Our 11th Year !

$115

VM 92 (8/2011): The 2007 Grenache opens with a sweet, beguiling nose that leads to exotic blackberry, coconut, plums, asphalt, tar and sweet spices. This is an especially deep, dense style of Grenache (there is 12% Syrah in the blend) yet all of the elements come together beautifully in the glass. Floral notes add lift and complexity on the finish, yet the Grenache remains big and quite powerful. Alban gave the Grenache 36 months in barrel. The Grenache is made from a variety of plots on the property, plus Syrah exclusively from the Reva parcel. (Drink between 2013-2022). Antonio Galloni.

WA 92 (8/2011): The 2007 Grenache opens with a sweet, beguiling nose that leads to exotic blackberry, coconut, plums, asphalt, tar and sweet spices. This is an especially deep, dense style of Grenache (there is 12% Syrah in the blend) yet all of the elements come together beautifully in the glass. Floral notes add lift and complexity on the finish, yet the Grenache remains big and quite powerful. Alban gave the Grenache 36 months in barrel. The Grenache is made from a variety of plots on the property, plus Syrah exclusively from the Reva parcel. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.

2008

$105

WA 94 (8/2012): The 2008 Grenache presents an inward yet expressive core of dark red fruit, flowers and Provencal herbs. There is a gorgeous fleshiness in the glass, but the wine needs time to soften and open up. Today, the 2008 shows quite a bit of promise. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.

2009

$120

VM 94 (12/2012): Opaque purple. Heady aromas of candied blackberry, blueberry and licorice, complicated by pungent notes of vanilla, violet and allspice. Lush, intensely flavored and broad, offering deep dark berry and cherry compote flavors and an exotic floral nuance. Finishes smooth and very long, with resonating spiciness, a hint of licorice and sweet tannins.

2012

$119

VM 94 (9/2016): Glass-staining ruby. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet displays aromas of black raspberry liqueur, blueberry, Asian spices and violet, and a smoky mineral nuance emerges with air. Coats the palate with vibrant red and blue flavors; juicy acidity and a jolt of white pepper provide vivacity and lift. Impressively balanced for its heft, finishing with powerful thrust and smooth tannins that fold quickly into the sappy dark fruit. I'd have guessed that there was more Syrah in here. Josh Raynolds.

2013

$119

JD 98 (8/2017): Incorporating 10% Syrah, the 2013 Grenache was bottled last September and there's a tiny 120 cases produced. It's another sensational wine from John that offers layers of black currants, scorched earth, graphite, lavender and licorice. Full-bodied, concentrated and structured, with a stacked mid-palate, give this crazy good Grenache 2-3 years of bottle aged and enjoy over the following 15-20 years.

VM 94 (11/2017): Brilliant ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet of ripe red berries, candied flowers and incense carries a smoky mineral overtone. Juicy, focused and alluringly sweet, offering sappy raspberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. The extremely long, mineral-laced finish is shaped by velvety tannins and shows outstanding clarity, spicy lift and excellent tenacity. (Drink between 2020-2027). Josh Raynolds.

2006

Edna Valley Grenache

$65

VM 92 (11/2008): Inky ruby. Brooding aromas of cherry, mulberry, plum jam and smoky minerals; smells almost like syrah. Brighter red berries on the palate, complicated by candied licorice, Asian spices and an exotic cured meat quality. A serious rendition of grenache, finishing with excellent chewy persistence and lingering dark berry and licorice notes. This will reward cellaring.

2011

Edna Valley Grenache

$125

WA 94 (8/2015): From a tiny crop and a shockingly coolor year, the 2011 Grenache has incredible concentration and depth given the conditions. Inky colored with lots of black fruits, smoked beef, tapenade, road tar and licorice, it's full-bodied, thick and dense on the palate, with good acidity. More compact and focused than normal, it will be interesting to follow this beauty over the coming decade.

2000

$100

WA 93 (8/2003): The inky/black/purple 2000 Syrah Lorraine Vineyard is saturated in color. It boasts a knock-out nose of melted licorice, blackberry liqueur, and acacia flowers. Full-bodied, huge, tannic, but ripe, this is a stunningly rich wine that should hit its peak in 2-3 years, and last for 15+.

