20 years in, this is still drinking well. Color still youthful, nose of dark fruit with a little Alban funk (different than Cayuse funk, but seems to be present in Alban wines). Mouthfeel still full and velvety, and a crazy long finish.
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Out for steak last night, I decided to bring a big, blockbuster styled Syrah to stand up to some of the fattiness of the meal. Right out of the bottle this had a big nose, a lot of barnyard funk and some meaty tones. First sip and this is ready to go, I wouldn't say past its prime like the drink by date on here suggests, but there's no reason to hold onto these bottles anymore. The palette was big and full, a mountain of black and blue berries with some kirsch layered on top. The disappointing part of the wine was the short finish, as this big wine didn't linger long in your mouth after it went down. Kind of weird, and maybe lending to this being over the hill, but it took away from the overall enjoyment. Not a bad experience at all, the wine was nice, but not something I would buy again at this price point.
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Still tarry and meaty after all these years. Plenty of density in this still. You would hope for more complexity but I think this is one of those wines where you have to learn to accept what it gives in it's youth as it's best shot. I could be wrong but this doesn't seem like the kind of wine that's brooding while it waits to awaken into something harmonious and complex. This is big and brawny. Fun wines. Last of my stash.
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This bottle wasn't up to 'normal' Reva standards. Was it the vintage? I dunno. Great fruit, but it had a really hard edge that I wasn't expecting. Tannic still as well. Not sur if those tannins will resolve. Enjoyed over 2 days with Prime Rib and leftovers, and it really never blossomed. Unsure if this will dry out or not. I would drink this one up. Still a beast though.
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dark as night, reddish rim… huge nose with loads of asphalt, meat, blood, dark fruits, baking spices. on the palate low acidity, viscous, deep, rich mid palate, very ripe tannins that are quite round and integrated, high alcohol. wine has good balance (especially considering the low acidity and all of that midpalate weight), great length, superb intensity, very good complexity. wine isn’t about finesse at all but has a fantastic texture and very good expression of place. this is certainly not my favorite style of wine but the quality here is top notch… wine has a lot of extreme data points that blend together remarkably well… impressive. at it’s peak i’d think… but i would have also thought this wine would have been blown up by now so it may well stay great for several more years.
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In a great spot now. Opened 90 minutes in advance and visited a couple times at Christmas party. Integrated. Deep purple, almost aubergeine. Meat, pepper, tar, dark fruit. No alban funk.
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Impromptu gathering - Cos, Velvet Glove, SQN, Alban, Larkmead and etc. (Charlie Palmer - Washington DC): Intense black fruits, dark spices, nutmeg, allspices, caramel, tar and charred steak. Excellent concentration, intense jammy black and red fruit driven palate impression, sweet dark spices, nicely integrated tannins and long finish. This is still very youthful. A bit simple compare to the SQN in the crosshairs. Very Alban with dark sweet spices.
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My last bottle of this wine. Makes me sad. This is the finest wine I've ever had from Alban and probably one of the top 5 Syrah-dominated wines I've had from CA. My previous bottle was only a year ago, but it has slightly evolved since then, as has been the case with every bottle I've had of this wine. The nose is even more explosive than the last bottle, but that may be because of better stemware. It is still an irresistable balance of meat, dried herbs and spices, but it's become more untame and wild in its gaminess. Previously, I described it as marinated tri-tip. Tonight it is more wild boar, grilled and sliced bloody, and wild boar sausage. Utterly magnificent.
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Dark opaque color with a nose of tar. Ripe blueberry layered with graphite shavings on the palate with a long long 60 second finish. This wine does a great job masking it's 15.8% alcohol and is extremely well integrated and I believe will continue to show well for another 5-7 years.
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Color: opaque black/purple core -> dense ruby rim showing impressive color penetration. Pungent bouquet of black and kalamata olives, road tar, sheep shit (in a good way; i.e., Alban funk), raspberries and roasted meat. Really, really needed a 3-4 hour decant to soften that funk though!
