Forsythe Vineyard (Alban)
The Mason Edna Valley Mourvedre
Edna Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
If Lorraine would only let John get rid of the deer around their property, everyone could enjoy this wine more often!!!
If Lorraine would only let John get rid of the deer around their property, everyone could enjoy this wine more often!!!
2 people found it helpfulOct 7th, 2013
Great structure and spice. Perfect pair w smoked ribs w huckleberry BBQ sauce. Beautifully made.
Great structure and spice. Perfect pair w smoked ribs w huckleberry BBQ sauce. Beautifully made.
1 person found it helpfulNov 28th, 2016
Good grief! Mourvedre dialed up to 11 (with the ABV ratcheted up proportionately). If you're of the more-is-more persuasion, this one's for you. Me? Not so much.
Good grief! Mourvedre dialed up to 11 (with the ABV ratcheted up proportionately). If you're of the more-is-more persuasion, this one's for you. Me? Not so much.
1 person found it helpfulJul 19th, 2016Wow. Absolutely delicious.
Wow. Absolutely delicious.
1 person found it helpfulApr 9th, 2016
Off-scale wine from John and Lorraine Alban, this 2006 version of "The Mason" is drinking spectacularly well. 100% mourvedre (I think), John makes one barrel of this a year. Usually a little rough when young, after 9 years this wine has softened and become beautifully integrated with great fruit, wonderful balance, and a seamless finish. Easily the star of our yearly Christmas wine party (that included a 3-year vertical of Saxum's Broken Stones), this is a great wine.
Off-scale wine from John and Lorraine Alban, this 2006 version of "The Mason" is drinking spectacularly well. 100% mourvedre (I think), John makes one barrel of this a year. Usually a little rough when young, after 9 years this wine has softened and become beautifully integrated with great fruit, wonderful balance, and a seamless finish. Easily the star of our yearly Christmas wine party (that included a 3-year vertical of Saxum's Broken Stones), this is a great wine.
1 person found it helpfulDec 27th, 2015
Catching up on some wines. Enjoyed this with my friend @Shay A in FW last month at the 4th Friday event. I did not know what I had here. Really enjoyed this…
Catching up on some wines. Enjoyed this with my friend @Shay A in FW last month at the 4th Friday event. I did not know what I had here. Really enjoyed this…
Nov 1st, 2023
Pretty cool tasting this wine! Interesting take on Mourvèdre. Very good.
Pretty cool tasting this wine! Interesting take on Mourvèdre. Very good.
Mar 19th, 2017
Still needs air, at least 4 hours. Or 2nd day wine. Potent juice, mouth puckering tartness on the finish at pop & pour.
The 2010 Forsythe is 100% Mourvedre that comes from a small plot of decomposed sandstone soils. Classic Mourvedre
Still needs air, at least 4 hours. Or 2nd day wine. Potent juice, mouth puckering tartness on the finish at pop & pour.
The 2010 Forsythe is 100% Mourvedre that comes from a small plot of decomposed sandstone soils. Classic Mourvedre
Buy it if you see it, aftertaste stays with you for 5 minutes. Has another 10 years easy
Parker 96 review
A more recent addition to the portfolio at Alban is their 2007 Mourvedre Forsythe. This particular vintage, aged about 26 months in barrel, is a blend of 75% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, and the rest Syrah. This is the best Mourvedre-based wine in California. Inky bluish purple, with notes of anise, lavender, sweet black fruits, tobacco leaf, and incense, the wine is extraordinarily rich, powerful, full-bodied, yet remarkably silky. In short, this is an astonishing achievement for a Mourvedre-based wine. Since this is an anti-oxidant grape varietal, I would think this wine has at least 15-20 more years of life to it.
Buy it if you see it, aftertaste stays with you for 5 minutes. Has another 10 years easy
Parker 96 review
A more recent addition to the portfolio at Alban is their 2007 Mourvedre Forsythe. This particular vintage, aged about 26 months in barrel, is a blend of 75% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, and the rest Syrah. This is the best Mourvedre-based wine in California. Inky bluish purple, with notes of anise, lavender, sweet black fruits, tobacco leaf, and incense, the wine is extraordinarily rich, powerful, full-bodied, yet remarkably silky. In short, this is an astonishing achievement for a Mourvedre-based wine. Since this is an anti-oxidant grape varietal, I would think this wine has at least 15-20 more years of life to it.
No idea what the “pros” were drinking to give this a 8.8 rating average, but it wasn’t this. One of my favorite wines, this used to be 100% mourvedre but now I think is usually blended a bit with other rhone varietals from John Alban’s stable. The story behind the label is great - happy to share for those interested!
No idea what the “pros” were drinking to give this a 8.8 rating average, but it wasn’t this. One of my favorite wines, this used to be 100% mourvedre but now I think is usually blended a bit with other rhone varietals from John Alban’s stable. The story behind the label is great - happy to share for those interested!
Jul 21st, 2021