Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Sacal mora cleal flopez @ultramarinos — a month ago

Brad Carr

9.2

Love the earthy musty bouquet — 2 years ago

Maria Winther

9.3

Nydelig! Drakk uten mat, men denne passer nok godt til grillet lam eller lignende! — 5 years ago

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. — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

1953 vintage. Balestard La Tonnelle. Saint-Emilion. Low shoulder. Still hanging in there. — 2 months ago

Jan Laursen

8.9

Officielt en rosé. Men dufter som en Vin Jaune. Eller som en skotsk whiskey uden røg. Krydret. Træ, men fra ældre fade. Uldsokker. Og syre. Høj syre. Skøn madvin, som vi drak til grillet hummer. — 3 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.2

Faded fast the second night — 6 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2020 vintage. Viognier often lacks acidity and should therefore be drunk young, but this must be the tightest Condrieu I have ever tasted, with an energetic acidity keeping the exotic richness in check. Seems surprisingly ageworthy for Viognier (like Château Grillet) and therefore very intriguing. Long finish. — a year ago

Ryo Hayashi

9.6

Chateau Grillet 1996
フランス五大白ワインの1つ。ヴァン・ジョーヌだけを造るAOC。ヴァン・ジョーヌは長期熟成のポテンシャルがあるだけあって、90年代は激美味でした。まだまだ熟成で良くなる。 — 5 years ago

Naydja Bell

9.5

Lives up to the vintage! Deliciously ripe and balanced, fab with comfort foods. — 6 years ago