Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Clear straw color. Aromas of mango, passion fruit and citrus. Crisp citrus and tropical fruit finish. In a 1978 Los Gatos Art & Wine Festival glass. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Alban Vineyards, the original Rhône Ranger. Of all the CA producers that try to emulate the Rhône style, I believe, Alban Vineyards emulate it best!

On the nose; ripe fruits of mixed berries, savory meats, pork & bacon fat. Mocha, dusty dry brown top soil, powdery volcanic minerals, dry underbrush, vanilla, cherry/raspberry cola, dark, rich black soil, beautiful spice, fresh red & dark florals.

The body is medium to full, round & ripe. Tannins are nicely soften with plenty of life ahead. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, creamy raspberries, plum, boysenberries & some blue fruits. Savory meats, pork, bacon fat, dry brush, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, cola, some dark moist soil, limestone, some black licorice, touch of spice & black pepper, red & dark florals with violets, great round acidity and a rich, round, well balanced, elegant finish that lasts & lasts.

Photos of, the Patrina Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker-John Alban, nice Syrah fruit bunch and their barrel room. — 7 years ago

Richard Lewis

9.4

Green apple and citrus, with a truckload of minerals. — 9 years ago

with Lynne

Paco Suro

9.1

Young. Minerals. Round. Big. Overall, consistent with previous vintages. — 9 years ago

Evan Keaschuk

9.4

Classic Northern Rhone style. Bright black fruit, violet, a hint of smoked meat and black pepper/olive. Mid weight, fresh acidity and well structured. Definitely a cut above standard Cali Syrah. Classic wine from a classic producer — 9 years ago

Claus Bentin

9.2

Brilliant wine.. — 10 years ago

Jim Elliott

9.5

Great balance. Lightly oaked offset with great acidity. Nice lemon. A California chard that is an excellent food wine. I'll find more. — 11 years ago

West Johnson

9.7

2007 Alban Grenache. Perfect Grenache character...kirsch and spice and complexity...wish I had lots more! — 12 years ago

Jenny Duffy

9.8

Heavy Chardonnay. Very buttery. From Bin 608 in Baltimore — 12 years ago

Doug Sayed

9.1

2014 vintage. Bright red and blue fruits with a stout structure and a really nice finish. Needs. A good decant or another year or two to smooth out. Really nice though. — 7 years ago

Lori K

9.4

Creamy, buttery, great with cheese. Low acid... — 7 years ago

Ashwin Muthiah

9.3

Beautiful fruit on the nose. Medium bodied with bright acidity. Notes of vanilla on the finish. — 8 years ago

Lindsay Schroeder

9.2

Perfectly balanced RS and acidity. Crisp, floral, clean and light. — 8 years ago

Jodi Jennings

9.8

Pairs well with a winter roast and potatoes. Smooth and easy to drink. — 9 years ago

Lindsay Christians

9.9

Beautiful wine. Dark cherry, black fruit, light savory character, high acid. Adore this. — 9 years ago

with Joseph

Mike Davila

9.1

Not a big fruit wine, my guess is stems included in the fermentation. Dark color the tart cherry fruit is closed down, but a long cherry/acid finish. I think this may age a long time or will not improve as the fruit fades; will be interesting to check back. — 10 years ago

Austin Baird

8.9

Tart yet creamy. Notes of tropical and citrus fruits. What a treat for summer! — 11 years ago

Jessie Henninger

10

Really smooth round flavor. — 11 years ago

Nick Kocinski

9.4

Very buttery Chardonnay — 12 years ago

Robert Nelson

9.5

Fan-damn-tastic wine..a++++ — 13 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.5

Never misses. — 7 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.4

While fairly developed this showed a very complex and unique nose.
I don’t think it is for everyone but hit high with me. — 7 years ago

Paul T HB

9.2

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

Bill Bender

9.1

Darker hues than I've ever seen from this bottling. Rather amber and dark. Marzipan, kettle corn, carmelized fruit. I enjoy tasting these but they always guarantee a hangover for me. — 8 years ago

Joshua DiMaggio

10

2014 just released, slight old world, good tannins, wonderful body...
— 9 years ago

with Yuliana

Randy Fuller

9.3

I have had a Chardonnay from Paragon Vineyard before,and this reminds me of it, quite a lot. It’s a SIP certified sustainable growing site and winemaker Christian Roguenant gets a nice full mouthfeel from the lees and the oak.
The straw-colored wine shows quite a bit of minerality on the nose, to be expected from Edna Valley grapes. The wet rocks and lime aromas are always a pleasure, as the are here. On the palate, there are tropical tones and plenty of citrus along with the beautiful oak effect - the wood is used in a very tasteful way. I vacillate between liking oaky Chardonnays and those with none. This one hits in the middle of the range and could be my favorite - for a while, anyway. — 10 years ago

Mike Blom

8.9

Pippin apple peel, Asian pear crisp acidity and just a fun wine. — 11 years ago

Mike W

10

Buttery, light toast, nutty on the nose. Low to medium acidity, hints of citrus. — 11 years ago

Sarah Nevmerzycki

9.6

Great wine, dry mineral — 12 years ago

Erin Stieber

9.6

Buttery, smooth, yum — 13 years ago