advocate #180, Dec 09
Relic demonstrates a fine touch with Pinot Noir, as demonstrated by the 2007 Pinot Noir Alder Springs Vineyard. Floral, raspberry, and blueberry notes intermixed with a hint of crushed rocks emerge from this fresh, lively, medium-bodied, tasty Pinot Noir. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. - Robert Parker - 90 points
2007 Tradition
Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir
Mendocino County
This, our first Tradition bottling, is an homage to Burgundy. It is a single, one-year old barrel of Pinot that was minimally punched down and fermented with 50% whole clusters. This is a great example of what different winemaking can create using the same grapes as the Alder Springs Pinot. Tasting these side-by-side is highly recommended!
This bottling has more earthy and raspberry aromatics and is slightly richer, but finishes with more structure. As this wine ages, look for a blossoming aromatic complexity and that ethereal quality which makes Pinot so great. 24 cases made.
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2009
Good bright dark red. Sappy aromas of black raspberry, pepper and spices. Dense in the middle palate, with darker flavors than the "basic" bottling: dark raspberry, violet, smoky oolong tea and rooty spices. Comes across as sweeter but also possesses more structure and grip. Finishes with very good breadth and substantial dusty tannins. Very interesting and different pinot: winemaker Mike Hirby described it as "an anomaly." Stephen Tanzer - 90 points
2007 Syrah
Napa Valley
50% whole cluster and 50% new oak make for a classic Relic combination of old and new world. Only two barrels make up this blend – one from Farella Vineyard and one from Yountville. Nearly black in color, rich and filled with jammy fruit - definitely Napa in style, yet complex and exotic at the same time. Aromas of chocolate, black pepper, vanilla and plum compote form an introduction to the rich, full mid-palate. As the finish blossoms, more perfume and floral aromatics linger. Fans of Napa Cabernet will love this wine as much as Northern Rhone enthusiasts. 49 cases made.
Review: Wine Spectator
Rich and concentrated, with potent mint, bay leaf and dense loamy currant
and wild berry fruit that¹s deep and structured, ending with a long,
intense, persistent finish. Extremely young right now. Best from 2010
through 2017. - James Laube - 92 points
Review: Wine Advocate #180, Dec 09
The 2007 Syrah reveals beautiful floral-infused blackberry fruit, a layered mouthfeel, full-bodied opulence, and admirable purity and length. It should drink easily for 7-8 years. - Robert Parker - 91 points
2007 Ritual
Napa Valley
55% Mourvedre, 22% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah
We are incredibly excited to introduce to you our first Southern Rhone-style blend, and even more excited that is from Napa Valley grapes! The grapes for this wine come from great vineyards - farmed to impeccable standards and are in amazing soils and micro-climates for these varietals. We believe Napa is under-appreciated territory for Southern Rhone-style wines and hope that you’ll agree when you taste this. We decided on the name “Ritual” because this is the kind of wine that we can drink almost daily – it goes well with all kinds of food and doesn’t display overbearing oak, yet is complex and absolutely satisfying.
This is classic in its presentation of cherry, raspberry, strawberry jam, baked earth, white pepper and floral elements, and with a tremendously sweet, full mouthfeel and richness. The tannins are there to provide focus, but the basic impression is that this is one hedonistic wine! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do! 215 cases made.
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2009
Good bright red. Musky aromas of strawberry, pepper and exotic flowers, lifted by spices and an exotic suggestion of apricot. Sweet, lush and fat but with good lift and firm tannic support. The sexy flavors of strawberry, raspberry, tree bark, pepper and spices are unadorned by new oak (just one of the eight and a half barrels was new). Very subtle, delicate wine. The mourvedre vines are planted on red volcanic soil. Stephen Tanzer - 91 points
Review: Wine Spectator
Tightly wound, firm and vibrant, with a focused core of mineral and
sage-laced wild berry and blackberry fruit that folds in nicely with the
minerally, earthy notes. Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah and Petite Sirah. Drink
now through 2015. - James Laube - 90 points
Review: Wine Advocate #180, Dec 09
The 2007 Ritual is a provocative blend of Rhone varietals - 55% Mourvedre (from Pope Valley), and the rest Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah. Its deep blue/purple color is followed by notes of damp earth, forest floor, fresh porcini mushrooms, meat, tree bark, flowers, and blue as well as black fruits. Because of the ripe Mourvedre component in this full-bodied, chewy 2007, the tannins are sweet, not astringent. Drink this mouthfilling as well as teeth-staining wine over the next 7-8 years. - Robert Parker - 91 points
2006 RICHARD PERRY VINEYARD SYRAH
Napa Valley
For 15 years this remarkable vineyard on a Napa Valley hillside has produced intense, pepper-laden fruit. With the vineyard's recent sale, this year's Syrah is particularly precious — these 115 cases, made with 30% whole-cluster fermentation and foot-stomping, are the last we'll ever offer. 115 cases produced.