2002

Lorraine Alban Estate Syrah Signs of Seepage; Slightly Raised Cork; Very Lightly Nicked Label

$169.15

2003

Torn, Bin-Soiled Label

$200

WA 99 (8/2006): The limited production, well-structured, black/purple-tinged 2003 Syrah Lorraine Vineyard reveals oak along with tremendous amounts of creme de cassis-like characteristics. Dense, full-bodied, and rich with superb acidity, high, but well-integrated tannin, and a seamless finish that lasts over 60 seconds, this stunning effort is the finest Lorraine Syrah I have tasted.

VM 92-94 (7/2005): (16.5% alcohol) Saturated black ruby. Wonderfully sweet, nuanced nose combines red raspberry, gunflint, dark chocolate and iodine; a bit redder in character and more volcanic than the Reva. Thick and powerful in the mouth, with a penetrating sweetness of fruit and a superrich dark chocolateflavor. The pHs in 2003 were the highest ever registered at this estate, Alban notes, yet this wine is still a reasonable 3.7. "We have never added acid," Alban told me. "Our problem on these soils is getting the acids to go down." The yield here was just a ton and a half of fruit per acre.

2006

Nicked Capsule

$259

WA 100 (8/2010): Named after his raven-haired Irish wife, the 2006 Syrah Lorraine, which comes from more sandy soils, is another prodigious effort. Like all of these wines, it is a remarkable wine of extraordinary intensity, with a stunning nose of blueberries, bacon fat, camphor, and even darker blackberries, along with unreal minerality and definition for a wine of this size and power. Full-bodied, with profound intensity of flavor as well as purity, this is another wine that spent nearly three and a half years in barrel prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. While there are 2,500 six-pack cases of the Reva, there will be only 350 six-packs of the Lorraine.

JD 100 (6/2011): Utterly classic and one of the most profound wines I’ve been able to taste coming out of California, the 2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine, from sandy soils (this estate’s cuvees are driven by soil types) and aged for close to 4 years in French oak, delivers a jaw dropping bouquet of darker styled fruits, licorice, roasted meats, and dark chocolate that gives way to more nuanced notions of spice, flowers, and even some red fruit characteristics with air. Very deep and gorgeously layered aromatically, the wine is massive on the palate with a full, rich texture that somehow stays light and fresh, impeccable balance (and even some elegance), loads of fruit, and a seriously mineral-laced finish that simply will not quit. Count yourself lucky if you’ve been able to latch on to a bottle or two of this. It’s superb now, and I don’t see that changing over the next two decades.

VM 95 (11/2010): Inky purple. Knockout bouquet offers a kaleidoscopic array of red and dark berry and floral scents, with powerful complicating notes of incense, allspice, patchouli and white pepper. A dense, strikingly concentrated but lively wine that reaches every corner of the palate with sweet black raspberry, boysenberry liqueur and floral pastille flavors. Turns spicier with air, picking up an intriguing spicecake quality that carries through the focused, endless finish. This wine's blend of depth, power and energy is really something; you could actually drink it now, but it really deserves cellaring. Josh Raynolds.

2010

$150

WA 97 (8/2015): Sporting the same inky color as the Reva, the 2010 Syrah Lorraine Vineyard has terrific elegance and purity in its sweet black raspberry fruits, crushed flowers, creme de cassis and subtle smoked meat characteristics. Seriously concentrated and backward on the palate (this cuvee normally is the most approachable of the lineup), with a rich, full mouthfeel, a big mid-palate and a great finish, give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy through 2030.

2012

$189

WA 98 (8/2016): Bottled in April of last year (as were all of the 2012 Syrahs), the 2012 Syrah Lorraine Vineyard has the classic sweetness and suppleness of this cuvee as well as tons of black raspberry, toasted bread, creamy licorice and floral notes. Full-bodied, ultra-pure, seamless and polished, it stays nicely focused and straight on the palate and has incredible elegance for wine of this size. Drink it anytime over the coming 15-20 years.

2013

$175

WA 98 (12/2017): Very deep purple-black colored, the 2013 Syrah Lorraine Vineyard emerges from the glass with the most beguiling floral and lifted black fruit notes imaginable! Strutting an incredibly sexy fragrance of roses, chocolate-covered cherries, wild blueberries, sandalwood and eucalyptus with underlying Chinese five spice, hoisin and Sichuan pepper suggestions, it hits the palate with full-bodied, rich, sultry black fruit preserves and menthol laced flavors, supported by very fine, pixelated tannins and finishing with incredible length and depth.

