This is a pretty light whiskey at 34 proof. But if it is supposed to be wine--and I think it is, right--what the hell? I've had many bottles of Alban over the years, but 16.9% alcohol is just silly. No longer consumable as wine. Weak whiskey or maybe madeira.
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Fully mature, but with every bit of its fruit and power intact. This was a mind-blowing beautiful bottle of wine. Read all the other notes. You have to like the style, but if you do this will deliver.
Decanted about 30 minutes before pouring, and enjoyed with a grilled hanger steak. Fantastic.
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Purple color. Nose of briar, plum, licorice, moca, tar. Huge on the palate but not unbalanced, with layers of blackberry, bramble, pepper, garrigue, and currant. Lower acidity, serious tannins, long finish of plum and pepper. Big blast of a Rhône Ranger.
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Double-decanted about three hours before service. Super-inky purple; as rich and dark in taste as it was in looks. Tons of black fruit, but not a mere fruit-bomb; a very solid, structured wine. Our Barbera-drinker, who often likes Syrah, was not crazy about this one; but our Cabernet-drinkers liked it quite a bit.
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Wow, opaque ruby color that is just as expected. The nose on opening was an earthy Boysenberry. As the wine reached room temperature, the flavors of tar and licorice along with scortched earth shined right through. After about 2.5 hours, the wines natural fruit began to fade into an earthy monster. The legs on this wine are clinging to my glass as they should. Ahh, Alban! EG WineArchitect
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Very expansive nose, rich, soft, smooth, full-bodied blackberry/black raspberry fruit with earthy, meaty, and smokey flavors, excellent structure and finish, beautiful complexity and depth, alcohol not an issue
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I've noticed in the Lorraine, Reva, and Pandora an occasional weird funk. This wine has it slightly. I have not noticed it in the seymours however. Given the price of this wine i had expected more. Unique and unmistakable as Alban, this wine still failed to wow. BTW latest release price is $145.00.
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A nearly opaque deep blackberry color with blue tones. Only on the edges will light pass through this wine. Upon opening the nose was cocoa powder, hickory smoke and licorice. The flavors are so terroir driven they make it difficult to taste blackberry, tar and spearmint. The fruit is dark and yearning for time to soften. This is intense Rhone Ranger based on location, location, location! This wine actually tastes better with food. EG
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Wineflock - Alban Intro/Retro (Home): Group #5, My #6 - Full opaque red color. A bit musty on the nose (a perfect bottle?). A bit muted but big fruit with bacon on the finish. A more hedonistic style than the others, but for me this wasn't showing as well as I expected based on past experience - was surprised on the unveil on this one. May have been slightly marred...
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The second time I've had Alban's Syrah with Morton's beef steak tomato and bleu cheese confirming that it's an awesome combo. Follow the salad up with a filet and you'll definitely want to repeat the experience, as I did. Big Syrah with all the Rhone minerality, stone, chalk and blueberry and pomegranate on the palate. A complex wine with structure and depth.
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The color of the wine was like blackberry ink, opaque to the core. Opened cold out of the cellar at 56 degrees. Huge aromatics of menthol, undertones of rasberry, hints of bacon fat, hickory smoke, spearmint and licorice. All of the flavor of this particular bottle were in the aromatics, not in the mouth. One flavor of bitter chocolate was discernible through the heavy terroir. I think they should slumber for a while.
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was taken to a double blind tonight, decanted 2hrs placed back in bottle for 2hrs and tasted over another 2hrs. Only one vote out of 12 for a first or second place, and I agree. Too extracted, big, and freaky, I guess this is favored by some but was a freakshow for our group (btw, the other 2xblinds were 91 Marcassin Chard/79 Ducru/98 Grange/96 Vega/94 Stags Leap Fay). I am very happy that I left this list after the absurd bundling with the 06 Grenache, and 70% price increase for the 05 Lorraine. Obviously appeals to RMP, but no longer to me. Holding out hope for my remaining Revas and Seymours, kind of like the hope for our economy and banking system...
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Color: inpenetrable purple, Nose: blueberry sloppy joes with a hint of diesel smothered in chocolate syrup, Taste: blueberry cough syrup, harsh leatherette, slight tannins, brown spice, Finish: see taste, but with a stiffer profile...