TASTING NOTES
We find the nose full of intense, mouth-watering black pepper, herbs, creosote, blackberry, anise, and chocolate. Once in the mouth, the full body carries exceptionally pungent flavors echoing the nose, leading to a perfumed finish which features soft tannins but the structure to age, with a lingering note of sandalwood.
Review: Wine Spectator Insider, Dec 26, 2007
Wonderful aromas of blackberry, black and white pepper and new leather fold over to the palate. This keeps its focus, ending with a tight yet complex and expansive finish. Drink now through 2012. James Laube - 92 points
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2008
Good deep medium ruby. Musky aromas of blackberry, white pepper, smoked meat, mocha and rosemary. Very rich, dense and peppery, if not particularly complex today; noteworthy for its fat middle and clarity of aromas. Finishes with fairly fine tannins. An intriguing syrah that was vinified with about one-third whole clusters. From an east-facing hillside planted on volcanic ash in the southeast corner of Napa. The pH here is a high 4.0, and yet the vines are in shade after 5:00 in the afternoon, according to winemaker Mike Hirby. Stephen Tanzer - 91 points
2006 ALDER SPRINGS VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
Mendocino County
2006 marks our first vintage at Alder Springs with the new blocks from the 2,500-foot high Desmond parcel, and we are incredibly satisfied with the results! The wine is deeper, darker, and even more supple than in any years past. 115 cases produced.
TASTING NOTES
This Pinot lifts heavenly spice, raspberry, and violet scents from the glass. In the mouth, the wine is big and rich, yet lithe and very smooth, with vivid raspberry and smoke flavors and a beautifully soft structure. Yet the lingering impression is of liveliness and energy — good signs for a long life ahead!
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2008
($39) Good medium-deep red. Wild, nuanced nose offers notes of raspberry, meat, earth, cola, orange peel and rose petal. Sweet and lush but sappy, with a firm edge to its raspberry and spice flavors. Finishes with broad, fine-grained tannins and very good verve. This is about much more than just fruit. Stephen Tanzer - 91 points
2005 ALDER SPRINGS VINEYARD SYRAH
Mendocino County
In 2005, the temperate Alder Springs was even cooler than usual. While the result was fewer ripened grapes, those harvested had a long full season to mature, locking in wonderful sweet flavor. 108 cases produced.
TASTING NOTES
Exotic and lush aromas of raspberry, blueberry, pepper, incense, mint, and mineral greet your nose. On the palate, the wine shows its cool-climate vintage with a fantastically fluid texture and great intensity, kicking off a vivid array of blueberry, toast, mineral and sassafras flavors well into the long finish. Our most voluminous Alder Springs Syrah to date.
Review: Wine Spectator Insider, Dec 26, 2007
Has gorgeous fruit that’s ripe and fleshy, with plum, wild berry, blackberry and exotic spice notes all woven together in a seamless package, with a round, supple texture. Finishes with a long, persistent burst of fruit, excellent acidity and fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2014. James Laube - 94 points
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2008
Candied red and black berries on the nose, with a floral topnote. Intense berry and spice flavors turn sweeter on the back, offering a flavor of hard candy. Very firm and youthful wine that calls for a bit of patience. From a cool year and a cool site: these vines were harvested into November. Stephen Tanzer - 92 points
2005 ARTEFACT
60% CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 30% PETIT VERDOT, 10% SYRAH
Napa Valley
As the longtime Winemaker for Napa Valley Cabernet producers Realm Cellars, Rockledge Vineyards, and Sherwin Family Vineyards, Mike decided it was time to make a Cabernet-based wine for Relic — but with a twist. An homage to vignerons in Bordeaux, who added Syrah to Cabernet-based wines to deepen the color and enhance the aromatics, Artefact pushes the boundaries in the best possible way, with full black-fruit complexity and ultra-fine tannins.