I'll be the first to admit that this vintage of Reva has always perplexed me. I've always thought it was too hot (15.8% coming through too much), too gangly and too awkward; especially in the context that it follows the amazing '02. I've worried that it would never come together coherently. I'm happy to say that this bottle (finally!) is starting to knit itself together. Palate presents a boatload of sexy, bold black fruit with tar, slow-roasted charred sirloin and mocha. Current structure indicates this is still a baby; plenty of fruit, sweet tannins, excellent acidity and a long, delicious finish (still with a bit of heat though). Certainly the best of several bottles I've had; perhaps just beginning to hit its plateau of maturity? Be sure to decant well if having any year soon.
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Haven't had a bottle of reva 2003 in almost 5 years. It was spectacular then but even betterand more interesting now. My first tasting, I recall the wine to be lighter and very fruity. The wine has age beautifully. It's put on considerable weight, the pepper and spice is more prominent, the fruit is still there but has taken a back seat and allowed all the other nuances to stand out. its a superb syrah and a wonderful example of a california syrah at its best.
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Mini Offline at Mike's featuring Alban; 12/21/2013-12/22/2013 (Minneapolis, MN): Excellent showing with smoke, roasted meats, white pepper, blueberries, and rose petals. While New World and high alcohol on the label this was balanced and had a long finish. Decanting 2.5 hours helped and consumed 2 glasses over the course of 3 hours. Powerful wine and should age nicely for a decade more. My second favorite wine of the night.
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Super dark, slightly roasted nose of syrupy fruites. Great palate of charred rare beef. To me, that's the Alban signature. Lithe for such a huge wine. Some ground coffee, smooth and very long. Very impressive American Syrah.
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It's been almost seven years since I last had this wine. The color is still dark as night, and aromas burst out of the bottle. The problem is that it screams black olive. I love black olives, bit this is tough to take. A streak of gamey scents break it up, but not in a good way. Mouthfeel is lovely, and the finish is long. But, tonight, it wasn't my thing.
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This hasn't budged since my last tasting in March, 2012. Loads of funk for the first two hours in bottle, and with another 2 hours in decanter, this still needed time to unfold. Dark as night, with tremendous depth of flavors and good freshness, this is built to last. recommended
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My original tasting note on this wine includes descriptors not suitable for children, so I need to edit my thoughts on this wine. I'm absolutely confounded by this wine. I have had many syrah-based wines in my lifetime, but none that have gained such weight and energy with age as this one has. I've had several bottles of this vintage of Reva and it's always been gorgeous, but this is in another league. This is an Adriana Lima that is sexier than ever in her 30's. I have to disclose that my palate is partial to Alban fruit, which is why I prefer the older SQN's sourced heavily from Alban than more recent SQN's using estate fruit from Eleven Confessions. I love the sweet grilled peppers and slowly smoked sweet, peppery, and savory Santa Maria marinated tri-tip and the hint of oak and subtle herbs. It lacks the minerality of the best Saxum or SQN, but I don't miss it. I'm not even going to guess what the drinking window is on this wine, but I can't imagine wine getting much better than this. Certainly this wine is not for everyone. I'm sure some guys would kick Adriana Lima out of the bed, but I would imagine most tasters will find this wine mesmerizing. This is my new WOTY as of Oct 2013.
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Misc Tasting: Powerful nose packed with a mix of dark mashed fruits and a lot of tomato stalks. Dense and boiled mashed dark fruits on the palate but are strangely enough still able to maintain an acceptable balance. The palate also has some sweet cherries and gunpowder but also a lot of refreshing acidity. Still a very young and compact wine and completely true to the Reva style. Loved it :-)
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Northern Rhone vs...Tasting. A dense and concentrated wine. Some notes of violet/lavender reminiscent of the Northern Rhone but distinctly it's own thing. Power over grace for sure. I felt like I could almost take a bite out of this wine. A great wine but the 2007 was superior for me.