2007

$150

WA 95 (8/2011): The 2007 Pandora is an enormous wine endowed with awesome richness and power. Layers of dark fruit flesh out beautifully in this muscular, large-scaled wine. Dark plums, tar, sweet herbs and anise are some of the notes that wrap around the super-intense finish. The 2007 Pandora is 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah, both from the chalky soils of Seymour-s. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.

2008

$140

WA 95 (8/2012): Layers of silky, polished fruit flow across the palate in the 2008 Pandora (Grenache). As I noted last year, the 2008 is all about textural finesse and pure beauty. Hints of smoke, anise and crushed rocks frame the long finish. This is yet another marvelous wine from Alban. Pandora is 100% Grenache from the chalky, upper hillsides of Seymour’s. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.

VM 94 (12/2012): (almost all grenache from "a very specific block," according to Alban; 15.9% alcohol): Opaque ruby. A heady, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes candied red fruits, incense and candied flowers, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Juicy and precise, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that gain sweetness and weight with air. Closes with impressive energy and cut, leaving mineral and floral notes behind. This wine was aged in French oak casks, two-thirds of them new, for 38 months.

JD 93-96 (12/2011): Tasted out of barrel and a beautifully structured and endowed wine, the 2008 Alban Vineyards Pandora, almost 100% Grenache that spent 36 months in a combination of new and used barrels, was dense and closed at the time of this tasting, yet begrudgingly yielded ripe dark fruits, charcoal, chalk, pepper, and edgy minerality on the nose. Full bodied, yet with notable freshness and acidity, this beauty should be left alone for 2-3 years after release.

2011

Nicked Label

$139

WA 95 (8/2015): Incorporating 10% Syrah, the Grenache-dominated 2011 Pandora comes from a single block of chalky soils in the Seymour's Vineyard. More floral and exotic than the straight Grenache release, it has beautiful currant, blackberry, violets, toasted spice and licorice aromas and flavors all emerging from the glass. Full-bodied, supple and sexy, with great acidity, it's slightly more expansive, sexy and textured than that more concentrated, yet streamlined Grenache release, and as such will drink better in its youth.

2012

Lightly Scuffed Label

$259

WA 100 (8/2016): A perfect wine any way you look at it, the utterly profound 2012 Pandora is 100% Grenache that was brought up all in barrel. Massively concentrated and textured, yet ethereal and nuanced, it offers a huge bouquet of black currants, licorice, smoked herbs, chocolate and toasted spice. Bravo to the team at Alban for this incredible, full-bodied, seamless beauty that's easily one of the greatest wines I've tasted from California.

2013

$189

JD 100 (8/2017): Similar to the classic Grenache, yet with even more polish and finesse on the palate, the 2013 Pandora is another monumental effort. Lavender, cassis, black cherry liqueur, flowers and toasted spice emerge from this huge, ethereally textured, sensationally rich Grenache that's every bit as good as the perfect 2012. It needs 2-3 years of cellaring to show at its best, and will have 20 years of overall longevity.

2016

Patrina Alban Estate Vyd. Syrah

$299

JD 99 (8/2020): All Grenache, the 2016 Pandora is another stunning wine that will probably merit a triple-digit rating in 3 to 5 years. Its deep purple/plum color is followed by a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, licorice, ground pepper, spring flowers, and smoked earth. Showing more spice with time in the glass, it delivers full-bodied richness and the magical sense of elegance paired with power that only Grenache can do. Give bottles a few years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 15-20 years.

2019

$69

JD 93 (9/2022): Moving to the reds, the 2019 Patrina offers lots of smoky red and black fruits as well as violets, pepper, and graphite notes. It's forward, charming, textured, and balanced, with plenty of classic Alban character. I'd be happy to drink it.

2000

$75

WA 94 (8/2003): The saturated blue/purple-colored 2000 Syrah Reva Vineyard exhibits a slightly reduced nose, but with aeration of 60-90 minutes, glorious notes of blackberries, asphalt, singed leather, and wood emerge. Medium to full-bodied and moderately tannic, this young, unevolved, but promising 2000 will be at its finest between 2004-2015.

2003

Heavily Torn Label

$139

WA 98 (8/2006): The sensational 2003 Syrah Reva Vineyard may be the finest example of this cuvee Alban has yet produced. Nearly endless depth as well as an extraordinarily flamboyant bouquet of blackberries, truffles, acacia flowers, and sweet tar emerge from this broad, opulent, full-bodied, incredibly rich Syrah. It is a stunning wine to drink over the next 12-15 years.

