2022 Quigley Family Wines Chenin Blanc Alder Springs Vineyard Mendocino 750 ml

Splendid isolation: It’s hard to describe the awesomeness—or the remoteness—of Alder Springs Vineyard.

It’s wedged into the Mendocino wilderness, just 12 miles from the coast and a full hour in the car to any vineyard of note. And as far as its grandeur is concerned, well, a quick glance of the producers who have made wine from the site—Rhys, Pax, Copain, Under the Wire, Patz & Hall, Arnot-Roberts, and a host of others—is all you need to know the grapes are in high demand.

Alder Springs is famous enough that it received a full glow-up from The New York Times a few years ago. They devoted a full 1,500 words to the origins of the stunning vineyard and the environmental commitment of the vineyard and its owner Stuart Bewley—highlighting the challenges of farming grapes in the cold, high-altitude, terraced site.

Bewley has been admirable in his willingness to go beyond the usual plantings of Pinot, Chard, or Syrah in his vineyard—and the 2022 Quigley Family Wines Chenin Blanc is the result of his bravery in grape selection.

The noble white grape of the central Loire has found a perfect home at cool, foggy Alder Springs. In the hands of Patrick Quigley, who trained under 100-point Napa legend Phillipe Melka, it’s destined for greatness.

Patrick made a mere two barrels of this wine—the grapes are that much in demand—but they’re fantastic. He harvested at perfect ripeness, balancing round white peach and citrus flavors with vibrant acidity, and pressed the grapes as whole-clusters to enhance fruit purity. It was then fermented and aged in neutral French oak for a full 18 months, resulting in a spectacular bottle that speaks eloquently of its legendary site.