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PnP, this benefited from 3 hours of aeration, but another 2 would not have hurt it in the least. Purple toward opaque, no sign of age. Reading through the tn's, it seems you're either a fan, or not - very few in the middle. Having said that, I am a fan, but I'm in the middle. Distinctly Alban, with plenty of tar, African spice, roasted beets, mocha and ground espresso sharing the stage with bright black and blue fruits, with flavors following. The palate is massive, no other way to put it. So much so, that by the last glass, my brain told me to go find some new-release Muscadet, fast. Generous (and seamless) on all fronts, this is a hedonist's dream come true. Shared with beachrooster and VinoPKM, the company outshining the wine. Score: A-
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Dense dark deep inky purple color. Nose was a bit hot and alcoholic with woodiness, toasty mocha french oak, black pepper with blackberries and raspberry...This wine was difficult to drink very hot and alcoholic . Medium acid and dense tannins. This wine is was ve extremely concentrated and tight. I felt I was drinking it way too young. It was so massively brutish that I gassed the bottle,corked it and drank over the course of two additional evenings. I did find this wine more approachable during the 2nd and 3rd attempts at consuming. It is very well made but a bit to much alcohol for my taste. 15.8% I would say it needs more time a minimum 5 years Outstanding
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Heavy and thick in the mouth with tar, black berry and oak. A bit overbearing currenty. Need to drink in the right context in order to enjoy, not following any lighter wine.
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Really full and heavy in the mouth, made the '04 Blackjack Harmonie that followed it seem featherweight (wrong order, I know). And by that I mean luxurious, a good thing. A negligible amt of very fine sediment at the end. Tannins were almost non-existent, though by the end they were perceptible, smooth. Had with a caesar salad and pasta, which were extraordinary, but can't provide more detail re the Reva, focus was not on the wine tonight.... Very good wine, but bad QPR. There are so many terrific wines out of Paso now, hard to justify a purchase such as this.
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Drank at dinner with a '98 SQN E-rased, Pop-n-Pour with Steaks and chocolate cake.
My first '03 Reva, I hope it won't be my last. Company took center stage so this TN is after the fact but worth the time to note. I now "get" the Alban nose I've hear so much about. I'm a big Cayuse fan, so I like funk, the Reva had this in spades. Unlike the SQN, the Reva seemed to go through a few transitions through the evening, only once getting a bit big and hot, but the majority of the night it was so amazingly focused and pure. Raspberries, tar, minerals, it had it all and paired so well with these fine steaks. I'll give the SQN the wine of the night, but this was no ugly runner up by any stretch of the imagination, and clearly can go years. Damn I love Syrah, and John Alban is an artiste extraordinaire with this wine. 50+5+12+17+10
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Rich, dense, inky and potent California Syrah. Decanted and enjoyed over several hours. Very dark, opaque, reddish-purple hue with a viscous nature. The wine actually appeared black in the decanter. Moderate fine sediment was also present. Immediate strong smells of black berry jam, ripe black cherries and olive juice. This concentrated wine tastes of more ripe dark fruit and bitter currants. It has both sweet and bitter flavors in the midpalate. Heat is detectable, but I felt the higher alcohol content (15.8%) was well balenced. The finish improves with time and ends with moderate length and a pleasing bitter bite. Tough to pair this wine with food. Some palates may find this wine "over-the-top". I would recommend a full flavored, barbecued steak such as a bone-in rib eye or just drink alone. I would expect this wine to hold up well for atleast the next 7 years as it seems well built.
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1/8/11. 2003 Alban Syrah Reva With H at home. This wine is more black than red. Very deep and brooding. Nose suggests a very powerful wine with briary, chocolatey aromas much in evidence. Doesn't get much richer than this wine. Absolutely coats the tongue as it cuts a broad swath across the palate. Surprisingly smooth and finely-textured wine with boatloads of glycerine and alcohol. Tremendous ripeness and hints at though does not suffer much from high alcohol levels. A monster by any definition, with food it would need a really strong partner to show it's best and not dominate the culinary experience. 5-13-16-7: 91/100
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deep black ruby. A ton of fresh black olive tapenade on the nose. Huge olives, some burnt rubber, anise and blackberry fruit.This would be a chip shot in the blind tasting arena. Screams Alban. Rich and very dense, but not heavy. More black olives, violets, meaty white pepper, carnivore stuff going on. Rich and very long. A bit awkward right now, but it is freshly opened. This is very distinctive and I think I really like it, but its both weird and very good. I will watch it over the next few hours and see what happens. Jury is out to some degree.
