Henry Fuseler

9.0

8/2025. Very nice cab Merlot blend. Nice flavor and finish. Nice on the palate. — 9 months 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. — 6 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.4

A powerhouse - always delivers. Open/decant well in advance. — 7 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

Another excellent BTG. Went well with the Stone Fruit Salad at Compline. — 8 years ago

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. — 8 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.7

Comida con mathias y clement colin john kapon y antenor camargo — a year ago

Frank B

8.9

Not sure about it. Mouth feel is good earthy sanguine flavors that I am still processing. — 5 years ago

Ken Venezio

9.1

Inky black in the glass with loads of cherry, dark berries and toast. I like the weight of this blend. Very jammy with a nice minerality. I'd definitely recommend and try this again. . — 7 years ago

John Malcolm

10

Extraordinary. Inky, deep purple color. Intoxicating bouquet. Plums, blackberries, dark cherries, chocolate, and a hint of tobacco. Full mouth feel. Elegant. Complex. A finish with a hint of sweetness. Decant for at least 60 minutes - it’s worth the wait. — 7 years ago

TheSkip

9.1

Delightful — 7 years ago

Lindsey King

9.3

Delicious!! Bright cherries and briney olive notes. — 7 years ago

Michael McNabb

9.1

Delicious! — 8 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

Neal Ferry

9.0

Excellent as well. Go do it, fruit forward — 2 years ago

Angie Stoneberg-Parker

9.0

Bold and smooth. Let it breath — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

Smoked meats, cherry and sugarplum in the nose. Said same follows through with a hint of cinnamon. Decently lengthy finish. Light-medium body. Best thing about this wine is that it walks the nearly impossibly thin tightrope between pinot noir (stylistically and body-wise) and syrah (while still having some back end chutzpah). Could match this up with nearly any meat or fish if you’re stupid enuff to spoil it with food. I think I paid $27 for it. May hafta go back for a case. — 6 years ago

Nate Wall

Winemaker at Troon Vineyard

8.9

Savory, strawberry, pomegranate, forest floor, truffle. So crushable. — 7 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

My second rodeo with Mr. St John, glad I am here: a deeper dive into black fruits than his Cote Du Rhône homage, & a more generous palate. Still all in balance, a restrained hand, but the terroir speaks through his hand, amen. Grenache, some Tempranillo, some Mourvedre, and some Graciano. Decanted about 1/2 hr. Delectable allows me to name only my local tag sale but not my town? Whaadup @Delectable Wine ? — 7 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! — 7 years ago

Randmaster Flash

9.6

Dark and jammy — 8 years ago