TASTING NOTES
Deep, dark aromatics of blackberry, anise, chocolate, vanilla, and violet emanate from the glass. The rich palate is full and plush, with ultra-soft tannins and great intensity, leading to a finish that is supple and long, with a great balance of elegance and power. The Syrah kicks in to finish it off with a lingering note of black pepper.
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2008
($65; a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% petit verdot and 10% syrah) Bright medium ruby. Lively aromas of black cherry, dark raspberry and flowers. High-toned, fine-grained and superconcentrated but quite powerful and youthfully closed today, despite boasting a rather creamy texture. A big boy that finishes with major tannins that hit the palate late. The cabernet here is from an alluvial gravel and clay hillside in the cool Coombsville area. Stephen Tanzer - 91 points
2005 Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir
Mendocino County
2005 brought the longest, coolest growing season to date for Alder Springs Vineyard, and the Pinot Noir really benefited from this. The color is a vibrant cherry red. The nose is full of complex spice, herb, cola, cherry and strawberry aromas; and the texture fulfills this promise of complexity, with a lithe, elegant, yet rich mouthfeel. The lowest in alcohol of all of our Pinots to date, we feel the 2005 is a huge step in the stylistic direction first begun in 2004 - meaning more aroma, fresher flavors, and better texture. 110 cases made.
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 07
Moderately saturated medium ruby. Sexy aromas of musky raspberry, caramel, tobacco, smoke and nutty oak, all lifted by wild herbs. Sappy, dry and rather politely styled, with firm acidity restraining the wine's sweetness. Spicy, easy-to-drink wine with subtle persistence. Just this side of lean but there's lovely freshness here. "With no heat spikes in 2005, we finally had a chance to make Burgundian-style pinot noir," noted owner/winemaker Mike Hirby. This has a natural pH of 3.7; normally it's 3.9 or even higher from this site. 90 points - by Stephen Tanzer
2005 Richard Perry Vineyard Syrah
Napa Valley
High-pitched notes of raspberry, blackberry, mint, sassafrass, bacon and chocolate form a virtual fountain of aroma coming out of a glass of this wine. It has as much of the essence of the Rhone valley in it as one could ask for from a California Syrah; and yet the black color, mouthfeel and finish are 100% California, with that unctuous richness and full-bodied intensity of flavor that we love. 115 cases made.
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 07
From a cool, steep, east-facing hillside featuring volcanic ash, next to Caldwell Vineyard in Coombsville; vinified with 30% whole clusters. Good saturated medium ruby. Expressive, complex aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat and white pepper. Sweet, ripe and rich, with firm acid and tannin spine framing the dark fruit, chocolate and smoked meat flavors. Still a bit youthfully unevolved but this is smooth, sweet, elegant and highly aromatic, with lovely lingering sweetness on the back. The pH here is close to 4.0 (the ash soil has a very high potassium content), but Hirby believes the wine has enough power and was afraid that acidification would have exaggerated the tannins and created a more muscular wine. 92 points - by Stephen Tanzer
Review: Wine Advocate #168, Dec 06
Abundant amounts of white chocolate, gamy meat, and black fruit aromas as well as a hint of subtle oak jump from the glass of the 2005 Syrah Richard Perry Vineyard. With a full-bodied, savory mouthfeel, expressive aromatics as well as flavors, and a supple finish, it should drink well for 5-6 years. 91-93 points - by Robert Parker
2005 Sonoma Valley Syrah
White pepper, roses, cola, asphalt and blackberries radiate from this purple wine's nose. You can almost feel the warmth of the large stones that comprise 50% of the soil in this vineyard. The mouthfeel remains juicy and smooth, leaving an impression of full-bodied power mixed with lingering spicy aromatics on the finish. 140 cases made.
2004 Alder Springs Vineyard Syrah
Mendocino County
Mouth-watering aromas of créme de cassis, blackberry, white pepper, and violet explode from the glass in our 2004 Alder Springs Syrah. This spent a full 18 months on the lees, and the extended ageing has brought a creamy indulgence to the wine that is simply delicious. The body is very full and the palate is deliciously sweet, leading to a blockbuster of a chocolaty finish that lasts and lasts beyond the very fine tannins.