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Ok, its been almost 5 years since I last had this(where does the time go?)....and this is STILL a beast of a wine! As black as a wine can get, the mouthfeel is full and rich, very sweet and ripe, yet has plenty of acidity for cut. But don't kid yourself...this is as ooooze monster as they come! Throw this in a blind Burgundy tasting with a bunch of Burgheads....it will scar them for life! For those who like the style, this is quintessential big boy Syrah. Just HUGE gobs of rich dark black/blue fruit, but with plenty of mineral and acidic structure to balance it out well imo. Complex as hell with smoky tar(I think John likes to think of this as "minerality")...it's TAR John! ;-) dusty graphite spice, smoked meat, gorgeous florals, little heat(but more like Port). Flavors just go on and on, but I'll tell you it still needs more time. I just had a '97 Lorraine and it was smokin! This is way bigger than that wine...but I would love to see what 13 yrs does to this? I'll bet it will be amazing! For now, this wine IS amazing to this Alban-head...but could get better. So +pts it is.
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The wine was to say the least..... a complete mess. Super hot and thick, almost black road tar syrup like. There was substantial fruit to go along with the overpowering alcohol and scorched oak. For all of the over the top components it seemed to have a hint of balance with it was chunky, tannic and really hot. I dont ever remember this wine tasting this way, then I had to stop and think that maybe I just cant appreciate these types of wines anymore?
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Decanted 2 hours and drank over next 3. Lots of sediment. Very thick inky color. Dark fruits, oak and some alc. on the nose that was somewhat enjoyable. One dimensional and a bit hot on the palate. Short finish.
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Wow, knockout Reva, always my favorite vintage, but this 2003 in particular just goes from strength to strength. Smoked meat, road tar, very masculine and intense, extremely savory but with loads of fruit weight. This was served following a 2007 SQN Labels, and the Alban was strongly preferred by everyone.
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15.8% alcohol and it's apparent before the first sip thanks to the blast of alcoholic vapours that dominate the nose. Hugely extracted dark fruits, hot, alcoholic, garish and one of those wines that seems to be more about making as much of an impact on the palate as possible, rather than actually being enjoyable to drink or serviceable with food. (Did I mention alcoholic?)
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Big, ripe wine. Mostly balanced. Thick, viscous wine. Bacon fat on the nose and dark fruits on the nose and the palate.White pepper on the palate. Some olive flavors. I feel myself wanting to ape Parker to describe this wine. I like it but it's also very intense.
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2nd time with this wine and a much different showing this time. Drank over 2 days with bottle open the entire time. Day one was all about heavy toasted oak, tar, and dark fruit that was somewhat closed and tannic. Day 2 brought out a nose of heavy licorice and prunes. The palate was very pruney and bordering on port with still a lot of structure to work through. Overall not what I remember and not very enjoyable.
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Very dark basically opaque black red. Hyper intense flavors of blackberries, smoke, game, bacon and spice. Lingering aftertaste. Extremely lush and viscous. Still a puppy, will continue to evolve for years to come.
Day 2. Should have initially added that this wine was first tasted at a restaurant (Cassanova in Carmel) and was popped and poured. While the nose was somewhat muted at the restaurant, on day 2, it soared! Flavors are, if anything, even more integrated, attractive and intense. I've raised the rating to 95. This wine has years of life ahead.
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By far the best bottle of syrah I have ever had!!!! Complex tastes of smoke, blackberries, anise and tar. Fabulous WOW. Smoooth and tasty but still has plenty of years ahead. Wish I had more.
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Thanks for bringing this, John. I can't believe all it takes is lots of new oak to get 98 and 96 from RMP and TWS, and neither review even mentions oak--TWS mentions a hint of cedar.
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Blackberry, prunes and ashphalt on the nose. Sweet, viscous palate with syrup like consistency and dark fruit flavors tinged with bitter chocolate. Long finish. Typical Alban, over the top in a well made way, very hard to pair with anything but a big slab of beef. The heaviness of the palate is this wine's flaw.
