Eric Urbani

9.4

A powerhouse - always delivers. Open/decant well in advance. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.8

Always going to be the highlight of the Wynns tasting and only made in years where the fruit quality and vintage conditions were exceptional. Sue Hodder said everything fell into place in 2015 and she made one of her best ever Riddochs. From less than 1% of Wynns available Cabernet fruit. Latent power on nose and palate with black fruits and balanced oak. At least a 30 year future but so balanced you could happily drink this now but one should wait at least 10 years for its charms to start showing through. A brilliant 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. — 6 years ago

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. — 7 years ago

Katie Baroost

9.1

Great cab! — 8 years ago

Paul Petty

9.1

Big fruity red very nice. Dry. Smooth lingering finish. — 8 years ago

Robert Lim

9.2

I'll echo the consensus - a lovely, elegant expression of Napa terroir in a Syrah. Vanilla notes give way to spiciness - fruit is at a balanced concentration with silky tannins. Vegetal tobacco notes from stems. Wish I bought more. John is an absolute rock star. 2012 vintage — 8 years ago

James Knoblich

9.0

2006 J Bookwalter Winery 'Foreshadow' Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA — 8 years ago

Nate Redner

10

Rhubarb and raspberry. Killer domestic gamay — 9 years ago

Eric Floyd

9.4

Herman Story: A voluptuous Syrah, soft around the edges. Smooth silky finish. — 10 years ago

Leon Moore

10

Best wine of the night if you ask me...2005 Syrah blind tasting wines — 11 years ago

Lindsey King

9.3

Delicious!! Bright cherries and briney olive notes. — 5 years ago

Michael McNabb

9.1

Delicious! — 6 years ago

Randmaster Flash

9.6

Dark and jammy — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This Syrah is made in conjunction with Consultant, John Duval of Penfolds fame. John has also been making his Duval private label wines since he departed Penfolds back in Barossa. Gorgeous nose of sweet dark currants, dark moist soils, licorice, smoke, grilled meats, violets and fresh florals. The palate is rich, round, thick, sexy and elegant. Blackberries, liqueured, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, lots blue fruits, smoke, grilled meats, cinnamon, vanilla, rich scorched earth, loamy soils, touch of crushed dry rocks, liquid violets, dark fresh flowers and full, mellow acidity. The structure, length, tension and balance are drop dead gorgeous. The finish is thick, full and flat out mouthwatering and jaw dropping gorgeously sexy. Photos of the Long Shadows logo, one of their vineyards and beautiful tasting room. — 7 years ago

Perrin Drumm

9.1

Probably the best natural white I've had: a little funky but still super drinkable, nice skin contact and all that, too. — 7 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.6

Wow. A fantastic offering by John Alban, I cannot imagine this 2006 drinking any better than it is right now. Aromatics dominated by grenache with hints of kirsch, herbs, and earthy undertones all skirting around the edge of Alban's signature intensity of fruit, smoke, and iodine. Has amazing balance with a great combination of silkiness and enough tannic backbone to keep it alive on the palate. Finish lingers on for almost a minute. This can probably go a few more years...but why wait? Another amazing wine from the Edna Valley wonderland that is Alban Vineyards!!!! — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Naboth van den Broek

9.3

Very nice, complex nose And flavors, almost Madeira-like — 8 years ago

Luke Mills VIII

9.3

Very good. Went well with the Cote de boeuf! It mellowed very nicely once our meals arrived. Would recommend to anyone, and will definitely try it again. — 8 years ago

Tommy Pace

9.2

At first this was reserved but it opened up to a beautiful wine with great fruit and acidity. Very pretty. — 9 years ago

Laurie Cole

9.5

Delicious! — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Had this 1year ago. Founded in 1979 by John Shafer, went from riding trains in Chicago to riding a TD-9 tractor in Napa. Blend of 56%Merlot, 28%Cab Sauv & 16%Malbec, aged for 20 mos French oak, despite 15.3% ABV, it’s well balanced. Wonderful berry fruit aromas, flavors of cherry, jammy blackberry and rasp with notes of cacao and sweet herbs. Lingering finish ending with earthy mineral. Had this with a USDA prime Fillet. Drink now & over next few years, any longer the wine will lose vibrant quality. Nice! — 5 years ago

Chris Hyde

9.2

Fresh, juicy Pinot Noir. — 6 years ago

with Shannon

Phillip Antley

9.1

It’s a nice wheated bourbon, and at the price can be a go-to workhorse. It’s got the same spice profile as ORVW, but lacks the soft finish. It’s good though, and just being in the Van Winkle conversation is saying something. — 6 years ago

Joni Brennan

9.4

Opened it one day and it was so tight I left it for 2nd day. Dark, concentrated briary black fruit. Love it! — 7 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.0

Patrina is essentially Alban's second label - mostly declassified barrels from Reva, Lorraine, and Seymour's if I remember what John told me. It's got a lot of the tell-tale characteristics of an Alban syrah in terms of the nose (e.g., the roasted meat, blackberries, and hints of iodine and camphor), just less of them. Medium-plus bodied on the palate. What it lacks - and why I rated it as low as I did - is any tannic backbone. I imagine this is in part by design: kinda like a Rosso di Montalcino to be consumed while the Brunellos are ageing in the cellar (in this case the "Brunellos" are Reva, Lorraine, and Seymours). Still a terrific wine for the price, though: lots of CA wines out there at double the price that deliver one-fouth what this does. Doesn't have the stuffing to age very long, though, so enjoy this one early!
(Increased my rating a bit - started evolving a bit more with time in the glass) — 7 years ago

Ralph Lewis

9.5

Very nice Cab with character. Intense nose, blackberry and licorice flavors and earthy notes. Delicious. — 8 years ago

Michael Murphy

9.1

Full bodied Napa Cab! Smooth and lighter tannins than I was expecting. Decanted 6 hours before enjoying. — 8 years ago

D Maria Halstead

9.0

Lots of flavor — 8 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.2

And they said it was dead! Long live blood! — 9 years ago

Vinny Eng

9.7

@TatomerWines consistently nailing it! — 10 years ago