Vino Joe

9.5

Perfectly ripe. This wine is peak. Mature fruit in balance with everything. This was ready to go from the pour. Well rounded and deep. Gorgeous color. Likely to start receding soon. So drink up! — 8 months ago

Ed Chin

9.2

A bit of air is needed for it to show the savory meaty quality. The juice is well balanced and not showing any heat even @ 15.6 abv — a year ago

John Knudsen

9.0

Decanted for 2 hours. Still big, no signs of fading. Did not drink enough before it was consumed to review properly, but seemed a touch sweet. — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

So great. Loads of ground, smoky sandstone, ripe blackberry, maple syrup. Rich, structured, so good, so balanced. My favorite Zin plot of land. — 5 years ago

Maddie Fromell

8.9

Listening to fado in Lisbon — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Alban Vineyards, the original Rhône Ranger. Of all the CA producers that try to emulate the Rhône style, I believe, Alban Vineyards emulate it best!

On the nose; ripe fruits of mixed berries, savory meats, pork & bacon fat. Mocha, dusty dry brown top soil, powdery volcanic minerals, dry underbrush, vanilla, cherry/raspberry cola, dark, rich black soil, beautiful spice, fresh red & dark florals.

The body is medium to full, round & ripe. Tannins are nicely soften with plenty of life ahead. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, creamy raspberries, plum, boysenberries & some blue fruits. Savory meats, pork, bacon fat, dry brush, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, cola, some dark moist soil, limestone, some black licorice, touch of spice & black pepper, red & dark florals with violets, great round acidity and a rich, round, well balanced, elegant finish that lasts & lasts.

Photos of, the Patrina Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker-John Alban, nice Syrah fruit bunch and their barrel room. — 7 years ago

Miguel Castro

9.0

Wonderful balance. Merlot and Tempranillo counterweight the heavy Tanat. Still, a meaty wine for read meats. Velvety and round tho. Some blackberries and forest fruits - little tanine. — 9 years ago

Pascaline Lepeltier, MS

Master Sommelier, Wine Director Rouge Tomate New York

9.1

1981 pale as a peony, lifted by the acid / a really nice surprise — 9 years ago

Michael Morris

Wine Director The Park Café

9.5

Great stuff. Definitely needs air. Like chili, it's even better on day 2 — 10 years ago

Pooneet K

9.0

Quite ready to go. No decant, opened 3 hours before. Nice seamless fruit, tannins very integrated. Could use a bit more acid, but still appreciate it esp at a nice restrained 13.4%. — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Very dense and black in colour. These wines always remind me of Fruit and Nut milk chocolate. The colour makes you think full bodied but it’s actually light to medium bodied. A luscious mouth filling palate with the savoury milk chocolate together with notes of raisin and date. Supple yet persistent tannins. Reminiscent of a Priorat Garnacha in some respects. — 10 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Medium ruby color. Aromas and flavors of red cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Touches of tomato leaf, rose petals and violets. Hints of wet stones and freshly turned soil on the bright finish. Silky texture. Rich and elegant. Punches well above its price. Thank You Chris B! — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Outstanding Italian White. Remarkable balance of minerality, acidity and fruit. Very pure. Apples and pears. Wine is bright and fully open right out of the bottle. Best white of the year so far. Nice!! — 6 years ago

with John

Jeffrey Long

9.5

Never misses. — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.1

Darker hues than I've ever seen from this bottling. Rather amber and dark. Marzipan, kettle corn, carmelized fruit. I enjoy tasting these but they always guarantee a hangover for me. — 8 years ago

Paco Suro

9.1

Young. Minerals. Round. Big. Overall, consistent with previous vintages. — 9 years ago

Paul Costigan

Founder Courtier Wines

9.5

1973: Beautiful bottle. Wines like this make everyone stop and take notice. The color was clear and light. Arresting nose full of plums and roasted beets. The depth of flavor and long finish was in contrast with the appearance. Really a fine experience, only second to the few times I had the 1952 Mont Real. — 9 years ago

with Barry

Lindyn Krieg

9.5

Enjoyed a glass at Seasons 52 in Tampa, FL. — 10 years ago

Morgan Diamant

9.4

Had at thanksgiving 2014 with Fam. Everyone but Lisette really liked it. $21 at Urban Grape (5R).
Dried cherry on the nose. Licorice, funkiness/ mushrooms, earthiness, with a finish of black cherries. Smooth and lovely old-world drinking — 11 years ago

romo

8.9

Called Amarone or Aussie Shiraz. Volatility blew off still high alc. — 9 months ago

Todd Anderson

9.4

Drinking beautifully at present - Prost! — 9 months ago

Matt

9.4

Love the high Merlot % this vintage has. There’s a plushness and supleness to the tannin that really impressed. With age the Merlot really bringing that core of sweet stewed red plum. Long, elegant, completely intact, very well-stored bottle. — 2 years ago

Gaetan Ciampini

9.5

Really banging! — 4 years ago

Hayden B. Oothout

9.3

Spectacular moon mountain cab. I love Cabernet Sauvignon from this AVA. Good minerals and fantastic fruit on the palette. This is fantastic now and would age well in the bottle for a few more years. If you see this, grab it! — 6 years ago

Scout Rose

9.1

Oaky, big Aglianico. Very structured with lots of tannins. Something vegetal in the finish. Probably should have let it age a few more years but very enjoyable nonetheless. — 7 years ago

with Ora

Panos Constantinides

9.0

At first we thought it was corked. After about an hour it started kicking off and probably with more time would even excel. Black and red cherry notes with earthy - leathery spices. Light, soft and balanced tannins. High rate for its age. — 8 years ago

Shawn R

8.9

True Biale wine...pronounced Moon Mountain fruit without question. Strong and dense as you would expect from Biale/Moon Mt. Black raspberry, hints of molasses and pepper on the mid palette. Finishing with a zingy cherry, mocha and baking spice. Recommend another year in the bottle. — 9 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Any wine that can shine from a plastic cup deserves extra kudos. Mistook for a Northern nebbiolo with its structure, detail, & balance, but the fruit is pure southern, pomegranate & black currants. Eye opener (esp for 30$ list). Want to re taste in proper stemware. I think 80% nero di trioa 20% montulpiciano — 9 years ago

with Owen

Chris MacLean

8.9

A little rounder than I remember but still very solid. — 10 years ago

West Johnson

9.7

2007 Alban Grenache. Perfect Grenache character...kirsch and spice and complexity...wish I had lots more! — 11 years ago