Alban Vineyards
Patrina Alban Estate Syrah
Edna Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
The best welcome back wine I could imagine after 40+ days of lent detox. This 9 year old Patrina filled the room with big plush purple Syrah goodness. It’s not a monster... it’s a controlled athlete that packs a wallop! The Mohammed Ali of wine. I’m looking for another 2012...
The best welcome back wine I could imagine after 40+ days of lent detox. This 9 year old Patrina filled the room with big plush purple Syrah goodness. It’s not a monster... it’s a controlled athlete that packs a wallop! The Mohammed Ali of wine. I’m looking for another 2012...
Apr 7th, 2021
Nice and smooth, very high alcohol content but doesn’t really affect the enjoyment of it. Will pair nice with pasta
Nice and smooth, very high alcohol content but doesn’t really affect the enjoyment of it. Will pair nice with pasta
Mar 19th, 2021
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.
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.
I like the Patrina for its quality and QPR. Its quality is not all that far from the Reva but, about half price.
I also find the roasted or roasted chestnut quality I find in Rostaing wine out of Rhone. It is my belief, they have more or less styled their wines from Rostaing.
The nose reveals; dark, ruby & slightly candied, currants, purple fruit mix, blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries, baked, spiced plum, roasted chestnuts, smoke, grilled meats, touch of bacon fat, heavy expresso roast, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, dry brush, pepper notes, some caramel, mid, nicely layered baking spices, dry herbaceousiness with bay leaf dominance, with fresh, blue, dark flowers with greens topped of with field of lavender.
The body is rich, lush and full. The tension, structure, length and balance are about five years from its peak. The tannins round yet, grainy and speak to another 10 years of excellent drinking ahead. Dark, ruby & slightly candied, currants, ripe; purple fruit mix, blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries & baked, spiced plum. Anise to black licorice, roasted chestnuts, smoke, grilled meats, touch of bacon fat, heavy expresso roast, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil with clay mixed in, dry brush, pepper notes, some caramel, mid, nicely layered baking spices, dry herbaceousiness with bay leaf dominance, with fresh, candied, purple, blue & dark florals with greens topped of with field of lavender. The acidity balances the alcohol like a waterfall over the palate. The long, ruby, ripe, slightly candied, well balanced finish slides into dry tannins & earth and persists several minutes.
Paired well with our slightly spicy Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Skews, Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Green Beans.
Photos of; the Patrina Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker-John Alban and imagery inside their barrel room.
I like the Patrina for its quality and QPR. Its quality is not all that far from the Reva but, about half price.
I also find the roasted or roasted chestnut quality I find in Rostaing wine out of Rhone. It is my belief, they have more or less styled their wines from Rostaing.
The nose reveals; dark, ruby & slightly candied, currants, purple fruit mix, blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries, baked, spiced plum, roasted chestnuts, smoke, grilled meats, touch of bacon fat, heavy expresso roast, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, dry brush, pepper notes, some caramel, mid, nicely layered baking spices, dry herbaceousiness with bay leaf dominance, with fresh, blue, dark flowers with greens topped of with field of lavender.
The body is rich, lush and full. The tension, structure, length and balance are about five years from its peak. The tannins round yet, grainy and speak to another 10 years of excellent drinking ahead. Dark, ruby & slightly candied, currants, ripe; purple fruit mix, blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries & baked, spiced plum. Anise to black licorice, roasted chestnuts, smoke, grilled meats, touch of bacon fat, heavy expresso roast, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil with clay mixed in, dry brush, pepper notes, some caramel, mid, nicely layered baking spices, dry herbaceousiness with bay leaf dominance, with fresh, candied, purple, blue & dark florals with greens topped of with field of lavender. The acidity balances the alcohol like a waterfall over the palate. The long, ruby, ripe, slightly candied, well balanced finish slides into dry tannins & earth and persists several minutes.
Paired well with our slightly spicy Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Skews, Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Green Beans.
Photos of; the Patrina Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker-John Alban and imagery inside their barrel room.
I love the Reva & the Lorraine and they are better but, for $100 plus less, I’ll take the Patrina.
The nose shows; roasted dark currants, blackberries wrapped in blueberries, bright lavender & lush, fresh violets. Dark, used expresso grounds, black raspberries, mulberries, boysenberries, back plum, anise, some smoke meats & bacon fat, roasted chestnuts, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, sweet tarriness, dark mid intensity spices, baking spices; nutmeg, clove with light cinnamon & vanilla, black pepper, nice, soft, dry herbaceous notes, sage, understated, dry, underbrush, limestone minerals, a little dry crushed rocks with amazing lush fresh florals as stated.
The body is thick & full. The mouthfeel is sexy & gorgeous. The tannins are round, soft, velvety with some meaty stickiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are at their peak. Despite what some well known professional critics would say that it’s waning, not even close. Dark roasted dark currants, blackberries wrapped in blueberries, bright lavender & lush, fresh violets. used French roast expresso grounds, black raspberries, mulberries, boysenberries, back plum, baked strawberries, anise, some smoke meats & bacon fat, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, sweet tarriness, dark heavier intensity spices than the nose, baking spices; nutmeg, clove with light cinnamon & vanilla, dark chocolate wrapped in mocha, black pepper, nice, soft, dry herbaceous notes, sage, mint, understated, dry, underbrush, limestone minerals, moist clay, a little dry crushed rocks with amazing florals. The acidity is perfect. The gorgeous, sexy, lush, ripe, ruby, we’ll balanced fruit and earth and persists in the mouth endlessly.
Photos of; the adobe house of the Albans, Owner-Winemaker, John Alban, their beautiful Syrah fruit ready for harvest and their Roussanne vineyard.