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Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): This time around the wine didn't come across as perfectly in balane as the previous tasting - though it was still remarkable. Jammy super rich with massive amounts of black fruit, coal, smoked meat - again the immense bacon fat play - black flowers and olives. Lots of raisinated flavors with over the top peppery rock. Really has everything you can look for in this style of super viscous syrupy nearing WD-40 textured juice. A winner to accompany a nice slab of meat. This is possibly why it seemed to rock so much the last time sampled at Joe's Stone Crab.
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This is a strange wine. Huge, intense blueberry, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, ripe tending to the point of pruney. Sweet and Rich. But very hot, and inelegant, and out of balance.
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Pre-dinner birthday wine celebration in Tahoe. Massive & full bodied but nicely balanced with loads of black fruit & tar. Served on the cool side to avoid any heat.
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First time with this vintage. Wow, great, great wine....drinking incredibly well, fully balanced, dark fruits, tar, leather nose, exploding from the decanter about 4 hours prior to drinking. Palate was seamless, multi layered, and lingering with rich, chocolatey dark/stewed (Tom's word) fruit. This will continue to evolve and will be interesting to follow. 98pts.
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Yet another fantastic bottle of Alban. The 2003 Reva was outstanding. Super concentrated. Near black color. Flavors of blackberries, plum, licorice, petrol, tar, gun metal, barnyard and minerality with a nice floral bouquet. If served blind, I would have probably guessed SQN Midnight Oil. Still has plenty of miles left in the tank. I would think this wine will be at its peak in 4-5 years. A hedonist's delight. Yummy! 98+!
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A hit once again~! This time there was aromas of cocoa powder and black cherries. OMG, fruit! Flavors of the same and after breathing thirty minutes, there were additional flavors of terroir, gunsmoke, hickory......where's the barbeque Mike? Viva Alban. It lives and shows more with deep patience. I truly feel Alban's wines are among some of the finest examples of Northern Rhone verietals of all producers made in Cali. Sorry Joe, and I am still waiting for the letter from SQN! The care, effort and love placed into the making of these wines is so far beyond what most expect in wines from our continent. I love Alban wines! Good luck if you can get on the list. EG
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At Deuce with the gang. A freak of a wine (and I don't mean that in a good way). Color is nearly black, opaque. Huge nose, overly ripe dark fruit, and plenty of oak -- way over the top. Palate is simply massive, with more overly ripe dark fruit. Hard to get any nuances, just big, dark, ripe fruit. Flabby and unbalanced. Finish is hot and bitter. Represents everything I hate about these "new" wines built on extraction, alcohol and power -- no elegance, no nuance, no subtlety, no fun!
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Oh my goodness! This was a truly viceral wine experience. Johnny brought this out with the 99 Elevation to Joe's with Jill and me. Just as Parker stated this has an ENDLESS aroma spectrum. Huge deep richly extracted sappy blackberries, mushrooms, cassis, leather, tobacco, violets and charcoal. Lush soy sauce and vanilla with beautiful oak on the back end provide endless enjoyment. Flawless massive nose. Most likely the biggest most extracted nose ever! Smoked meat jumping out of the glass and BBQ pit aromas too. Absolutely mind boggling just in the nose!!!! Then when I thought there was nothing else to smell...MOTOR OIL!!!! So cool!!! The palate is equally stunning. Showing more and more blackberries, truffles, leather, tar and tons of smoked meat. This is a behemoth of a wine. Absolutely ETHERAL.
Best Syrah ever tasted!!! Bravo. Instant Alban fan overnight.
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Huge nose of spearmint and cocoa powder upon opening. Aromas of smoke and licorice after one hour. The fruit was closed after two hours. This wine is a baby and needs time!