Decanted for 2 hours, drank over 3 hours...we tried this with dinner but it was awful with every single dish!!!
Will sell the last 2 on winebid
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Wow! First opened to decant about one and one half hours while I prepared and cooked way too many potatoe latkes. The wine has loads of crushed rasperry jam with aromas of smoke and black licorice. Much more open than I thought it would be while I was working in the kitchen. The color of the wine is so dark and inky that light will not pass through it, but for only the edge, to determine the purple color. I am glad I have three more to enjoy. A great wine from a awesome winemaker!
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Decanted for 2 hrs, drank over 4 hrs. Color was the deepest purple, with slight red rimming. Legs were huge, probably due to the near 17percent alcohol. Nose was campfire blueberries and kerosene. Big and thick in the mouth, smoked blueberries and tar were abundant. No Reva qualities of beef and blood. A touch of stewed tomatoe. The finish was sour blueberries, firm tannins, and nothing else. A genuine sourness to the finishness that is not at all consistent with the 02/03 or 02/03 Revas. Perhaps, I erred in drinking this at 4 years. Will save the other 3 for another year or two, but not at all interested in the 05 at a 70% premium to the 04. MMFJ, or more money for Justin, Smith that is, Saxum.
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Blueberries, blackberries, leather, tar and earth. Huge concentration and extraction but not overblown like other efforts. Actually exceptionally well balanced for this style of wine. Full bodied with a very nice acidity. A deep and complex finish that lasts forever. No signs of heat at all despite its lofty 16.9% alcohol. Probably the finest Alban I have drank in some time. This wine definitely lives up to the lofty scores and hype of the critics.
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Great American Syrah Smackdown (My House): My #3, Group #4 - Full deep opaque black purple. Lifted bright acidic blu blackberry with tar notes on the nose. Big rich concentrated black fruit, spice, tar, asphalt, and a coffee note on the finish. Also easy to pick out blind as Alban - similar characteristics to the 03 Reva.
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The wine is a deep dark bluish purple color. The nose is intense with dark fruit, floral notes, earth and blueberry. This is a full bodied, thick, well balanced wine. The flavor is best described as mouth filling with layers of blueberry and other dark fruits, concentrated yet appealing. The finish is super long and finally syrah spiciness starts showing, with some tannin, but the highlight is still fruit. Drink the last bottle is a couple of years.
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Great American Syrah Smackdown (Chris Hughes' place - Chicago, IL): Deep opaque purple with an awkward nose of stemmy fruits and charred oak that came across bitter. Palate has sweet, rich and extracted dark fruits. Full and ripe on entry with a massive mid palate and a medium-long finish. Besides the weird nose the palate also lacked distinction among other wines tonight. Tied for group's #7.
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Was outstanding. Only complaint from Christian was that it wasn't varietily correct for a syrah. 16.9% alchohol was surprisingly high. Finish goes on and on. Should wait to '08 to open my next one.
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Virtually perfect syrah in my mind. Dark violet in the glass, dark berries on the nose. Superthick unctuous texture in the mouth...perfect balance, dark fruits dominate, 45 second finish.
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10/16/2019 - 560 B&W Does not like this wine: 85 Points
This is a pretty light whiskey at 34 proof. But if it is supposed to be wine--and I think it is, right--what the hell? I've had many bottles of Alban over the years, but 16.9% alcohol is just silly. No longer consumable as wine. Weak whiskey or maybe madeira.
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11/29/2018 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
WCC US Syrah Blind (Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY): Intense ripe nose. Quite tannic, but with loads of ripe fruit. Still needs time.
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4/14/2018 - warrenpeace Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent balance for a high alcohol wine. Fruit very much shines through. Can sail on for 5+ years
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2/11/2018 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 95 Points
Remarkable bottle of syrah. These wine are just terrific once the get beyond ten years of age. Gorgeous fruit, no heat, wonderfully subtle minerality.
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2/28/2015 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Too much alcohol. But still great wine.
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2/14/2015 - Deryl Likes this wine: 97 Points
Fully mature, but with every bit of its fruit and power intact. This was a mind-blowing beautiful bottle of wine. Read all the other notes. You have to like the style, but if you do this will deliver.
