David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Top 3 new world producer of nearly a 100% Ganache and or Syrah.

This w/ a 4 1/2 hour decant after a meal falls into black plum pudding.

Ripe, nectar driven; blackberries, plum pudding, dark cherries, black raspberries, poached strawberries, blueberry pie, dark berry cola, black licorice, dry stem, dark rich forest floor with leaves & dry twigs, pipe tobacco, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry herbs, dark, mid spice, some black pepper, top soil, steeped tea, some me baking spices, baking spices, fresh herbaceous notes, dark, red, purple, blue, withering flowers, perfect acidity and a well balanced, knitted, softly tensioned, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes.

Aged in 300-liter puncheons for 43 months. — 5 months ago

Miki Sano

9.0

with Takeshita-san — 8 years ago

Dylan Thomas

8.9

Traffic coming home from work was shit, took me an hour and half, so glugged this bottle down in about 45 minutes when I finally got home. Paired well the Dr. Octagon pandora station. — 9 years ago

TJ C

10

Amazing!!! — 11 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.1

Dense and delicious Mourvèdre based blend. — 4 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.1

Although Delectable recognized the label, this appears to be the first post of this one-off bottling. Saw a description of this as a “staff only” bottling of resettled “bottom of the barrel” remains from Reva, Seymour’s, Pandora, Lorraine and Grenache barrels. Probably an 8.8 at best on opening. Extremely reductive notes of rubber and tar/asphalt. Came around nicely on night two with the fruit poking through along with some nice savory elements. — 7 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.5

Reminded me a lot of a young Alban Pandora. That's a very good thing. — 9 years ago

Jennifer Levenson

9.2

I like this! Dark fruit . SangioLike! For the money, cant beat the buzz. I'm cooking to this wine with Pandora on. Salud bway bway! — 9 years ago

with Lee

Steve Anderson

9.5

Hospice du Rhône Friday Grand tasting of Library wines (2012 and older). What could be better than the ‘99 Pandora? Easy answer.., — 6 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