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Ultra dark thick opaque liquid in the glass. The nose yields explosive sweet syrupy fruit including crème de cassis, blackberry liquor, tar, funk, earth, and some heat as the wine warms. On the palate this is rich and porty with over the top sweetness; like drinking crème de cassis. The wine is full-bodied with what I suspect are ample tannins, they are just covered by gobs of fruit. There is some pepper character but this wine lacks poise, freshness, and any sign of delicacy for my palate. The finish is great however, with tremendous length and fruit depth. I would prefer the complexity without the sickly sweet fruit, as it is just way too much for food. I recommend drinking this as an aperitif. Just too much going on for me to personally enjoy drinking a whole glass. Maybe I have been drinking too much Bordeaux lately. This wine is actually quite unique as it has the funky tar and full-bodied character that may dissuade casual drinkers who typically love the sweet ripe fruit also represented here. With that said my score reflects the quality of the wine for people who love this style. My vote for ooze monster of the year. Followed over two days.
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Decanted 2 hours, drank over the next 4. Incredibly deep color, purple/dark blue/black. Viscosity of 2 stroke motor oil, gripped the glass on the swirl and didn't let go. Nose of road tar, eucalyptus, essence of black plum, blackberries, pepper and baking spices. The layers of flavors in this wine is fantastic, each building on the other in a harmony of texture, ripe fruit, acidity, pepper and roasted meat. The finish is smooth, long, and closes with a burst of fruit. Simply a wonderful expression of Syrah.
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Just fantastic. Nothing comes as close to the La Las from a Cali syrah perspective than the Reva. Chewy, tons of smoked bacon and cigar - just brilliant. Really wish I had more, but it's so decadent right now that I was too weak and couldn't stay away.
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Great stuff. Joel really loved it. This was especially great on the initial tastes as I think we liked it best in its most reduced form. It got bigger and a bit more blowsy and sloppy w/ air and warmth. The food made have been a bit rich to pair with this. Very nice drink.
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Incredibly dark and deep colored wine. A nose of toasted oak/fresh vanilla, smoke, pepper, rich deep black berries. Giant gobs of mellow/ripe blackberry, syrup, pepper, cocoa coat the insides of your mouth. As rich and big as the wine in, it's a very smooth drink. Nice long finish with a backbone of tannin and acidity that suggest its ability to age. What's most surprising is after about 2 hours you start tasting meat and bacon fat on the palate. Reminded me a bit of a Youthful Cali Cab when we first drank it...
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Great bottle of wine! Unreal extraction, super long finish, just wanted to drink for hours. Only negative is the higher alcohol content, but held in check with the abundance of fruit complexity of the wine.
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This wine was not perfect, but it was awfully close. This was served with New York strips from Lunds which was an excellent combination. Flavors of every purple/black fruit imaginable wrapped an intense core of pepper, briar, and tannin. There is no doubt that this wine has alcohol, but it is (actually) buried by all the flavors. The finish lasts for over a minute. A truly exceptional wine.
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bravo, dark as night and the best syrah that I have tasted this year. Impenetrable color, beef, asphalt, and stero altered dark berries on the nose. enriched tannins on the taste (decanted for 3hrs), the fruit is black with the tar picking up a sweet additive. long long finish. spectacular...96pts
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Dark and brooding, but layered and approachable: the molassas, blackberry, tar, and pepper core doesn't crowd out the blueberry, charcoal, mineral, mocha, floral, and hickory smoke complexity. Once fully warmed to room temperature, a tiny suggestion of heat does preclude this from immortality, yet still is one of the best Syrah's I've enjoyed.
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opened for a special dinner with Joe and Priscilla. Amazing and almost indescribable nose. Deep, intoxicating aromas. Tar, smoke, vinegar, spice. Very tight out of the bottle, a bit of heat. Decanted for 2 hours and then put back in the bottle for the trip to dinner.
Poured as deep black, almost ink. Mellowed amazingly. Deep, multiple layers of fruit, structure, spice and texture. My friend said "this wine has at least 7 different layers" but was at a loss to describe them. Really wowed the dinner. Paired wonderfully with chicken livers and pheasant breast. Velvet, class, flavor, depth, spice. What more can you ask for?
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upon opening, iodine was the prevalent smell. Decanted for 3 hours, iodine was still present, but dark fruit exploded through the taste and finish picking up a beefy impression as well. Very well made
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Amazing beast of a wine. Huge fruit pours out of the glass. Good structure should support in years to come .Blueberries and black pepper dominate. Went great with a Flannery pork roast.
