1999 Alban Vineyards Grenache Alban Estate Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 92 points

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  3/4/2024 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Decanted for sediment, 14.2 abv(yay!) This wine has always been an acid bomb, not really drinkable, and last had a bottle 12yrs ago...it was brilliant! This bottle is the last in the cellar...showing a gorgeous cloudy cran cherry with slight orange rim color...nose of classic Alban tar reduction, crushed cherries/plums, dusty white pepper, menthol tobacco leaves, leather and old cellar. Captivating and inviting nose! SUPER alive and tart with that cranberry acidity...but well integrated with the meaty, sweet and liqueured cherry/raspberry/cranberry fruit...really red berried laser focused. Age has brought on some finesse...complexities like on the nose...love the menthol and leather...tart pucker of cherry sour tarts...and the nuanced integration of the earthy Alban tar...beautiful florals and smoky wood spice...but MAN...that tartness is wild! I dig this!

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  12/4/2012 - BVal wrote: 91 Points

  Color: medium ruby -> medium/light ruby rim; no discernable bricking. Bouquet of calamatta olives, leather, wild game, boysenberries. Palate came across pretty wild and full of personality: licorice, motor oil, graphite, calamatta olives and some gaminess. Thicker than expected--almost syrah-ish but very noticeable acidity. Great depth and structure still with a medium long finish. Delicious wine and drinking great right now.

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  2/5/2012 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points

  All kinds of unusual herbal and spice flavors with this Grenache. I was kind of expecting a heavy thick wine, but this was actually light on its feet with good balance and freshness. Very nice wine right now.

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  1/16/2012 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Alban Vineyards Tasting 1993-2009 (Buzzini House): FINALLY the big acid has broken! This wine has never been drinkable to me...but that was in its youth. The acid is still very much pronounced, but now balanced, making this wine fresh and alive. Still pretty rich wild berry fruit, some plum skin tartness, raspberry puree, great smoky funky tar...total Alban terroir! Just loved this!

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  1/17/2009 - JFish wrote:

  Decanted for a few hours. Some reductive notes on the nose and palate but this is one deep, dark grenache. Big mid-palate that hangs on. This wine is going strong and should last quite a while longer.

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