Shay A

9.4

For planning purposes of something in the future, I tasted 2014 central coast Syrahs from high end producers blind. Along with the Lillian (my bottle), there was SQN, Andremily, Torrin Akasha, Booker Fracture, Alban Reva and Alban Lorraine.

First off, I love these wines. The price in comparison to the others is impressive, and it always delivers. I double decanted this about two hours prior to the blind tasting. Dark purple in the glass, with aromatics of both sweet oak as well as whole cluster stem inclusion. Loads of dark floral notes, ripe blackberries, cherry jerky and that kiss of sweet oak. The palate remained the same from opening through the end of the blind tasting…a distinctly fuzzy profile on the palate with gorgeous mid palate depth and richness of blue and black fruits with plenty of herbal flair and spice. It toes the line between cool climate Syrah with their signature black peppercorn and iron, as well as big central coast Rhône style with its rich and textural palate. No rush on opening, but it sure is great now.

Out of the 7 in the lineup, this was the “cheapest”, and tied for 3rd place (with the Andremily being the runaway favorite, Alban Lorraine taking second, and this tying the SQN). — 5 years ago

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.2

Amazing how well it’s held up. Recommend a decant it was waaaaaaay better after open for 90 minutes. Oak shows prominently at first especially on the nose but integrates with air to reveal pretty apricot flavors and even some floral notes. Just awesome. — 6 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.7

First time having this one, never heard of this bottling 🤷🏼‍♂️ just as good as Reva
$45.00😬 — 6 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.9

A great 2015 Syrah,
Jeb 100 💯 pointer, but its 100 % Syrah, not a blend🙄 @ delectable,
Its a mix of Alban & Washington all in one bottle — 7 years ago

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.1

Amazing reduction and energy. Consistent with my previous note, easily one of the best 2016 Willamette Valley Chardonnay and I think a lot of that is due to the winemaker Alban, who is now the winemaker for Abbot Claim. Will be interesting to see what happens at 00 with Wynne Peterson Nedry as the winemaker. — 8 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.2

Preferred the 12 over this 13, pretty closed down now. Hopefully its a day 2 wine
Parker/lisa 97+ — 8 years ago

J Levenson

9.1

Terrific and only $25. A SommSelect choice. — 5 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.2

Delicious. Alban clone Syrah grown in cool climate Santa Lucia hands farmed by the ever capable Mark Pisoni and made by his equally astute brother Jeff. Awesome. Cote rotie like and fashionable! Deeeeep and dark but exudes elegance at the same time. — 5 years ago

Joe Weinberger

9.0

Citrus, stones, texture. — 6 years ago

Jon Robinson

9.5

Wow has this aged nicely. The fruits is settling down and the terror is really coming thru. The depth and complexity are quite beautiful. As to the 15%+ alcohol it is not noted on the nose or palate. Surprisingly no heat at all.
Delicious — 6 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.2

Give it some air or a few more years, its like opening an Alban early, you can do it but,,,,,,
— 6 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

10

😳😳🧠💣
This has been on my bucket list of wines to try, does not disappoint. WOW! Older Alban Syrah & Cayuse Bionic Frog have been my WOW Syrah’s, this one might take the cake though🤔 — 7 years ago

Simon Weston

9.0

Cloudy yellow Chardonnay with a big white flower nose, creamy mouthfeel with honey and fruit notes but it has a hot slightly fizzy finish at the moment, may still be too young - have 1 more bottle to save for a few years. — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

The baseline for Pandora is awesome, so we proceed from there. Wasn’t blown away by this vintage, but I suspect it’s just too young. Give it a couple of more years (or a multihour decant) and I’m sure it will start to sing. — 5 years ago

with Vanessa

Bryan Hopkins

8.9

Sharp pungent aromas with lemon, pineapple, and oyster brine. The same notes come through on the palette with orange notes and a little bit of floral. — 5 years ago

Greg

9.5

An experience wine to know, love and appreciate the history and genius of Bob Lindquist in birthing Santa Barbara/Central Coast as one of the great wine regions of the world. Here is proof. At 22 years young, a revelation in ageable Rousanne From Alban vineyard. Reduced with some matchstick, the fruit is mostly cider apples, but the long oak toast and yeasty, buttery golden color and honeyed deliciousness make this a wine to remember. Most will dismiss it as lightly oxidized, nutty or flat. But, there is charm and intrigue and the right pairing will entrance those who love wines from Jurancon and appreciate aged whites.
Glad I have more to share in the years to come. — 6 years ago

Paco Suro

8.9

Still got it. — 6 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

Awesome. Can definitely detect the effects of age - the intensity of the fruit has definitely diminished - but the underlying intensity is still there. Excellent! — 7 years ago

with Vanessa

Simon Weston

9.5

Nose of red fruits, cherry and baking spices, smooth and lush raspberry and slightly tart cherry taste with an earthy cola finish. Slightly heavier pinot than most but I like it a lot. — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

Absolutely fantastic syrah. Great example of what can be achieved by picking the grapes a bit earlier to preserve some acidity, this wine has fantastic aromas reminiscent of a hybrid between the intense roasted meat, iodine characteristics of an Alban with the elegance of a Melville syrah. Beautiful intensity across the palate with enough layers of evolving flavors of dried blackberries to suggest that even at nearly 13 years this still has years of evolution ahead of it. Truly a pleasure to sample this wine! — 8 years ago

with Vanessa