Review: Wine Advocate #168, Dec 06
From Mendocino, the 2004 Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard exhibits a blueberry, raspberry, floral character that suggests a cool climate site, as well as notes of underbrush and pepper. It offers excellent texture, medium to full body, and a tasty, savory personality. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. 90 points - by Robert Parker
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/June 06
(15.3% alcohol) Medium ruby. High-pitched, soil-inflected aromas of raspberry, sour cherry, minerals, crushed stone, licorice, mint and white pepper. Juicy and tightly wound, with very primary dark fruit, mint and chocolate. Still a bit youthfully hard and tight. Owner/winemaker Mike Hirby vinified with about 10% whole clusters "for aromatic interest." Very firmly structured and promising syrah. 89-92 Points - by Stephen Tanzer
2003 Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir
Mendocino County
The late season of 2003 produced our best Pinot Noir to date, with a beautiful balance of all the elements, well-articulated cherry cola and delicate spice nuances in the bouquet. This leads the way to a rich palate with superb texture and fine detail. This is a concentrated, dense Pinot that will benefit from a little air, so we recommend decanting this wine for a bit before serving to allow the flavors to unfold. Aged on the lees for 9 months in 50% new French Oak. 265 cases made.
Review: Wine Spectator
Ripe and full-bodied, with tasty plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors accented by a touch of cedar and fresh earth. Finishes with firm, minerally tannins and a sense of elegance and grace. Drink now through 2008. 265 cases made. 88 points - by James Laube
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 05
Medium, dullish red. Musky aromas of strawberry, raspberry, maraschino cherry, minerals, earth, cola and loam. Fat, sweet and thick, but not at all a fruit bomb. A chewy, lush wine that finishes with lots of dusty, slightly drying tannins. Hot, dry September weather stressed the vines and sent potassium levels up, resulting in a very high pH. But winemaker Mike Hirby did not acidify. 88 points - by Stephen Tanzer
2003 Alder Springs Vineyard Syrah
Mendocino County
This is our first Syrah, and we love it! From start to finish, we knew it would be great. The first sign was the berries the size of peas, then the black-purple color during the cold-soak, then the amazing intensity of flavor during fermentation, and then...and then...and then... The story could go on and on, just like the wine on the palate. Think perfectly ripe blackberries, stunning violets, black olives, and hints of charcoal. Flavorful, concentrated, and yet not too much. Drink it. Aged on the lees for 11 months in 80% new French Oak. 110 cases made.
Review: Wine Advocate #168, Dec 06
The dark ruby/purple-hued 2003 Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard offers up scents of chocolate, espresso, blueberries, black cherries, and cassis along with sweet tannin, a chunky, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a corpulent finish. It can be consumed now and over the next 3-4 years. 90 points - by Robert Parker
Review: Wine Spectator
Wonderful aromatics, with spice, beef, pepper, huckleberry and boysenberry flavors. Deeply concentrated and well-structured, leaving plenty of room for flavor yet framing it with acidity and tannins that bring out the best in the fruit. Drink now through 2012. 110 cases made. 93 points - by James Laube
Review: International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 05
Saturated ruby. Captivating, complex aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, gunflint, mocha and white pepper; just the nose of this wine makes the case that this is a terrific site for syrah. Superripe, dense and a bit unrefined, with intense flavors of black fruits, pepper and mint. This has the sheer fruit to support its big, broad tannins and major load of alcohol (15.9%). Hirby says he vinified and aged this syrah like pinot noir, leaving it on its lees until the bottling. (I also tasted a highly promising 2004, which showed more structure and less obvious sweetness; Hirby noted that the fruit enjoyed longer hang time in '04, but that the wine will be lower in alcohol and a bit less tannic than the 2003.) 91 points - by Stephen Tanzer
2002 Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir
Mendocino County
Upon opening, the 2002 Alder Springs bursts from the glass with deep, fruity, spicy aromas with hints of bacon and toast, and a bright cherry note. Once again, the cool East- and North-facing aspects of this warm site have provided a strong but subtle representation of Pinot Noir, yet with more precision and power than in 2001. The mouthfeel is rich and suave, with ultra-smooth tannins and a certain fluidity, giving grace to the expression of this unique hillside site. The finish is long and complex, with notes of cream and sassafras leaving a warm, lasting impression.
