Gene Buonviri

9.2

Traditional excellent Northern Rhône heritage is on display and proof is in this wine. A smooth red blend exhibiting hidden ripe berries. With an intensity to pair well with burgers and family gatherings. — 5 years ago

with Justinian

Mario Vaillancourt

8.9

The nose is floral, violets, a touch of pepper and some strawberries, a nose very reminiscent of Syrah. The mouth is medium bodied, fresh, the tannins have a soft texture and overall the wine has very good balance. Great value for this 2017 from a very good producer of Cote Rôtie that also has this Languedoc domaine. Un nez de fraises, floral aussi, violettes et une touche poivrée. La bouche, qui a une belle fraîcheur, de corps moyen avec des tannins assez veloutés est délicieuse avec un bel équilibre. Beau rapport qualité prix. — 5 years ago

Stephen Osgood

9.7

From Rostaing with a Gentaz throwback label. Pure fruit. Absolutely delicious. Rotos being used but maceration time not shortened. — 6 years ago

Keith Herrick

9.3

This is great, but for a hundo+, I’ll take rostaing, jamet or even graillot. The syrah character is strongest but the subtle greenes from 10% CS is noticeable too... it also could use a few more years — 7 years ago

Samantha Potter

9.2

#RebouleduRhone — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.2

Dark ruby. Animalistic nose that reminded me of 99 Rostaing Côte Rotie Blonde. Blood sausage, black fruit, ripe red cherries, soy sauce. Closed down in the mouth and stuck in its shell. Crazy structure and fruit. Needs time. — 9 years ago

Olivier

9.0

Lovely wine, spicy, a bit earthy with dark berries — 10 years ago

Patrick Knöfler

9.7

With my wife. The wine was pale lemon in colour and offered bouquet of flowers, citrus, peach, orange peel, almond, fresh sea breeze and mineral notes on the nose. On the palate the wine showed white flowers, stone fruit, peach, orange peel and almond, complicated by a salty mineral touch, paired with medium-level acidity, a great, buttery mouthfeel, and very good length. The medium- to full-bodied wine had good complexity and tasted concentrated yet fresh. A great Condrieu! 92 — 11 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Tasted blind. So what follows, a 91 La Turque served blind of course. Dark tawny and opaque. Notes of black cherries, coffee, iron, mocha, blood sausage. Very masculine and powerful in the mouth. Huge wine. Guessed 1999 Rostaing Cote Blonde Cote-Rotie. — 5 years ago

Matt Nason

9.0

Waxy aromatic peaches with a beautiful vibrant acidity. Young. — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

A thrown in after the Rhône’s, I thought this was firing strong. Silky concentrated blue fruit, smooth long focused finish. It didn’t compare to the Rostaing or Vogue Cornas but it showed better than a solid lineup of Rhône’s. Perhaps why....although Burgundy is stealing my heart....Cabernet still pleases my loins. — 6 years ago

Yianni Stone

9.3

Comparatively more generous than the ‘11 Rostaing Côte Blonde; opulent, malolactic character creates a more plush expression. — 7 years ago

with Beth and Haley

Karla Loeb

9.3

Blind tasted. So confusing and delicious. Need More. Want more. — 8 years ago

Paul Heyrman

8.9

Really nice Syrah. 2009 Well balanced now. — 9 years ago

Jean-Philippe Hebert

9.7

Haute-couture! — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

With BBQ Chicken & Roasted, Rosemary Potatoes on opening night of the D&S Lounge.

John Alban’s wines remind me most of all the California producers/versions of North Rhone or Côte-Rôtie wines. Côte-Rôtie translates into for us as “Roasted Slope.” I assume that’s why his craft was dubbed as the “Original Rhône Ranger.”

Although this has the roasted characterizations of those wines, this certainly has more ripe, ruby style fruits. Also, more purple & blue fruits.

John’s higher end wines, Reva & Pondora remind me of the a French producer, Rostaing. Those two vineyard productions more closely mimic the Rostaing style.

The Patrina is a good intro into Alban wines. You can tell it is a direct descendant but, for far less money. The others are better but, this carries the best wine value in their line up.

The nose reveals; roasted & candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, black plum, black cherries, creamy raspberries & blue fruits. Used, French expresso roast grounds, anise to black licorice, purple fruit cola, coarse, ground, black pepper, dark spices, fresh tobacco leaf, cigar smoke, dry stems, dry crushed rocks, limestone & volcanic minerals, bay leaf, some sage, black tea, black olives, bandaid notes, saddle-wood to cedar, graphite notes with dark, fresh & withering, red, blue & purple candied florals, violets framed in a field of candied lavender.

The body is; lush, ruby, big and like velvet. The tannins are round but, still pack, chewy, tarry, meaty tannins that are 45-50% resolved. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a good place but, will hit a peak in five to seven years. The 2010 Patrina still has room for improvement and will last another 10-15 years. It is simply wine candy. Roasted & candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, black plum, black cherries, creamy raspberries & blue fruits. Used, French expresso roast grounds, anise to black licorice, purple fruit cola, coarse, ground, black pepper, dark spices with just the right amount of palate heat, grilled meats, chestnuts, fresh tobacco leaf, cigar smoke, dry stems, dry crushed rocks, moist clay, limestone & gritty volcanic minerals, dry stone, bay leaf, some sage, black tea, black olives, Steeped black tea, bandaid notes, saddle-wood to cedar, graphite notes with dark, fresh & withering, red, blue & purple candied florals, violets framed in a field of candied lavender. The acidity is phat & round. It holds the slightly elevated alcohol level nicely. The finish is excellent & consistent wire to wire. It’s long, ruby, candied fruits with just the right balance of earth that persists endlessly.

Just misses 9.4.

Photos of; the best room in our house for 6+ months of the year, our backyard. Aka, the D&S Lounge on Memorial Day Weekend 2020. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This 05 was a spectacular follow up bottle to the Rostaing. It’s right at the top of its peak and everything you want from a Napa Cabernet. It hit on all cylinders.

The body full, rich, lush and elegant. The tannins round and velvety. Still plenty of life left in this 2005.

Dark fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries with subtle notes of strawberries. Warm and well layered baking spice; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin. Soft, gentle dark spices, mocha chocolate & powder, rich semi-sweet earthiness, crushed rock powder, suede leather, tobacco, light graphite, dark withering flowers, round acidity and a big, rich, elegant, velvety polished finish that lasts minutes. — 6 years ago

with James and Christina

R J Thom

9.5

Drinking perfectly right now. Some developed fruits balanced with nice acidity and a lovely long finish. Delicious! — 9 years ago

with Askly

Justin Croxall

9.4

Smells more like old Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie than Pinot but it shows up on the palette. A really good balanced pinot. Just have to be able to stomach the funk on the nose. — 10 years ago

with Stems and Erika

Kevin Reilly, MS

Master Sommelier, Wine Director Cyrus Restaurant

9.6

Extremely rare bottling from rostaing. Serene clone! — 11 years ago