JD 97 (12/2011): An absolutely stunning, massive wine, the 2003 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva is completely opaque purple in color and delivers unbelievably intense, rich aromatics of blackberry liqueur, smoked meat, asphalt, and spice cake on the nose. Full-bodied and powerful on the palate, with glass coating fruit and texture, but also brilliant balance, plenty of freshness, and a very long, decadent finish, this phenomenal wine has yet to hit full maturity, and given the wealth of fruit and balance, it should continue to shine for at least another decade.

VM 92-93 (8/2005): Good deep ruby. Knockout syrah aromas of black raspberry, bacon fat, asphalt, gunflint and smoked meat. Extraordinarily sweet and silky, with flamboyantly ripeflavors of black raspberry and smoked meat. This too is quite high in alcohol at 15.8% but has the material to carry it off. Finishes with fully ripe tannins.

2006

$200

WA 100 (8/2010): The 2006 Syrah Reva, coming from parcels of dark, volcanic soil, has off-the-chart richness and intensity. This thick, opaque-purple colored wine offers up notes of scorched earth, ground pepper, and blackberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, licorice, camphor, and tar. The wine is spectacular in every sense. Full-bodied and certainly not for wimps, this is a remarkably concentrated yet very nuanced and intense wine that should age for 20 more years.

JD 98 (11/2010): Truly extraordinary, the 2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard is a jaw dropping Syrah, sporting rich, full aromatics of smoky dark fruits, steak tartare, tapenade, and licorice. These carry over to the palate where the wine is perfectly built, possessing awesome concentration, solid, almost burly structure, and a phenomenal texture that coats the palate, but at the same time, stays light, fresh, and clean. I’m a huge fan, and while delicious now, I’ve no doubt this will continue to drink well for 15 to 20 years.

VM 94+ (11/2010): Glass-staining purple. Blackberry, boysenberry and licorice pastille on the nose, with mounting spice and floral notes and a strong wallop of cracked pepper. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit flavors expand with air and pick up strong spicecake and candied flower notes, along with velvety tannins. More backward than the Lorraine today, and showing a darker profile. The finish completely stains the palate and lingers with intense floral and spicy persistence. This is still a baby. Josh Raynolds.

2010

$125

WA 95+ (8/2015): Coming from the coolest vintage on record at the time (before 2011), the 2010 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard still hit 15.2% natural alcohol, of which it doesn't show a trace. Possessing the telltale Iodine and seaweed character this cuvee always shows, it has lots of darker fruits, smoked herbs, black olive and a touch of floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, concentrated, firm and structured, it's a serious, age-worthy wine from John that should be forgotten for 4-5 years.

2011

$95

WA 94-96 (8/2015): All of the 2011 Syrahs will be in bottle by the time you read this. The 2011 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard offers a cool-climate, pretty and perfumed style to go with lots of pepper, violets, iodine and dark fruits, with just a hint of vanilla and oak. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, with bright acidity and fine tannin, it's a Northern Rhone look-alike that will have 15-20 years of longevity.

VM 92-94 (9/2015): Bright purple. Energetic black and blue fruit scents, with notes of olive paste and candied violet adding complexity. Shows very good focus and lift to its sweet boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors, gaining weight and sweetness with aeration. Finishes with excellent power and persistence, leaving peppery spice and cola notes behind. Quite Old World in style and structure, showing no excess fat or undue warmth. Josh Raynolds.

2012

$175

WA 97 (8/2016): There are 750 cases (which means good yields for John, although any normal person would call 1.5-1.75 tons per acre financial suicide) of the 2012 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, and it's a terrific vintage for this cuvee. Elegant, pretty, even finesse driven, with its classic marine and salty bouquet of smoke, purple fruits, olives and violets, this full-bodied Syrah has no hard edges, integrated acidity and a great finish. It's reasonably approachable now, but deserves 2-4 years of cellaring.

VM 93 (9/2016): (raised in French oak for 44 months) Bright violet. Ripe cherry, dark berries and a hint of fruitcake on the intensely perfumed nose, and a smoky mineral quality in the background. Sappy blackberry and cherry liqueur flavors gain depth and sweetness with air. Opens up and becomes spicier on the impressively persistent, dark-fruit-dominated finish, which features supple tannins and lingering smokiness. Josh Raynolds.

2017