Alban Vineyards
Reva Alban Estate Vineyard Syrah
Edna Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
04’ Alban Reva. Very close to a pop & pour. Throw it in a decanter, just so It gets a little air. Full- bodied. All the blue fruit you can throw in a bottle. Blackberries, spice, licorice, herbs. Drinking now!
John wines are among my favorites. Especially his reds.
04’ Alban Reva. Very close to a pop & pour. Throw it in a decanter, just so It gets a little air. Full- bodied. All the blue fruit you can throw in a bottle. Blackberries, spice, licorice, herbs. Drinking now!
John wines are among my favorites. Especially his reds.
It is my belief & I don’t think I am far from the mark that Alban profiled their wines from Rostaing. Rostaing started in 1971 & Alban in 1985.
Both have the roasted slope & roasted chestnut profile. The Alban is a better single terroir than the old world 7-8 vineyard blend of the Rostaing Ampodium. It’s riper & beefier. The fruits are roasted & ripe. The length, balance, tension & length are near its peak.
The nose reveals; roasted chestnuts, stewed/baked/candied; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, raspberries, mulberries, expresso roast, dark, steeped, fruit teas anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks, dry top soils, clay, some bacon fat, juicy, savory meats, dark, moist forest floor, limestone, dark spice with fresh; purple florals in a field of violets & lavender.
The palate is; gorgeous, sexy, rich, lush & in perfect form. Roasted chestnuts. Stewed/baked/candied; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, raspberries, mulberries, expresso roast, dark, steeped, fruit teas, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks, dry top soils, clay, some bacon fat, juicy, savory meats, dark, moist forest floor, limestone, dark heated spice with fresh; purple florals in a field of violets & lavender. In perfect form. Tannins are rounded, sweetly tarry. The acidity is perfect. The finish is very round & new world. It is a perfect balance of fruit & earth. It glides on the palate & persists endlessly.
Paired with the Cardiff Chipotle Tri-tip. The best Tri-tip we’ve had. You can order at CardiffCrack.com. Not inexpensive though. The best never is!
Photos of; John Alban, two of their single vineyards and their barrel room.
It is my belief & I don’t think I am far from the mark that Alban profiled their wines from Rostaing. Rostaing started in 1971 & Alban in 1985.
Both have the roasted slope & roasted chestnut profile. The Alban is a better single terroir than the old world 7-8 vineyard blend of the Rostaing Ampodium. It’s riper & beefier. The fruits are roasted & ripe. The length, balance, tension & length are near its peak.
The nose reveals; roasted chestnuts, stewed/baked/candied; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, raspberries, mulberries, expresso roast, dark, steeped, fruit teas anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks, dry top soils, clay, some bacon fat, juicy, savory meats, dark, moist forest floor, limestone, dark spice with fresh; purple florals in a field of violets & lavender.
The palate is; gorgeous, sexy, rich, lush & in perfect form. Roasted chestnuts. Stewed/baked/candied; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, raspberries, mulberries, expresso roast, dark, steeped, fruit teas, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks, dry top soils, clay, some bacon fat, juicy, savory meats, dark, moist forest floor, limestone, dark heated spice with fresh; purple florals in a field of violets & lavender. In perfect form. Tannins are rounded, sweetly tarry. The acidity is perfect. The finish is very round & new world. It is a perfect balance of fruit & earth. It glides on the palate & persists endlessly.
Paired with the Cardiff Chipotle Tri-tip. The best Tri-tip we’ve had. You can order at CardiffCrack.com. Not inexpensive though. The best never is!
Photos of; John Alban, two of their single vineyards and their barrel room.
A group of guys decided to meet up at our Wine Storage facility and bust out some unique bottles! Scores and notes to follow!
This pushed for WOTN. Alban has been a source for SQN among other big Napa Valley names. Best Syrah I've had to date HANDS DOWN. Goodness. This wine epitomized harmonious. Blue and blackberries, cedar, bacon, BBQ pit grease. Phenomenal. Thanks Joe!
A group of guys decided to meet up at our Wine Storage facility and bust out some unique bottles! Scores and notes to follow!
This pushed for WOTN. Alban has been a source for SQN among other big Napa Valley names. Best Syrah I've had to date HANDS DOWN. Goodness. This wine epitomized harmonious. Blue and blackberries, cedar, bacon, BBQ pit grease. Phenomenal. Thanks Joe!
One of the best Syrahs out there. Jon Alban knows how to rock the Rohne varietals in CA like no ones business.
One of the best Syrahs out there. Jon Alban knows how to rock the Rohne varietals in CA like no ones business.
Dec 30th, 2014
Deep rich blackberry and cassis.
Deep rich blackberry and cassis.
Sep 14th, 2014
Wow 2004 ! Fabulous with Larry and the group at Catelli Duo on Monday Wine Group! WOW!
Wow 2004 ! Fabulous with Larry and the group at Catelli Duo on Monday Wine Group! WOW!
Jun 9th, 2014
Nose is a total 10. Ripe roasted blue fruit, tar, bacon and more blue fruit. Smooth as silk.
Nose is a total 10. Ripe roasted blue fruit, tar, bacon and more blue fruit. Smooth as silk.
Jan 11th, 2022
16 years is just about right, great per norm.
16 years is just about right, great per norm.
Aug 25th, 2020
Wow! So, happy Father’s Day everyone. I was blinded on this tonight. When a bit over-chilled it screamed Northern Rhône Syrah to me. All I got was olive tapenade and an animal blood quality. As it warmed I had to take a step back. It began to come alive in a way that took me from the Rhône to Bordeaux to Howell Mountain cab franc. As it became a bit too warm it lead me to new world cab franc, circa 2014. After the reveal, and back with a properly chilled glass, holy moly. Still with that olive tapenade/salinity, dark fruit, coffee. But the shear concentration remaining in this after 16 years is incredible. There is a tannic backbone, but in a way that plays second-fiddle to the flavor profile. One could ruminate over a glass of this wine for hours.
Wow! So, happy Father’s Day everyone. I was blinded on this tonight. When a bit over-chilled it screamed Northern Rhône Syrah to me. All I got was olive tapenade and an animal blood quality. As it warmed I had to take a step back. It began to come alive in a way that took me from the Rhône to Bordeaux to Howell Mountain cab franc. As it became a bit too warm it lead me to new world cab franc, circa 2014. After the reveal, and back with a properly chilled glass, holy moly. Still with that olive tapenade/salinity, dark fruit, coffee. But the shear concentration remaining in this after 16 years is incredible. There is a tannic backbone, but in a way that plays second-fiddle to the flavor profile. One could ruminate over a glass of this wine for hours.
Jun 22nd, 2020