Decanted about 30 minutes before pouring, and enjoyed with a grilled hanger steak. Fantastic.
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1/20/2015 - kstoddard wrote:
Not a fan of this style anymore
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8/8/2014 - DougLee wrote: 92 Points
Purple color. Nose of briar, plum, licorice, moca, tar. Huge on the palate but not unbalanced, with layers of blackberry, bramble, pepper, garrigue, and currant. Lower acidity, serious tannins, long finish of plum and pepper. Big blast of a Rhône Ranger.
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8/24/2013 - tirmi Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tight as usual for Alban
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7/23/2011 - Quequeg wrote: 92 Points
Double-decanted about three hours before service. Super-inky purple; as rich and dark in taste as it was in looks. Tons of black fruit, but not a mere fruit-bomb; a very solid, structured wine. Our Barbera-drinker, who often likes Syrah, was not crazy about this one; but our Cabernet-drinkers liked it quite a bit.
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4/21/2011 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow, opaque ruby color that is just as expected. The nose on opening was an earthy Boysenberry. As the wine reached room temperature, the flavors of tar and licorice along with scortched earth shined right through. After about 2.5 hours, the wines natural fruit began to fade into an earthy monster. The legs on this wine are clinging to my glass as they should. Ahh, Alban! EG WineArchitect
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4/14/2011 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Very expansive nose, rich, soft, smooth, full-bodied blackberry/black raspberry fruit with earthy, meaty, and smokey flavors, excellent structure and finish, beautiful complexity and depth, alcohol not an issue
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12/3/2010 - bonedocnine wrote: 87 Points
I've noticed in the Lorraine, Reva, and Pandora an occasional weird funk. This wine has it slightly. I have not noticed it in the seymours however. Given the price of this wine i had expected more. Unique and unmistakable as Alban, this wine still failed to wow. BTW latest release price is $145.00.
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11/3/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 94 Points
A nearly opaque deep blackberry color with blue tones. Only on the edges will light pass through this wine. Upon opening the nose was cocoa powder, hickory smoke and licorice. The flavors are so terroir driven they make it difficult to taste blackberry, tar and spearmint. The fruit is dark and yearning for time to soften. This is intense Rhone Ranger based on location, location, location! This wine actually tastes better with food. EG
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8/24/2009 - CMCLR wrote: 95 Points
Awesome. Very long finish, terrific fruit. Alcohol not an issue.
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6/15/2009 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Wineflock - Alban Intro/Retro (Home): Group #5, My #6 - Full opaque red color. A bit musty on the nose (a perfect bottle?). A bit muted but big fruit with bacon on the finish. A more hedonistic style than the others, but for me this wasn't showing as well as I expected based on past experience - was surprised on the unveil on this one. May have been slightly marred...
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6/12/2009 - Baeyens Cellars wrote: 95 Points
The second time I've had Alban's Syrah with Morton's beef steak tomato and bleu cheese confirming that it's an awesome combo. Follow the salad up with a filet and you'll definitely want to repeat the experience, as I did. Big Syrah with all the Rhone minerality, stone, chalk and blueberry and pomegranate on the palate. A complex wine with structure and depth.
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6/3/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 94 Points
The color of the wine was like blackberry ink, opaque to the core. Opened cold out of the cellar at 56 degrees. Huge aromatics of menthol, undertones of rasberry, hints of bacon fat, hickory smoke, spearmint and licorice. All of the flavor of this particular bottle were in the aromatics, not in the mouth. One flavor of bitter chocolate was discernible through the heavy terroir. I think they should slumber for a while.
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4/29/2009 - JLL wrote: 88 Points
was taken to a double blind tonight, decanted 2hrs placed back in bottle for 2hrs and tasted over another 2hrs. Only one vote out of 12 for a first or second place, and I agree. Too extracted, big, and freaky, I guess this is favored by some but was a freakshow for our group (btw, the other 2xblinds were 91 Marcassin Chard/79 Ducru/98 Grange/96 Vega/94 Stags Leap Fay). I am very happy that I left this list after the absurd bundling with the 06 Grenache, and 70% price increase for the 05 Lorraine. Obviously appeals to RMP, but no longer to me. Holding out hope for my remaining Revas and Seymours, kind of like the hope for our economy and banking system...
