Tom Garland

9.2

1.5 hour decant (some cloudy sediment). A majestic dark ruby red color with little bricking. On the nose: popping notes of earth, olive tapenade, creme de cassis, red berries, pencil shavings. Taste: A smooth, semi rich medium to full body wine with muted flavors of red plum, currant, leather, sour cherry, pepper......a gravely cedar medium plus finish and just a slight tannic kick. Enjoy, and drink em if you got em!! — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Mark Flesher

9.5

This wine is starting to show a little bit of age I believe. Immediately from cork pop, this wine had sort of an interesting muted nose. Took about 20 minutes to wake up as the middle of this wine was initially quite flat. After if woke up, it was blackberry, truffle, tobacco on the nose which carried over to the palate. The middle of this wine and actually kind of thinned out a little bit, this playing black cherry, black tea. Tobacco note comes back in to the heavier weighted blackberry finish. Very well done! Haven't had too many of these State Lane cabernets from Kapcsandy but the style resembles the old Beringer State Lane quite remarkably. I don't think these are really going to improve much more in the bottle, so if you are lucky enough to have a few of these laying around, it is time to start coming up with a drinking plan! — 6 years ago

Dani Ganley

9.0

Sparkly and a little bitter for my taste but enjoyable as I drank more. — 7 years ago

Ryan Guy

9.2

Hazy in the glass. Sexy, silky mulberry, raspberry, and black peppercorn. Fruit dominate nose, but still fresh, bordering on bruised. Palate is medium weight, driving by mouth-watering acidity with strawberry preserves. Finish does taper a little quick. In a great place now, doesn’t feel like it will last much longer. — 7 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

Jeff Loo

8.9

Solid but not the blockbuster I was apparently hoping for. Thin and fruity with very little structure. — 8 years ago

Paul T HB

9.7

Not as dark & opulent as the 97 ZD Reserve. But still another very good properly stored bottle. Cork looks great for the age. A little brickish at the edges . Give it 30-45 minutes to blow off the age. Can’t put it down now, this is a 1 person bottle. Had to give it an extra couple points Parker 88 back in the day. So much better now — 5 years ago

Mike R

9.1

The wine is taking a long time to blow off the funk but the elegance is shining through - color has not broken down but not fruit forward which I am glad - structure still in tact 19 years later and finish is softer than I desire but bottom line drinking and enjoying and helping me absorb shitty music like John Denver my wife is playing / I pray her playlist ends soon / this wine is not to be enjoyed by itself like I am doing as I started a diet so no cheese 😢 / this is not going to age and get better so enjoy if you have - just a little smile tonight — 6 years ago

Emily Singer

9.2

Really dry, crisp, fruity rosé that comes in a can — FINALLY. Almost a little too easy to drink. — 7 years ago

Tom Young

9.2

Medium body, elegant cherry with a little acid but well balanced. Really nice overall, drinks beautifully — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.1

Not a bad little red cuvee consisting of 44 percent PV, 28 Merlot and 28 Cabernet Franc. This wine poured rather dark. The nose was fig jam, almost a little meaty, with a floral note of undistinguished specificity. The wine on the entry was darker, full bodied, fig-dominated, and perhaps a little bloody. The middle of this wine is where some sweetness comes in. The finish is tannic still, and despite 2 hours of bottle decanting this wine was still quite a bit tannic with new oak. I believe every bit of the 2018-2022 range listed here. Very enjoyable wine overall, and probably one of the winners if it wasn't for the 2005 Neal One-Lane Bridge Cab that was popped. — 8 years ago

Eric L.

9.1

62% Cab Franc, 38% Merlot. 13.9%ABV. Nice and elegant, just a little thin on the mid-palate, but otherwise very enjoyable. — 8 years ago

Bitterman The Pirate

9.1

Beautiful and seductive. Lots of fruit to be sure, but wonderfully balanced with a velvet mouth feel. Took a little while to open up. — 8 years ago

Nick H

9.1

Always a favorite - a little more settled and balanced than the first few bottles. It felt fitting to be clearing out the reviews backlog en route to Paso Robles. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The red fruits shine. They are bright, fresh with nice florals. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries and poached strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, tobacco with ash, dark rich soils, berry cola, steeped fruit tea, red fruit liqueur notes with fresh & withering dark & red florals.

The body is full with powdery, dusty, meaty, tarry and sticky tannins. The fruits are ripe, delicious and easy to drink now but, will benefit from 6-8 more years in bottle. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries and poached strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, dark spice with a little heat, tobacco with ash, dark rich soils, berry cola, steeped fruit tea, red fruit liqueur notes with fresh & withering dark & red florals. The acidity is round and beautiful. The long finish is ripe, juicy, well balanced, delicious and persist nicely.

Photos of; Rustenberg’s hillside vines, our tasting lounge, fermentation cellar with hanging stainless tanks so they can work the process with gravity, and Rustenberg’s Cellar Door and grounds. — 6 years ago

Mike

9.0

A little drop of liquid honey to get NYE started. All the best to my Delectable pals for a great 2018 and an even better 2019!!!#happynewyear — 6 years ago

Kevin Blix

9.0

Easy drinking can. Reminds me of caymus and emmolo. At $25 a good price. — 7 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.0

The description has the gall to compare itself with Grange. Wankers. It's an elegant wine, though. Balanced and restrained, with the potential to open up delicious subtleties over time. But the price? Jousting sticks. — 8 years ago

with Sam

Shawn R

9.3

A little Zin and smoked pork tenderloin, what could be bad! Right off the glass I get this big jammy grape nose as in Welches grape jam. Succulent and sweet. Front of the palate reveals molasses and smoke. Dry tannins as in completely dry. Asian spice, touch of bay leaf and cinnamon. Finish is taunt and strong which brings the wine to the finish. Well done. — 8 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

Great stuff. Though this was a bit more fruit forward than the '12 which seemed to have more depth and a longer finish. Of course this '13 needs a little time so I'll be sure to check back in a few years. — 8 years ago