$26.99
One of California's finest Viogniers from the Master John Alban. Very limited.
93 points Robert Parker: "I continue to think John's Central Coast Viognier is one of the best values out there. The Alban Viognier has a wonderful, classic perfume: honeysuckle and quince with an intense core of peachy fruit plus accents of honeyed oats, baker’s yeast and citrus peel. The palate is medium-bodied, intensely flavored and extraordinarily fresh, finishing very long. So lovely!"
92 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Pale green-hued yellow. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of mineral-accented white peach, Anjou pear, melon and orange zest carry a bright floral overtone that gains strength with air. Juicy, fresh and densely packed, displaying a suave interplay of richness and vivacity to the orchard and pit fruit flavors. Shows impressive power and definition on the strikingly long finish, which strongly echoes the peach and floral qualities."
91 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Alban Viognier Central Coast and is a serious winner. Possessing an elegant, medium to full-bodied, ultra-pure profile as well as classic notes of caramelized citrus, white flowers, and hints of orange marmalade, it’s well worth a multi-bottle purchase and will keep for 2-3 years."
John Alban is a pioneering central coast master of Rhône varietals, and his Alban Vineyards label is one of the most sought-out sources for what many consider the pinnacle expressions of these grapes in California. His Viognier wines are routinely hailed as top examples of the varietal, and not just from his neighbors, but from many of the top players in Condrieu as well. From the winery: "We make two Viogniers: A Central Coast bottling that is often more than 75% from our own vineyard, and an Estate bottling. The former showcases the forward heady stone fruit of this variety. It is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel and bottled early."
$69.99
Brand new Syrah release from John Alban - limited.
97 Points Robert Parker:Â "Still in barrel, the 2020 Syrah Patrina is youthfully lush and hedonistic, the nose loaded with wild berry jam scents and touches of iron, aniseed and orange peel. The stunning palate balances concentration and detail and is supported by powdery tannins and exuberant freshness, offering notable purity and length at this stage. "There was big-time sorting this vintage and a lot of selection before we even picked," John Alban says. The 2020 Patrina is fairly representative of the final wine, having been assembled and racked once. It is due to be bottled in January of 2023 and released in the spring."
Brix26 Inside Scoop: Intermittently, Alban Vineyards produced a 'Central Coast Syrah' which was never predictable in either when it was made or its quantity but was always tremendously popular. With each sporadic release, it became undeniable that lots of people wanted this wine. Likewise, it became painfully clear to Alban that without control of the vineyards from which this wine would derive, nothing about it would ever be reliable. In 2005, Alban discontinued purchasing grapes for the Central Coast Syrah to develop his own vineyards and the 'Patrina' Syrah was born.