2012 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Edna Valley, Wine Review

John Alban is one of the pioneers of the California Rhone wine movement and he is still at the top of his game. Inky purple in color, magenta at the rim. An amazing nose with black raspberries, graphite and a bit of funky earthiness. Full bodied. On the palate, this is delicious. Lush. Black raspberry fruit with underlying char. Long finish. Just starting to show some maturity. This ill go another ten to fifteen years with no trouble. Great on its own, this will work well with spicy foods.

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Score:

Vintage:

2012

Current Price:

$140.00USD

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008 was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective. Unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. The American wines were mostly from California (144 wineries), but a few examples from Arizona (2 wineries) and Washington State (5 wineries) were also included. While this is a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers aren’t represented, there is still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts. The events included two general tastings and a series of focused seminars.

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America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we discussed the white Rhone style wines offered at the 2008 Rhone Rangers tasting event at Fort Mason in San Francisco on March 18. This month we turn to the reds, of which we tasted 50. Among those we tasted were some old favorites and some wineries or bottlings with which we were not yet familiar. We don’t pretend that we tasted a representative group of wines, because our sample was skewed to wines we have loved in the past and others about which we have heard positive comments.

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2012 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

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Current Price:

$95.00USD

John Alban is one of the pioneers of Rhone varietal wines in California. His eponymous winery is still one of the best. This is a big wine but for those who like this style, it is excellent. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, some black pepper, slight roasted meats and gravelly dirt. On the palate, the texture is lush and almost seamless. This is slightly sweet, most likely from ripe fruit. Black raspberries and some black cherries. Plenty of depth with a long finish. A tasty wine for sure. It drinks great on its own (and was perfect with a nice Cuban cigar). It wi

2013 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Edna Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

A+

Another amazing Syrah from John Alban. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is complex and beautiful with black raspberries, roasted meats and roasted herbs, slight dark chocolate and a slight floral note. Full bodied. Great plush texture with more than enough acidity to tie everything together. The palate has flavors of black raspberries, roasted herbs with a nice earthiness underneath. Long finish.

2005 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Edna Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

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Current Price:

$120.00USD

This is drinking great and probably at peak. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries with black pepper and some roasted meats and herbs. Full bodied. Complex. Still lots of upfront black raspberry fruit but lots of depth and layering with earthiness, char and black pepper. Delicious. Long finish. This should go another five to ten years but won't get better. Great on its own, this will work well with roasted meat or veggies. I last had this in 2009, so it was great to be able to see what happened to all that potential it showed in its youth.

2012 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Edna Valley, Wine Review

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2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

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2012 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley, Wine Review

2013 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Edna Valley, Wine Review

2005 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Edna Valley, Wine Review