Eric Urbani

9.4

A powerhouse - always delivers. Open/decant well in advance. — 6 years ago

Michael McNabb

9.1

Delicious! — 7 years ago

Matt Waring

9.1

Marvelous floral nose, very well balanced. Top notch Pinot — 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. — 8 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.1

Precocious talent. — 9 years ago

with Molly

Naboth van den Broek

9.3

Very nice, complex nose And flavors, almost Madeira-like — 9 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. — 9 years ago

Nate Redner

10

Rhubarb and raspberry. Killer domestic gamay — 10 years ago

Pam Woolf

10

Party with P, A , M, O, Sh
Aged excellent — 11 years ago

Lindsey King

9.3

Delicious!! Bright cherries and briney olive notes. — 6 years ago

Gabriel Doliner

9.2

Black cherries, raspberries, Earth and spice. Great acidity and balance, good to the last drop. — 6 years ago

John Osgood

9.2

Tasty white. @Randy Todorovich family vineyard. — 7 years ago

with Randy

Nancy Bernstein

9.0

Love this — 8 years ago

Katie Baroost

9.1

Great cab! — 9 years ago

Urs Cete

9.3

Board dinner stuff ... yummy — 9 years ago

Robert Mackie

9.9

Outstanding Chardonnay but a bit pricey! — 9 years ago

James Knoblich

9.0

2006 J Bookwalter Winery 'Foreshadow' Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA — 9 years ago

Carlos Gonzalez

9.0

Puppy dog. Needs a couple yrs. Took a while to open but once it did it could do no wrong. — 10 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. — 11 years ago

Chris Towt

Owner Dunstan & Pip Wines

9.6

Richer than Sanford and Benedict, beautiful balance — 11 years ago

Gavin Baum

9.4

Really extraordinary Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, drinking at its peak. Has started to take on wonderful secondary character, with lots of honeycomb, hazelnut, and toasty brioche showing on the nose and palate. That makes the wine sound a lot more decadent than it is, though. At its heart, like all of the Tyler Chardonnays, this wine is first and foremost a masterclass in focus and precision. Even at the ripe old age of 6, with its contours slightly softened and its flinty reduction tempered, this wine is still wonderfully, vividly alive, with copious lemony acidity and fruit that still leans more towards tangerine oil and grapefruit. That this is still so piquant and salty and mouthwatering and more-ish after 6 years in the bottle is a real testament to the quality and the substance of these wines. — 6 years ago

Chris Hyde

9.2

Fresh, juicy Pinot Noir. — 7 years ago

with Shannon

Dave Schneider

9.3

Love pinots from Santa Barbara. This one is light on its feet with great length and balance. — 8 years ago

Devan Wells

9.5

Fantastic once opened! Standout mid-range Californian Pinot Noir, with pleasant berry, oak, and vanilla notes. Clear and transparent, medium body means it is good with or without food. Makes me miss home! — 8 years ago

Paul Petty

9.1

Big fruity red very nice. Dry. Smooth lingering finish. — 9 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!!!! — 9 years ago

with Vanessa

D Maria Halstead

9.0

Lots of flavor — 9 years ago

Lisa Hart

10

Perfect. Find this. Drink it. — 10 years ago

with Mike

Peter Plaehn

8.9

Hot, hot, hot. Lots of candied fruit and jam. — 11 years ago

Leon Moore

10

Best wine of the night if you ask me...2005 Syrah blind tasting wines — 12 years ago