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This performed a bit below my (albeit very high) expectations. Decanted for 2 hours and consumed over 2 more. The color was very dark but noticeably purple. Huge nose of menthol, tar and dark fruit. Also huge on the palate, but with a hint of VA and heat. The overall impression was that the wine was very powerul and primary. Perhaps I shouldn't look for nuance or subtlety in an Alban Syrah, but I'm going to bury the rest of mine and hope....
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Took to FMIII's preTurkey day dinner....dark, dark, dark in the glass. This is a bruiser, with dark blue/black fruit. What holds it together is a balance due to perfect acidity that makes this fairly easy to drink. I think this can last years and years, and I don't plan to open another for some time.
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Drank on a whim with friends tonight, decanted for 1hr, floral nose that melded with tarred dark berry. Mid and finish went on and on, with a bit of heat......this is the best bottle of this vintage that I have tasted so far. I am eagerly anticipating these over the next 5 years...
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Great American Syrah Smackdown (My House): Group #5. Midnight black opaque purple color. Big lifted sweet nose of blueberry with hints of pepper. Big tar and asphalt black fruit with good acidicy and nice pepper spiciness on the finish. Not hard to pick as an Alban in the blind group. Lovely as usual...
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Great American Syrah Smackdown (Chris Hughes' place - Chicago, IL): Deep opaque purple with a luscious, rich and ripe nose. Aromas of flowers, dark fruit and creme brulee jump from the glass. Generous palate is loaded with dark fruit, black pepper and toasty notes. Pure and focused fruit are concentrated and linger on the palate all day long. Well balanced with low, but lifting acidity. Long finish loaded with smoky fruit and pepper. My WOTN, Tied for group's #5.
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while this was a wonderful bottle, it paled next to the poker face. however, that being said, it was still a nice bottle as evidenced by the 93. color was deep and dark purple a la alban. nose showed some heat but dark berries and road tar/asphalt as well. pretty darn good on the palate with the dark berries showing their stuff. unfortunately the alcohol shows its heat which detracted a bit from the overall enjoyment. a bit of menthol was evident too. finish was satisfactory but a little drowned out by the heat.
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this bottle rocked!! Initially had some musty funk with blow off revealing deep dark fruits, smoky , grilled nose. an explosion of rich fruit on the tongue with a long. long finish.
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Dennis' summer tasting: BLACK to the edge. The nose seems unreal - you are lost in a black hole of bitter black berries. Full-bodied, intensity like I've never exerienced before - who turned up the volume? This is the blackest, densest, most intense wine that I've tried, the "Big Bertha" of Syrahs, darker than the dark side of the force. It just manages to keep all those forces at bay and remain some sense of balance displaying some peppery and bitter spices, loads of roast and even some herbal dill-like elements. You have got to bow to this wine even if its bordering undrinkability. Did I mention that there something black and sinister about this wine? 96+.
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Superb. Not quite as aromatically explosive as the recent '02 Lorraine I had, but in time, I think this will surpass even that amazing wine. Deep, dark, thick, and rich, yet so perfectly balanced and light on its feet. Dark fruits, coffee, pepper, and of course a bit of asphalt. At times a bit sweet; at others a bit salty. An ever changing chameleon that was a blast to drink.
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Northern Hemisphere Syrah at the Ragen's (Seattle, WA): My #1 and group WOTN. Incredibly dark. A complex nose that is big, meaty and loaded with menthol and tar. Mmm, tasted blind this obviously seemed to be an Alban with lots of blackberry, spicecake and blood. This is a HUGE wine but actually pretty vibrant despite the sheer size and density. This ended up being the wine of the night and was my top choice for sheer impressiveness (although the one Crozes-Hermitage present was a lot more pleasant to drink with dinner).
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The descriptive "great" is over used in sports and wine, but this is truly a great wine! The nose delivers spice, back pepper, dark fruit, smoke and earth. The color is dark purple and it truly shimmers. The wine is unctious, supple, balanced, and full bodied. The flavor fulfills the promise of the nose and the color. It delivers layer upon layer of balck and white pepper, spice, will black fuit, earth, and more. The finish simply rolls on and on with fruit, mint and more spice. This was my 5th of the 6 i was lucky to get. I am going to try to excercise discipine and keep my hands off the last one for a while!
