“Willow Creek Picpoul with a transparency score of 99, which in a white this serious is rarer than the wine.”
= shared rank: 4 producers score 93
Alder Knoll is a Picpoul Blanc producer in the Willow Creek District of the Paso Robles AVA, California. Cruxvine scores it 93 out of 100 — 8 points above the Paso Robles median of 85 — ranking it =9 of 187 producers in the appellation (tied with 3 other producers). Its strongest category is transparency (99); its weakest is value for price (87). The average bottle costs $90, against a regional median of $69. Tasting: 8619 Nacimiento Lake Dr, Paso Robles · Fri–Sun 11:00–16:00 · appointment required · $45 tasting. Cruxvine has no financial relationship with Alder Knoll; bottles were purchased at retail.
How the Crux Score works · All 16 producers in Willow Creek District · All 187 in Paso Robles
Crux Score 93 is these five weighted, not their average. The weighting is published.
8619 Nacimiento Lake Dr
Paso Robles, CA · Willow Creek District
Fri–Sun 11:00–16:00
By appointment
$45 per person
No dogs · No food service
Tasting room scored 93
2020 carries smoke exposure from the August complex fires. We score bottles, not intentions.
Every producer in the appellation is scored for each of these years. See the whole Paso Robles vintage record, or what 2020 cost every producer here.
Alder Knoll is not a Cruxvine customer. Bottles purchased at retail.
11 wines assessed, poured blind across two sessions.
Independent · family-held since 2005. Reports 96% estate-grown fruit.
Publishes a full additions list. Transparency scored 99.
Cruxvine scores Alder Knoll's tasting room 93 out of 100 and the winery 93 overall, ranking it =9 of 187 in Paso Robles. Its tasting room score is above the Paso Robles median of 83. Willow Creek Picpoul with a transparency score of 99, which in a white this serious is rarer than the wine.
Tasting at Alder Knoll costs $45 per person.
Yes — Alder Knoll is by appointment only. It is open Fri–Sun, 11:00–16:00.
Alder Knoll is a Picpoul Blanc specialist. Cruxvine assessed 11 of its wines, poured blind, and its best-scoring vintage on record is 2021 at 98 points.
The 2023 bottling drinks from 2024 and is at peak between 2024 and 2027, holding to about 2034.