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2/18/2009 - JLL wrote: 86 Points
Color: inpenetrable purple, Nose: blueberry sloppy joes with a hint of diesel smothered in chocolate syrup, Taste: blueberry cough syrup, harsh leatherette, slight tannins, brown spice, Finish: see taste, but with a stiffer profile...
Decanted for 2 hours, drank over 3 hours...we tried this with dinner but it was awful with every single dish!!!
Will sell the last 2 on winebid
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12/23/2008 - WineArchitect wrote: 95 Points
Wow! First opened to decant about one and one half hours while I prepared and cooked way too many potatoe latkes. The wine has loads of crushed rasperry jam with aromas of smoke and black licorice. Much more open than I thought it would be while I was working in the kitchen. The color of the wine is so dark and inky that light will not pass through it, but for only the edge, to determine the purple color. I am glad I have three more to enjoy. A great wine from a awesome winemaker!
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12/12/2008 - JLL wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs, drank over 4 hrs. Color was the deepest purple, with slight red rimming. Legs were huge, probably due to the near 17percent alcohol. Nose was campfire blueberries and kerosene. Big and thick in the mouth, smoked blueberries and tar were abundant. No Reva qualities of beef and blood. A touch of stewed tomatoe. The finish was sour blueberries, firm tannins, and nothing else. A genuine sourness to the finishness that is not at all consistent with the 02/03 or 02/03 Revas. Perhaps, I erred in drinking this at 4 years. Will save the other 3 for another year or two, but not at all interested in the 05 at a 70% premium to the 04. MMFJ, or more money for Justin, Smith that is, Saxum.
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11/22/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 95 Points
Blueberries, blackberries, leather, tar and earth. Huge concentration and extraction but not overblown like other efforts. Actually exceptionally well balanced for this style of wine. Full bodied with a very nice acidity. A deep and complex finish that lasts forever. No signs of heat at all despite its lofty 16.9% alcohol. Probably the finest Alban I have drank in some time. This wine definitely lives up to the lofty scores and hype of the critics.
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11/21/2007 - goofy Yno wrote: 94 Points
nice wine, smoky dark fruits. good balance, with stong fruit, good balance, long finish.
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10/4/2007 - winefool wrote: 95 Points
Great American Syrah Smackdown (My House): My #3, Group #4 - Full deep opaque black purple. Lifted bright acidic blu blackberry with tar notes on the nose. Big rich concentrated black fruit, spice, tar, asphalt, and a coffee note on the finish. Also easy to pick out blind as Alban - similar characteristics to the 03 Reva.
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10/4/2007 - enosnob wrote: 98 Points
The wine is a deep dark bluish purple color. The nose is intense with dark fruit, floral notes, earth and blueberry. This is a full bodied, thick, well balanced wine. The flavor is best described as mouth filling with layers of blueberry and other dark fruits, concentrated yet appealing. The finish is super long and finally syrah spiciness starts showing, with some tannin, but the highlight is still fruit. Drink the last bottle is a couple of years.
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10/4/2007 - Nanda wrote: 88 Points
Great American Syrah Smackdown (Chris Hughes' place - Chicago, IL): Deep opaque purple with an awkward nose of stemmy fruits and charred oak that came across bitter. Palate has sweet, rich and extracted dark fruits. Full and ripe on entry with a massive mid palate and a medium-long finish. Besides the weird nose the palate also lacked distinction among other wines tonight. Tied for group's #7.
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9/23/2007 - CMCLR wrote: 96 Points
Was outstanding. Only complaint from Christian was that it wasn't varietily correct for a syrah. 16.9% alchohol was surprisingly high. Finish goes on and on. Should wait to '08 to open my next one.
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9/2/2007 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 99 Points
inky purple, perfectly balanced, thick and unctuous, coats your entire palate. drinking beautifully right now.
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5/7/2007 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 98 Points
Virtually perfect syrah in my mind. Dark violet in the glass, dark berries on the nose. Superthick unctuous texture in the mouth...perfect balance, dark fruits dominate, 45 second finish.
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