Jim McCusker

9.6

Fantastic grenache from John Alban. Vanessa gives it a 9.8. I’m not quite as enthusiastic...but only to the extent of a 0.2 difference! This is an incredibly unctuous wine with layers of blackberry liquor, graphite, dark chocolate, and a hint of violet. Full bodied on the palate with a lingering finish. John makes a much more highly extracted version of grenache than the more elegant style of Manfred at SQN - my own palate for grenache tends more toward the SQN style - but there’s no denying that this is incredible and will only get better with a few more years in the cellar. — 5 years ago

with Vanessa

Alejandro Lopez

9.4

Roussanne Is Coming (aka Legs)
1993 Roussanne
•This wine is one of several "Project Wines" made by Manfred before the winery was founded.
•There are two different labels for this wine:
•295 cases have the "Roussanne Is Coming" label and 40 cases the "Legs" label.
•There are two labels because Manfred was nervous that the Legs label would be rejected by the BATF.
•This wine was made with John Alban at the Albany winery.
•100% Roussanne.
•335 cases produced.
•This wine was poured by the glass at Campanile, Manfred Krankl's restaurant in Los Angeles. — 10 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.8

2006 Alban Estate Syrah Reva from the Edna Valley. A whopping 16.2% alcohol! Blacker than Midnight in moonless, starless sky. Telltale iodine Reva nose with blackberry jam, fennel and just a hint of oyster shell? A smokey, mineral-esque quality lurking in the background. Big and bold and luscious with more of that ripe, dark fruit, blackberry liqueur and cherry compote on the palate. Additional notes of graphite, black olives, a touch of smokey bacon, and that trademark Alban tar. Finishes with a salinity that just makes my mouth water. Wonderful silky texture. Positively chewy. Rich, concentrated and beautifully structured. John Alban has been cranking out these beauties for decades now, but never seems to garner the love he so richly deserves. I’m including myself here as I tend to forget about Mr Alban until I open the occasional bottle. Now you all know that Manfred is my main man, but hear me when I tell you that while you are mired in that seemingly endless SQN purgatory of a wait-list, do yourself a favor and grab some Alban. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. — 7 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

Wow. Anyone who says a viognier can't age is just WRONG. This is fantastic. Doesn't have the florals that you might expect for a viognier, but after 5 years this wine has evolved to something truly special. Jeff, you would love the petrol character of this wine. Complexity that it did not have upon release, this wine has layers and flavor profiles you would never expect from a viognier. Just goes to show that John Alban (along with Manfred Krankle, Cris Cherry, and Anthony Kinero) are the masters of white Rhones in the central coast. This is an absolute privledge to drink. — 9 years ago

with Vanessa

Alejandro Lopez

9.8

Tant Pis! 1995
Red Wine from Arroyo Grande
made by Elaine & Manfred Krankl and Lorraine & John Alban
•This wine is one of several "Project Wines" made by Manfred before the winery was founded.
•This wine was sold only in 2-magnum sets. Only 72 sets were sold.
•The back label says that this wine was made in tribute to the great
Jacques Reynaud
1924–1997
– may your wonderfully
unique and loveably
wild spirit live on forever
•The photo on the label of Jacques Reynaud was taken by Manfred Krankl.
•Jacques Reynaud was the owner and manager of Château Rayas in Châteauneuf-du-Pape from 1978 until his death in 1997.
•According to Manfred Krankl this was a “single barrel cuvée comprised of approximately 60% Grenache from Alban and 40% Syrah from us....if memory serves right.”
Note that each bottle of the Tant Pis is numbered as a series of 148 bottles with the number in the lower left corner of the front label.
•Since it was a single barrel, the total number of magnums made should be less than 150. — 10 years ago