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

Sean Horrigan

9.4

This 100 percent Grenache is in a sweet spot now, all delicious black berry fruit but with plenty of finesse. Dead-ringer for Gigondas. Winemaker Sean Boyd is a Rhone ranger! — 8 years ago

Konrad Ziegler

9.2

E. Guigal, the ultimate Rhone Ranger! At Cru Wine Bar in Alpharetta. — 9 years ago

Liz Fv

9.0

Clean and delicate. — 9 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

A great example of John Alban's Pandora wine, this is a grenache/syrah blend that is probably a little past peak but is still boasting impressive fruit for an 11+ year-old Rhone Ranger. Continued to evolve in the glass for a full hour, the wine has more elegance than some of the bigger single vineyard syrahs (or the estate grenache). Really good! — 9 years ago

with Vanessa

David

9.7

Killer Rhone ranger! Awesome w veal chop... — 10 years ago

Monica O

9.8

Classic Rhone Ranger!!
Kudos to Justin, you Rock!!!!🍷@Tiberio Restaurant. — 10 years ago

Doug Goldsby

8.9

Rhone Ranger. — 10 years ago

Paul Mabray

Founder VinTank

9.1

A little Rhone Ranger tasting. — 11 years ago

with Craig

Cj Siege

8.9

(2012 vintage)Nose is redundant of black pepper, dry leaves, and rich soil. Maybe blueberry shrubs? Palate has a good bit of heat, lots of sun-warmed earthiness. Some dark fruit high notes, but very restrained. This may get more interesting as time passes... My inner Rhône Ranger is pleased! — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.0

Second time I've tried this. Struck by the viscosity. Pretty intense. — 8 years ago

P

9.1

jolly ranger dude, solid jolly ranger (blue raspberry + watermelon??) — 8 years ago

with David and Ryan

Andy Baker

8.9

Awesome Arizona wine. Small batch. Excellent quality. Love it — 9 years ago

with Adiba

Simon

9.7

Rhone ranger 4life — 9 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.2

Another terrific offering from Cris Cherry at Villa Creek, this SMG blend is drinking beautifully right now. Intense nose of blackberries, camphor, and a touch of iodine, it is remarkably smooth for such a young wine. Layers of flavor and wonderfully balanced through the mid-palate, this is a classic example of a Paso Rhone Ranger blend. Not sure about its longevity - as I implied this is far more integrated at 3 years than I would have expected - but it's drinking so well now I'm not sure why you would wait! — 10 years ago

with Vanessa

Nelsie Birch

9.4

For a northern Virginia wine, this is the best Bordeaux blend around! — 10 years ago

Mark Oldman

9.8

Domaine Henri Jayer Echézeaux 1990: Get out your Pharrell-style ranger hat because this concentrated, full-bodied #wine transports you straight to the forest with its pronounced notes of underbrush and cedar. Joining this sous-bois character are big swathes of dark fruit and traces of leather. The mile-long finish evokes cedar and bone broth, a primal revitalizer if there ever was one. Despite its quarter-century of age, it is still lively and intriguing, still moving like Jagger. — 10 years ago

Marney Elizabeth Krueger

9.0

Delicious! Love the smokiness. — 10 years ago

Matt Forester

9.0

2010 Curtis Heritage Cuvée Santa Barbara County 38% Mourvèdre 26% Grenache 25% Cinsault 11% Syrah. Dark fruit flavors but relatively light on its feet. Good value Rhone Ranger. — 11 years ago

Marlee Koenigsberg

9.2

Really good cab sauv at an amazing price. It is smooth and not too oaky in flavor. — 7 years ago

with Matthew

Jeremy Kath

9.3

Absolutely killer Rhone Ranger. 40% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre, 20% syrah. Easily has another 5 years of life. — 7 years ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.1

Nice French style wine from the Rhine Ranger and Bonny Doon. February 2017. — 8 years ago

Juan Menendez

9.2

Nicely balanced. This is one of the least oaky Clios I've had. I was expecting an oak monster and instead got treated to a beautiful Mediterranean rich and complex red. A mythical cross between a Mourvèdre heavy CDP and a Paso Rhine ranger. Reminded me of why there was a time when I loved these Clios. — 9 years ago

Bruce K

8.9

I was looking for Touburg but no luck so I got this to go with charcoal bbq burgers...fantastic..good bodie nice flavours — 9 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.6

Had this last night. Great offering from Justin Smith. This 2004 is really interesting in that it shows Justin finding his voice a few years before things really started taking off. Far better now than a few years ago when I first tried it, the wine is finally integrated and now shows beautiful balance. Still relatively youthful in my opinion - lots of primary fruit on the nose - but I think it's nearing its peak. Great mouthfeel and a lingering finish, this is a terrific example of a Rhone Ranger wine! — 9 years ago

with Vanessa

Craig Brown

9.2

Delicious Rhone Ranger wine. — 10 years ago

TJ Maxwell

9.2

Rich, mineral & tropical! Really classy Cali Rhone Ranger — 10 years ago

Stuart Zimmerman

8.9

Yet another winner from this winery.
Nice mouthfeel good acidity - winner — 10 years ago

Russell Feldman

9.1

Actually a Pinot. — 11 years ago

Gilles de Chambure

Master Sommelier & Educator

9.4

great new cote rotie blend of cote blonde and brune with 5% viognier aged 38 months in barrels mada at their own cooper in the chateaux-great seminar at rhone ranger event — 12 years ago