Jake Thornburgh

9.6

Excellent balance. Just the right amount of rocks funk. I wish more Washington Syrah was like this. — 3 months ago

Mary Christoph

9.5

Love love love this, especially with food! — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

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. — 4 years ago

rowen wu

9.1

very enjoyable. bold flavor — 8 months ago

Hannah Herrick

9.0

A good one. Not big on reds but this one is smooth and straightforward. No bitter finish smooth from start to finish. Nothing particularly standout flavor wise but nice — 3 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.0

The Dolamites are where Pinot Grigio goes for some respect. Alois Lageder is one of the larger productions, but one with a well-intended heart and honest dedication to making real biodynamic high quality wine. He does so with success and though Terr Alpina is entry level, there is nothing to complain about. Sturdy orchard fruits and citrus, clean and crisp. — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Our Pops conductor Keith Lockhart is leading a live-to-picture performance of Star Wars: A New Hope, a showing of the classic 1977 film, with the Orchestra performing Mr. Williams’ iconic score.
For live-to-picture productions, the orchestra performs the entire movie score in real time as the film unspools. (Vocals, dialogue and effects are isolated from the original music track.)
Generally we get to hear Star Wars scores a couple times per season here at Tanglewood, but tonight we get a chance to hear them with the backdrop of the movie (Episode IV) that launched a franchise, to say the least!

I celebrated another full trip around the sun, since my coming into this world, earlier this week. Tonight my wife, some dear friends and me will be enjoying some enticing wines along with our movie night. So notes...maybe, but I'll try! — 5 years ago

Iwan

9.1

Beautiful Syrah. Dark and brooding, very masculine. A little moly and earthy, black fruit, slight meatiness. Opened up nicely after a one hour decant. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

This Cabernet Sauvignon blend from California is drinking very nicely now, as a 4 year old. I had this vintage a year ago, and it is better now.

Showing red and black fruits with wood, earth, vanilla, licorice, peppercorn, pencil lead, tobacco, chocolates and coffee.

Full bodied with medium acidity. Spicy with nice complexity.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins.

Good right out of the bottle, fruit forward and good by itself or with food. Nice, enjoyable and a good quality wine.

I gave it a light chill and had by the pool.

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Petit verdot. Kosher non mevushal

Only 13.7% ABV, which I loved.

89 points.

$45. — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Our Pops conductor Keith Lockhart is leading a live-to-picture performance of Star Wars: A New Hope, a showing of the classic 1977 film, with the Orchestra performing Mr. Williams’ iconic score.
For live-to-picture productions, the orchestra performs the entire movie score in real time as the film unspools. (Vocals, dialogue and effects are isolated from the original music track.)
Generally we get to hear Star Wars scores a couple times per season here at Tanglewood, but tonight we get a chance to hear them with the backdrop of the movie (Episode IV) that launched a franchise, to say the least!

I celebrated another full trip around the sun, since my coming into this world, earlier this week. Tonight my wife, some dear friends and me will be enjoying some enticing wines along with our movie night. So notes...maybe, but I'll try! — 5 years ago