Alder Hill began with one windbreak, a stone well, and a family house overlooking the western Paso Verdan slopes.
05:18 · Block Seven
The first walk begins before the ridge catches sun. We taste from the shoulder and the low seam, where cool air settles. Sugar gives us one fact; the color of the seed and the resistance of the skin give us several more.
A decision shared
Picking is not a dramatic declaration. Vineyard, cellar, and weather notes are placed on the same table. We look for a window that protects freshness without leaving the tannin behind.
What arrived
By mid-morning the first crates were under the cellar arch: small berries, clean stems, and the peppered scent we had been waiting for. The vintage had started without ceremony, exactly as it should.
“A memorable estate is not measured by scale. It is measured by how personally the place stays with you.”Back to all notes