Kevin Cahoon

9.5

Auguste Clape was a pioneer in Cornas and a legend in the Northern Rhône. Enjoying this bottle in his memory. I was fortunate to visit the cellar twice and receive an incredibly warm welcome from the family.
The 2009 is dynamite. It is more open than I expected. Nose is vibrant with green and white peppercorn, smoked meats, allspice and road tar wrapped around dark plum, cassis and blackberry fruit. Palate is rich and dense as expected from a hot vintage. Black fruit mingles with spice, warm stones and soy flavors. Intense and long in the juicy fruit driven finish. While it can be enjoyed currently, I suggest 3 to 5 more years in a cool cellar.
Happy to move 8 cases of wine to get to this beauty. — 2 days ago

Samvel Simonyants

8.9

13/VII/2018
Пыль, джем из ежевики и черешни, темная слива, стружка горького шоколада, красное яблоко, ультралегкий уксусный тон. Аромат сиропный и утяжеленный. Полное тело, объемное и вместе с тем подтянутое, молодые, но не агрессивные танины. Во вкусе добавляется сироп солодки и сок лимона, хорошо интегрированный, добавляющий сочность и напряжение общей органолептике. Вкус значительно интереснее аромата. 16,5/20 — 4 days ago

Kyle Groombridge

9.2

This wine leaves me with the question: Why the heck do I not drink northern Rhône every night? Chave is as good as it gets and this is his lower end stuff.. it’s still amazing. Smells like delicious charcoal burning when you fire up the grill.. olive brine, beautiful texture, dried floral aromatics. Dark and ripe in the glass, showing the ripeness of the vintage.. beautiful balance. This guy just keeps impressing. Go get some. — 5 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

A wine that I buy every year that is a great QPR & never disappoints! Love the aromatics of black cherry, smoked meats, black olive, mineral & violet. Still youthful that needed an hr in the decanter. — 14 hours ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Second bottle of this wine & vintage in the last month or two. Of all the CA Syrah producers, I think Alban comes the closest to the true style of Northern Rhône and certainly one of my favorite producers of Syrah out of CA.

The nose reveals; creamy roasted blackberries, dark cherries, spiced black plum, huckleberries, black raspberries, raspberry cola, some bacon fat, savory meats, black & white pepper, hints of tobacco leaf, softened leather, touch of dry herbs, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil/clay, dry stems, light vanilla with withering dark flowers, lavender & violets.

The body is round, ruby, lush, rich and full. The structure, length, tension and balance are rounded in harmony. The wine is seamless wire to wire. Creamy roasted blackberries, dark cherries, spiced black plum, huckleberries, black raspberries, raspberry cola, strawberries & cherries that start on the mid palate some bacon fat, savory meats, black & white pepper, hints of tobacco leaf, saddle-wood, dark spice w/ some lifting heat, touch of dry herbs, tarry notes, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil/clay, dry stems, light vanilla with withering dark flowers, lavender & violets. The acidity is round and excellent. The long, elegant, well balanced finish goes on for minutes.

While Alban makes many excellent single Vineyard Syrah’s like; Reva, Lorraine & Seymour, which are much more expensive, I am happy to enjoy Patrina for much less money. The QPR for Patrina is superior to their other more expensive bottling’s with far less drop in wine quality vs. the price difference.

Photos of, their Reva Vineyard, Owner-Winemaker, John Alban, their barrel room and the beautiful fruit they grow ready for harvest. — 12 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Classic Northern Rhône (more specifically Saint Joseph)-like nose. Oodles of crushed granite dust, very spicy blackberry-skin fruit, and you can actually sense the acidity on the nose. Almost a Loire-like freshness in the mouth, though it’s plainly Syrah. Savory, minerally, very pure and with mouth-watering acidity, which makes sense at only 12% alcohol. Basically duels Herve Souhaut to a draw at Herve’s own game. — 3 days ago

with Lyle

TheSkip

9.6

Stunning! Possibly one of the finest noses on a wine I have had ever. Just explosive with so many aromas that my head spins. Lovely fresh palate with balance of power and grace. Wonderful job @Fraser McKinley — 6 days ago

Shay A

9.4

Impromptu meet up at Classic! Having a relaxing Friday afternoon with good friends and good wine makes for a perfect start to a weekend!

This was my contribution. Killer nose. Reminds me of Lillian’s Syrah, which is pulling from the same vineyard. Black pepper, grilled blackberries and teriyaki beef jerky. Spicy front palate with peppercorn. Mid palate brought along more rhubarb tart and cedar. Tight and tannic finish. First experience with HS and my thoughts are these wines are made in a style like Bevan’s cabs...Rhône style wines that are just fantastic young. Many thanks @TheSkip for the intro to Hermann Story after knowing my curiosity of them! — 6 days ago

with Dan and Mark

Keith Herrick

9.8

STUNNING! Wotn, one of the best syrahs that I have ever had! Instantly recognizable as a reynaud wine on the nose. Meat, garrigue, red plum, cherry, rosemary... all things great about southern rhone, but through the eyes of Syrah with more tannin and structure than a typical Grenache. This wine is at its apex! The only thing stopping it from a being a perfect wine in my eyes is that it is a bit slutty. — 9 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Such a meaty inviting nose. Black fruits, forest, lavender, thyme, floral, so stunning. What a value. Such classic unfettered st. Jo. Palate has terrific energy and precision. Big structure but sappy and insane freshness and acidity. Long and young. I’d wait 3-5 years. But so killer. — 9 days ago