Central Coast Syrah
Alban Vineyards
Patrina Alban Estate Syrah 2010
Kaleidos
Paso Robles Syrah 2014
I love this Tin City wine! Steve Kartell is doing good things! — 6 days ago
Ampelos
Ampelos Vineyard Syrah 2015
Ripe blackberry, cherry, sweet tobacco, cola, smoke and hints of vanilla, all waft up from the 2015 Ampelos Syrah Gamma. It's soft on the palate, mixing minerals with ripe dark berries as zesty acids tug at the cheeks and hints of savory herbs resonated toward the close. The finish is long, yet this is no blockbuster, instead wonderfully pleasant and poised, still showing blue and black fruit with gentle tannins and a hint of tart citrus. Don't overt think it, just enjoy. — 2 days ago
Booker Vineyard
Jada Vineyard Grenache Syrah 2015
I believe this was a one off production for Booker. Jada Vineyard is located near Denner.
I followed this over two days and if I would have guessed blind, there is no way I would have guessed 60% Grenache on either day (although day 2 showed more finesse and lift) as it seems more dominant Syrah. This is high-toned and juicy. Great nose to it. Aromatically, there is licorice, melted dark chocolate, ripe and baked dark fruits, herbs de Provence, and charcoal. It’s already fairly soft and plush on the palate. Bite of tannin and heat toward the mid palate and finish, but it’s certainly not as heavy or dense as you’d expect. Grenache shows up briefly with some pepper and a small reveal of dried red fruits at the core. I think this is in a good drinking window. I believe @Paul T- Huntington Beach helped me get my hands on one of these a while back... — 4 days ago
Alban Vineyards
Reva Alban Estate Vineyard Syrah 2005
Andrew Murray
Tous les Jours Santa Ynez Valley Syrah 2017
Great value! Founder Andrew Murray’s Vineyards is a 200-acre site, about 1,500 feet above Foxen Canyon Rd, inland portion of the Santa Ynez Valley, making the vineyard the highest in the county. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, "Tous les Jours" means “every day,” shows dark red with black fruit aromas and complex spice notes. On the palate, blueberry and black cherry with spicy cedar notes and some oak, Soft tannins, long finish. Very nice, did I say great value! — 18 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
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. — 11 days ago