The 2023 LVJ Alder Springs Pinot Noir is a wine of breathtaking single-vineyard intensity, extraordinary Mendocino Ridge terroir expression, and the kind of profound, deeply complex Pinot Noir character that the Alder Springs Vineyard — perched at elevations of 2,200 to 2,800 feet on the dramatic Mendocino Ridge, far above the coastal fog line and exposed to an extraordinary combination of intense sunlight, cool Pacific winds, and the unique schist-rich, iron-bearing soils of this singular and genuinely world-class California Pinot Noir site — produces with a dramatic, terroir-driven personality that is unlike any other Pinot Noir site in California. Julien Fayard's special relationship with the Alder Springs Vineyard reflects his deep appreciation for one of California's most exceptional and distinctive Pinot Noir addresses, and the 2023 LVJ expression of this extraordinary site captures its singular combination of mountain power and Burgundian refinement with outstanding completeness and precision. Aromas of dark cherry, wild blueberry, dried rose, iron mineral, forest floor, dried herbs, cracked spice, and a distinctive schist mineral note of extraordinary definition and purity lead to a full-bodied, structured, and magnificently complex palate of excellent natural acidity and a finish of remarkable length and terroir clarity.