J Choi

9.3

Should decant. Finesse. — 3 months ago

Natalie Skogerboe

9.5

2022 - Light yet deep, floral, aromatic spice, so good! — 7 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have wanted to do Alban side by side with Rostaing with a well seasoned Tri-tip. Tonight is the night.

The crowd that leans California liked the French better.

I have always thought Alban in the new world mimicked Rostaing’s style.

Both phenomenal and I enjoyed both for slightly different climate & soil reasons.

These two producers do Syrah without the heavy smoked meats & bacon fat of say Cayuse. — 10 months ago

Michelle Berryman

9.4

Fabulous, paired with beef Wellington — 2 years ago

Mark S.

8.9

Violet color. As expected, violet and blueberry, fruity taste. A bit spicy. Slight iron flavor. Rene Lequin-Colin Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2018 @850, Kping -, 210520-210524 — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Perhaps, our favorite non Burgundy white. It is unique among whites.

Also, one of the best afternoons we’ve enjoyed. Appointments at Clos Mogador & Erasmus. Then, lunch looking back at both properties from Amcis. A great meal we would give two Michelin stars. This wine and a custom four course for two for only 70 Euros in 2015. Fantastic restaurant. A must do in Priorat.

The nose reveals; ripe & slightly sour pineapple, lemon chiffon, mix of well extracted stone fruits, notes of lime candy, banana peel, slight burnt brown sugar, blend of chalky minerals, volcanics, chamomile, vanilla bean notes, well cooked toast, sandy dry top soil, fennel (grows everywhere), tree bark with sap, mix of dark & white spice w/ white dominate and a fields of spring flowers.

The body is full & round with good viscosity. slightly sour pineapple, lemon chiffon, mix of well extracted stone fruits, golden apple to cider, tropical melons, kiwi, notes of lime candy, banana peel, fringes of marmalade, slight sugar in the raw, blend of white, chalky minerals, mint, volcanics, crushed dry sandstone, saline, chamomile, vanilla bean notes, well cooked toast, dry herbs, sandy dry top soil, fennel (grows everywhere), tree bark with sap, mix of dark & white spice w/ white dominate and a fields of perfume spring flowers with mixed greens. The acidity is round and rushes like a river. The long, rich, well knitted & balanced, polished & elegant finish goes on & on ending persistently w/ sweet white spice.

The 2017 is different than the earlier vintages we’ve had. It needs another two years in bottle. If you drink now, fully chill and decant 2 hours.

Photos of; Clos Mogador, Owners/Winemakers-Rene Barber Sr. & Jr. and vines around their Estate. — 6 years ago

Andrew Lohse

8.9

Melon, apple, stone, on the nose / creamy, plush, giving palate / mineraled finish that leans crisp / presence of oak and slight new oak is apparent on this completely solid, totally pleasurable entry-level bottle 👌 — 8 years ago

Carter Snead

9.3

Laetare Sunday 2026 — 3 months ago

with Leigh and John

B Natasha Woo Ding

9.3

Juicy. Big cherry notes. — 7 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2015 | Rene Pöckl is a magician vintner in Burgenland. Nice, modest and determined to make the best wine possible. This 2015 seemed after ten years infanticide, great structure and a huge promise for the future. Tasted blind next to Errazuriz Don Maximiliano 2015. Win for Pöckl. — a year ago

Nate Wall

Winemaker at Troon Vineyard

9.0

A Northern Rhône take on a Southern Rhône blend - less stewed fruit, more floral and herbal and nuance. Lovely. — 5 years ago

Gene Buonviri

9.2

Traditional excellent Northern Rhône heritage is on display and proof is in this wine. A smooth red blend exhibiting hidden ripe berries. With an intensity to pair well with burgers and family gatherings. — 6 years ago

with Justinian

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

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2022 vintage. Sampled via Coravin. Medium-medium heavy body. Vineyard from the highest point in Gevrey-Chambertin. Gorgeous throughout already with surprising, back-end spice fest. Tannins slightly muted but started to creep out after a few minutes in the glass. This likes to speed and is going places. 1.30.26. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2019 vintage. Last tasted 3.8.25 (9.6) and 8.19.23 (9.5). Excellent fill and great cork. Decanted and tasted after 30 minutes. Small amount of chunky sed. Medium-heavy body but starting to slowly thin out. Excellent colo(u)r. Alongside the roasted nuts and smoked meats flavors, this drops a current cola-nut driven finish. Smooth and harmonious. Love this producer along with a nod to consumers/wine trade for keeping these ridiculous pricings down. 10.10.25. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A dense bright ruby in colour. Initially vanilla/oak notes which blew off with time in decanter. Dense rich and brooding - not giving much aromatically. Tight and muscular. Behaves younger than 7 years. Made by the redoubtable Rene Barbier, one of the founders of the revitalised Priorat movement as shown in the excellent documentary “Dreaming of Wine”. Full bodied and flavoursome. Rich and herbal - predominantly ripe Garnacha grapes. Red and black fruits. Had a wonderful visit there last year with the family and an informative tour and tasting at Clos Mogador. I love the fact that they have kept their wines affordable unlike their Priorat colleagues Alvaro Palacios (L’Ermita) and Daphne Glorian (Clos Erasmus) whose wines are quite expensive. This Mogador is so not ready to drink! Needs time in the cellar. Disagree with Thomas Matthews Drinking window of 2019 to 2024. Personally I think this wine will cruise through to 2030. I will leave the last one for around another 4 years. — 3 years ago

Ryan Mullins

8.9

Maybe an off bottle that saw some heat but the cork didn’t hint at it. Underwhelmed for such a great premier cru — 7 years ago

Matt Nason

9.0

Waxy aromatic peaches with a beautiful vibrant acidity. Young. — 7 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

NV/ one of the best rosé champagnes / paired with smokedham and fresh figs — 7 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.1

T.A. Returns to S.D. 7/7/2018: Every party needs a token Burg😉 — 8 years ago