2013 ALDER SPRINGS VINEYARD Mendocino

Description

31 bottles available

The Vineyard
The Alder Springs Vineyard is located 12 miles west of the Pacific Ocean, overlooking the town of Laytonville in the center of Mendocino County. The fruit for the Spell wines comes from three distinct blocks located at an elevation between 1700 to 1900 feet on a Southeastern facing slope. 3 Tiers, which makes up the majority of the blend, is planted to Dijon clone 459 and heritage clones of DRC and Calera. The Upper West Vineyard is planted to Dijon clones 667 and 777 and the Upper Vineyard is planted to Dijon clones 115, 667, and 777. The low-vigor, volcanic-based soils produce wines of distinctive old ‰world character.

Winemaker Notes
The 2013 Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir is vivid violet in color, aromas of blueberry, ripe raspberry, dried rose pedals, clay, smoke, peat, and ground coffee drift from the bowl. Youthful red fruit flavors, juniper berry, espresso and a mineral element are seamlessly balanced with powdery-dry tannins and lively acidity. Like its brother, the Weir Vineyard pinot noir, this wine has the potential to age gracefully for those with the space and time to cellar a few bottles over the next decade.

Oak: 100% French oak; 43% new oak, 14% once used and 43% older.
Clones: Dijon 459, 115, 667, and 777, selections of Calera and DRC
Harvest Dates: 3Tiers, Upper and Upper West blocks – September 14, 2013
Bottled: August 11, 2014
Alc: 13.9%
Cases Produced: 126

Reviews

• Wine Enthusiast score: 93 Cellar Selection

  This wine is massively fruity and grandly structured without being heavy or overpowering, but it will need time for the firm tannins to mellow. It smells and tastes like pure, concentrated black cherry and feels full of fine-grained tannins and sour-cherry crispness. It will be best after 2020.

• Burghound Score: 90

  An elegant, fresh, cool and airy array is comprised by notes of violet, tea and red pinot scents. Consistent with the elegance of the nose there is a lovely refined mouth feel to the delicious, supple and lilting middle weight flavors that deliver fine length on the dusty and sappy finish that is sneaky long. This is a lovely effort that is not super complex but the delivery and balance are impeccable. I would opt for allowing this a few years of bottle age such that more depth can develop but it is so pretty now that it might be hard to wait.

• Corkscrewer Report score : 95

  A fascinating aspect of anything involving artistic vision is that tastes change over time. Puccini’s opera La Boheme received tepid reviews when it premiered. It’s a Wonderful Life was a box office failure. When folk singer Bob Dylan played his song “Like A Rolling Stone” for the first time in front of a concert audience, they booed him. In the wine world, there was a time, not too long ago, when massive, highly concentrated fruit bombs were all the rage. These days, especially living in an age where everyone is in touch with their inner foodie, consumer tastes in wine are moving towards lighter, less alcohol level and more food friendly. Big and bold wines tend to dominate a meal, whereas lighter and silkier wines act as a companion to a fine meal.

  Here is a Pinot Noir on the lighter side, at 13.9% alcohol, that is so pretty it might as well be Maria in West Side Story singing, “I feel pretty, oh so pretty . . .” Start with the lovely nose of dried rose petals, bright dark cherry, raspberry and Chinese black tea. On the palate it’s all silky, somewhat creamy, texture gliding along to a lengthy, softly tannic, succulent finish. This 2013 SPELL Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir is light on its feet but substantial and evocative. Lively acidity contrasts with vivid and expressive fruit character. Flavor notes weave in and out mellifluously, creating a classic rendition of Mendocino County cool-weather Pinot that gets more memorable with each sip, like a great piece of music that takes a third listen before you fall in love with it. Impeccable balance and control, where no aspect is in excess. Oh, it’s so pretty. –J.M.

• International Wine Report score: 92

  This impressive Pinot Noir begins with bright aromas of red cherry, red raspberry, teaberry and cranberry. This leads to flavors of dill, sage, cran-cherry, pomegranate seed which cascades alongside lovely minerality. (Best 2016-2025) – March, 2016 (OB)

• Connoisseur's Guide Score: 88

  Ever so slightly lighter in fruit than most of its mates and a little showier in its complement of creamy oak, Spell’s Alder Springs bottling makes up in youthful energy and drive for what it may lack in stuffing and is sufficiently deep to evolve for a few years. It is not a big wine, but it shows a trim of evident tannin, and a bit of patience is in order.

• Prince of Pinot Score: 88

  13.9% alc., 126 cases, $48. Dijon 459, 115, 667 and 777, and heritage clones of DRC and Calera. Low-vigor volcanic soils located 12 miles west of the Pacific Ocean. Aged in 100% French oak barrels, 43% new, 14% once-used, and 43% older. Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Very shy nose, even when check two days after opening. Good attack of fresh cherry and cranberry fruit flavors with a hint of citrus, good cut and balanced tannins, but lacks mid palate intensity and finish.

Techsheet

2013 ALDER SPRINGS VINEYARD Mendocino (.PDF)

Out of stock