I love the Reva & the Lorraine and they are better but, for $100 plus less, I’ll take the Patrina.
The nose shows; roasted dark currants, blackberries wrapped in blueberries, bright lavender & lush, fresh violets. Dark, used expresso grounds, black raspberries, mulberries, boysenberries, back plum, anise, some smoke meats & bacon fat, roasted chestnuts, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, sweet tarriness, dark mid intensity spices, baking spices; nutmeg, clove with light cinnamon & vanilla, black pepper, nice, soft, dry herbaceous notes, sage, understated, dry, underbrush, limestone minerals, a little dry crushed rocks with amazing lush fresh florals as stated.
The body is thick & full. The mouthfeel is sexy & gorgeous. The tannins are round, soft, velvety with some meaty stickiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are at their peak. Despite what some well known professional critics would say that it’s waning, not even close. Dark roasted dark currants, blackberries wrapped in blueberries, bright lavender & lush, fresh violets. used French roast expresso grounds, black raspberries, mulberries, boysenberries, back plum, baked strawberries, anise, some smoke meats & bacon fat, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, sweet tarriness, dark heavier intensity spices than the nose, baking spices; nutmeg, clove with light cinnamon & vanilla, dark chocolate wrapped in mocha, black pepper, nice, soft, dry herbaceous notes, sage, mint, understated, dry, underbrush, limestone minerals, moist clay, a little dry crushed rocks with amazing florals. The acidity is perfect. The gorgeous, sexy, lush, ripe, ruby, we’ll balanced fruit and earth and persists in the mouth endlessly.
Photos of; the adobe house of the Albans, Owner-Winemaker, John Alban, their beautiful Syrah fruit ready for harvest and their Roussanne vineyard.
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.
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.
Alban Vineyards, the original Rhône Ranger. Of all the CA producers that try to emulate the Rhône style, I believe, Alban Vineyards emulate it best!
On the nose; ripe fruits of mixed berries, savory meats, pork & bacon fat. Mocha, dusty dry brown top soil, powdery volcanic minerals, dry underbrush, vanilla, cherry/raspberry cola, dark, rich black soil, beautiful spice, fresh red & dark florals.
The body is medium to full, round & ripe. Tannins are nicely soften with plenty of life ahead. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, creamy raspberries, plum, boysenberries & some blue fruits. Savory meats, pork, bacon fat, dry brush, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, cola, some dark moist soil, limestone, some black licorice, touch of spice & black pepper, red & dark florals with violets, great round acidity and a rich, round, well balanced, elegant finish that lasts & lasts.
Photos of, the Patrina Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker-John Alban, nice Syrah fruit bunch and their barrel room.
Alban Vineyards, the original Rhône Ranger. Of all the CA producers that try to emulate the Rhône style, I believe, Alban Vineyards emulate it best!
On the nose; ripe fruits of mixed berries, savory meats, pork & bacon fat. Mocha, dusty dry brown top soil, powdery volcanic minerals, dry underbrush, vanilla, cherry/raspberry cola, dark, rich black soil, beautiful spice, fresh red & dark florals.
The body is medium to full, round & ripe. Tannins are nicely soften with plenty of life ahead. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, creamy raspberries, plum, boysenberries & some blue fruits. Savory meats, pork, bacon fat, dry brush, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, cola, some dark moist soil, limestone, some black licorice, touch of spice & black pepper, red & dark florals with violets, great round acidity and a rich, round, well balanced, elegant finish that lasts & lasts.
Photos of, the Patrina Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker-John Alban, nice Syrah fruit bunch and their barrel room.
Rose floral. Round red mid palate. Lingering medicinal quality with good length.
Rose floral. Round red mid palate. Lingering medicinal quality with good length.
Nov 17th, 2017
Opened this to put the kibosh on Alabama. And it smells like it just might have those powers. Founded by John Alban in 1989, Alban Vineyards is the first American winery and vineyard established exclusively for Rhône varietals. Jeb Dunnuck said “One of the best entry-level wines out there is John's 2012 Syrah Patrina, and it competes with many top cuvees.” I wholeheartedly agree. Patrin is a gypsy word for leaf and grass blades. By mounding up patrin in specific configurations called Patrina, Gypsies mark secret trails that kinsmen can follow to special gathering places. Patrina guide these nomads to the site of what starts out as a simple get together underscored with wine and song. These bohemian celebrations of nothing in particular inevitably escalate with great abandon into wildly hedonistic carousing.
Aromatically virile. Intense aromas of black raspberry and kirsch, star anise, white flowers, violets, pepper, and baking spices. The palate is equally potent and sports a black fruit infused with red fruit character. The lush and ripe fruit is buttressed by layers of licorice, lavender pastille, chocolate, and cured meats. An all-time favorite of mine.
Opened this to put the kibosh on Alabama. And it smells like it just might have those powers. Founded by John Alban in 1989, Alban Vineyards is the first American winery and vineyard established exclusively for Rhône varietals. Jeb Dunnuck said “One of the best entry-level wines out there is John's 2012 Syrah Patrina, and it competes with many top cuvees.” I wholeheartedly agree. Patrin is a gypsy word for leaf and grass blades. By mounding up patrin in specific configurations called Patrina, Gypsies mark secret trails that kinsmen can follow to special gathering places. Patrina guide these nomads to the site of what starts out as a simple get together underscored with wine and song. These bohemian celebrations of nothing in particular inevitably escalate with great abandon into wildly hedonistic carousing.
Aromatically virile. Intense aromas of black raspberry and kirsch, star anise, white flowers, violets, pepper, and baking spices. The palate is equally potent and sports a black fruit infused with red fruit character. The lush and ripe fruit is buttressed by layers of licorice, lavender pastille, chocolate, and cured meats. An all-time favorite of mine.