Tom Casagrande

9.2

To me, this smells and tastes like a late-70s, old school Napa Cab. Very dark color. Nose charges out of the gates with cassis, olives, dark green pungent herbs, gravel, and a little iodine. Approachable (and enjoyable) already on the palate. Sure, it’s a bit tannic but they’re soft, with mouth-coating savory flavors. None of that damn chocolateyness I don’t like (which seems near-ubiquitous now in Napa Cabs), and zero jamminess. What a value (I got it for $39) for a very tasty and true-to-type Napa Cab. — 24 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Light ruby color with a dark core. Aromas of dried black cherries, caramel, cedar and dry soil. Bold flavors of ripe red cherries, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate and tobacco. Hint of dried rose petals on the long and persistent finish. Very soft tannins and wonderful balance. Extremely expressive. Thanks for sharing this one, Keith S! — 25 days ago

Julia Indik

9.4

Juicy dark fruit just hums from the start. Blackberries, plums, touch of cherry blending with soft tannins. A light acidity carries off fig, vanilla, and carob to the end. — a month ago

with Robert

Pooneet K

9.3

First bottle of a half case we bought at the domaine in 2021. Definitely will be better in a few years but nice to try one on the earlier side. What they say is true - this is really easily Brunello level. At this point the nose isn’t giving a ton, but there is great depth of fruit and earth on the palate. This hits in several more parts of the mouth than most wines and the finish goes on for quite a while. Medium plus tannins and acid which should balance out a bit with some more age.

Opened the bottle 5 hours prior to service and then decanted for 2. Real candidate to be 9.5+ in a few years. — 24 days ago

David D

9.2

A favorite mid-range Barolo, great value for the price. Good tar, dried roses, rounded tannins and acids, damp earth, some graphite, black pepper. From Flatiron Wines. 08/30/2025 — 25 days ago

Ed Chin

9.2

The softness and integration made this so pleasurable and easy to drink. It gave me the impression of something aged but with youthfulness in the fruit. — a month ago

Alan Weinberg

9.5

Wow but is this good. Lemony, no biscuits, definitely open for business. And delicious. So easy to drink with the bubbles in the background. — 25 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have wanted to do Alban side by side with Rostaing with a well seasoned Tri-tip. Tonight is the night.

The crowd that leans California liked the French better.

I have always thought Alban in the new world mimicked Rostaing’s style.

Both phenomenal and I enjoyed both for slightly different climate & soil reasons.

These two producers do Syrah without the heavy smoked meats & bacon fat of say Cayuse. — 25 days ago

Doug Griffin

9.8

Crazy bottle. Opens for 12 hours before dinner. Started mostly secondary…mushroom, truffle, leaves with some dark fruit hiding out. In the next hour a core of dark raspberry, almost chambord popped out. Tannins tame. Great balence of of aged secondary and ripe and extracted dark fruit..excellent — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby garnet , quite thin garnet rim , quite youthful in appearance. Quite exuberant and open from the off blackcurrant , cedar , tobacco , touch of earthy sous bois and grafite, still really quite alive . On the palate this is quite fine boned and elegant , cassis , cedar , blackberry and grafite notes . Refreshing acidity and resolved tannin , with quite reasonable length and good saline balance . Really quite classic , and though not a big , or intense wine , it is well balanced and at peak . Now and over the next 5 - 10 years. Surprises positively for a 1994. — a month ago