Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.7

Beyond. Just in an amazing place right now. Bacon fat, black olive, sage, oregano, fresh tobacco and black fruit. Balanced and linear, not really palate coating. Very clean and energetic. Lots of length. — 8 years ago

Lynn Lim

9.5

Easy grapey wine. — 8 years ago

Brian Tuite

9.3

Still a baby. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Alban Vineyards as they state in their label "The first American winery & vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties." This Syrah has settled in nicely after 10 years in bottle. I would say it's peaking. On the nose; scorched earth, sweet & slowly baked; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries and dark cherries. Mint, eucalyptus, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed rocks, loamy top soil and lilacs, violets and lavender. The palate is rich and nicely resolved. The body medium-medium plus. The fruits are ripe, creamy and juicy; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries, dark cherries and strawberries haunt the long fruit set. Mint, eucalyptus, sage, smoked meat, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, scorched earth, a little bacon fat, underbrush, a whiff of black pepper, lilacs, violets and lavender, great rich, round, fresh acidity with a very good, long, balanced, well structured, finish with length and staying power. I prefer this over the Cayuse I had a couple of weeks ago. Much better balance of fruit, earth, etc.. photos of their Edna Valley vineyard, fruit that needs netting to protect it from the birds, John Alban and the Alban barrel room. Producer notes and history...In 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989. He focused on wines made from Rhône Valley varietals. Alban is one of the pioneers of the Rhone Rangers movement. They are considered to one of the more influential American Rhone producers. In beginning to grow Viognier, Alban said, "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres or 20 ha in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company (just sold to Duckhorn, ugh!) in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction. Alban has 250-acre or 100 ha under vine. Their vineyard area extends 60 acres or 24 ha, planted with Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. The Alban wines produced are; Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, Patrina Alban Estate Syrah and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. They also used to produce a dessert wine from 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, called Rotten Luck. You can still find past vintages on Wine-Searcher. — 9 years ago

LM Segal

9.3

2013. Superb. Was expecting infanticide and discovered a prodigy. Lighter side of Syrah, perfectly delineated after 1 hr decant. Feminine, lithe lens on allspice, lavender, bacon fat. Swathe of fine tannins. This will evolve for decades, so nicely structured, but worth trying now. As good as the pricier VV I tried last year. — 11 years ago

Richard Steinberg

9.4

2009. Fantabulous. Black cherry and plum. Great mouthfeel. This is just great. Bravo. — 11 years ago

Franc

9.0

Tastes great! 👍 — 11 years ago

Mitch K

10

Fruity, fun, fertile. Would recommend for this price range 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 12 years ago

Nicole Avilla

10

Mitchell Katz Fat Boy — 13 years ago

with Julian, Danny and 1 other

JJ Lumia

9.3

The 2016 is out - and it doesn’t disappoint!!!Medium-bodied but mouth filling showing freshly picked cherries, leather and bacon fat. A memorable finish. One of my favorite wines, one of the most reliable. Huge QPR and one you should always have on hand. A little pricey for an everyday house wine, but it’s always worth it. On the downside it went up $1 and is now $21...... — 8 years ago

Mike Szilagyi

9.1

Black Cat was recommended by a friend last visit to Napa. Visited, and thought it was excellent quality for the price. Family Cuvee was great with homemade spaghetti and meatballs. — 8 years ago

Mike Zerwinski

9.1

Really creamy and fruity — 9 years ago

Nick Buissinne

9.5

Slightly smokey - a real lovely surprise, goes down so smoothly and leaves a pleasant after taste - not sure why it is mentioned as being from France - wine of origin is Robertson South Africa and proudly so! — 10 years ago

Jennifer Snyder

9.0

Great cheapster from TJ's — 10 years ago

Austin Ferrari

Wine Director Hillside Supper Club

9.7

Smoked bacon, bacon fat, dirty socks! Not as elegant as some, but damn delicious! — 10 years ago

Johan Schulte

9.0

Was a great wine went well with some finger foods on a nice day at the Vinyard. — 11 years ago

Tim

9.5

2007 - excellent — 11 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Man this was sexy, displaying so many aromatics, red & black fruits, violets, bacon fat, earthy, leather and spice box. Mouline has always been my favorite of the La La's — 11 years ago

Cristina Ferrigno

9.3

Very tasty — 13 years ago

Mary H

9.0

Hint of blackberry fizz — 8 years ago

with Louis

Christian Fischer

9.2

Very nice ending of the evening. Bold. — 8 years ago

Hayley Sykes

9.1

Light and delicious!
— 9 years ago

Chris England

9.1

This Rôtie is delivering on nasal nookie @ £37 but needs time for palate pleasure 👍 still a great drop 😎

🍇 100% Syrah from 13 parcels

🍷 Vibrant ruby

👃 Smokey cherry & raspberry cola w/ earthy blackberry, dark red potpourri, herby bacon, sweaty leather, frying fat spit & bit of piggy 💩

👄 Med body of earthy herby blackberry w/ green hints yet no drying tannin

🎯 Med earthy blackberry cherry cola, black olive w/ green stalks - needs 3-5yrs 👍 — 9 years ago

Matt

9.4

Maybe it's in my head but the purity and aromatic intensity of Serine always blows my mind. Classic N. Rhône Syrah with the volume turned up. Bacon fat, violet, black/blueberry confiture, cured meat, licorice whip, roasted plum, cigar ash. I love the mid-palate breadth of this wine and how well it showed after a proper decant. Wildly rustic while being poised and elegant, a great reminder of why I love N. Rhône wines — 10 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.1

Light straw color. Floral nose with sweet apricot and white flower note. Rich and glycerol in the mouth. Some acidity but this is very fruit forward today. Needs to shed its baby fat. — 10 years ago

Jessica Dowd

9.2

Not too bad! Shore wine — 11 years ago

Kate W

9.0

This was very smooth — 11 years ago

John Kline

9.1

Lot of bacon fat! — 12 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.5

What a surprise! Expected it to be fat and loose, but some age has given it definition. — 13 years ago