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WIMLNR. Not sure what was going on with this wine but I got an unusual aroma up front of something like petro or fertilizer or maybe sulphur. Not sure. Just one quick taste before I pressed on and didn’t have a chance to revisit. No recommendation.
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Boysenberries, cherry kirsch, and blueberries explode out the glass. Even before tasting this I know it's going to be an enormous wine just from the nose. Tastes of blackberries, leather, tobacco, tar and petrol. Huge extraction and concentration. Layered mid palate. Great freshness and acidity. The finish is powerful and lasts for minutes. A monster of a wine. One of the best Reva's I've ever tasted. 15.8% alcohol.
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Drank over three days: day one was was all about the fruit, on the nose and in the mouth. Day two was about earth and Northern Rhone flavors. Day three seemed to tie them all together. Very nice.
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Upon pouring, the color is so dark it is startling, and its thickness sticks to the sides of the glass. The wine is so thick and chewy, with layers of juicy fruit, and smoke. Next to this wine, the Pegau 2003, which I enjoyed the prior night, seem tame.
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WS California Wine Experience Top Ten Tasting (San Francisco Marriott): Pitch black with deep purple at the edges. Towering aroma of black cassis, iodine, and violets with bright acid notes. Big bold black fruit with asphalt, tar, and spice. Great acidity - a great wine! 95-96pts.
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Not just good; actually "oh-my-god good". Depth of flavor and chewiness unlike almost anything I've ever had, especially after an hour-and-a-half in the glass. I can't even begin to describe it; I can only express my ineffable joy that I still have three more in the cellar.
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This is all that it's been cracked up to be - huge concentration, richness, and glycerin, with a appearance of motor oil. The fruit is explosive on the nose and palate, but this wine is not fruit driven - there is lots of other stuff going on, leather, sandalwood, herbs, white pepper. Very well balanced, seamless. The large-scale tannins are mostly hidden under all the stuffing, creating a velvety mouthfeel. Some oak is noticable, but again it is in balance with the rest of the wine. The only drawback is the high alcohol, which becomes apparent on and mars the finish. For many Alban wines I have had, the alcohol is the Achilles heel, detracting from what is otherwise an extraordinary wine, and giving me cause for concern when aging this wine. Decanted for two hours, consumed over the next two.
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The first time I had this (several months ago), it was fantastic--probably a 95. This time, I had to take it down a couple of notches. It was very tight and still needs serious time. Not sure if it'd shut down between now and then, but I will hold onto my other bottles for a few years.
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Had this twice over the past week (once at an offline), not yet ready for prime time, although everything is there for this to be spectacular in 2-3 years. thick motor oil, nose of prunes and tar (many confused this with a young amarone), thick tannins even after decanting for 4 hours. GIVE THIS TIME!!!!
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Boy this is dark, and has a thick viscosity that actually coats and darkens the side of the glass upon swirling. Firm nose of dark fruit with a strong ripe character that also had some spice and a herbal quality. And what a grip, as there was a strong rounded texture framed by a tannic structure that made for a long lingering taste. A great wine that stands all by itself.
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Inky black/purple, dense like a liquer. Very giving nose of smoky tar, blackberries and menthol. Extremely viscous, coats the palate with extract of syrah. Very Aussie on the palate. Nice complexity, but a touch sweet, hot and biting on the finish. The structure and extract stand up to the alcohol, but it overwhelms the beef. This wine is difficult to match up with food, as it is a true 10W-40 Syrah that should probably be drunk on its own. It may soften with further aging, but I'm afraid the alcohol will overwhelm the fruit if the fruit starts to fade. Finished the second half of the wine on July 4th, 3 days after opening. Still very round and full, with no ill effects from 3 days in the fridge (poured into a split and vacu-vinned). The finish continues to bite, as the alcohol makes its presence known. Wait a year before opening another bottle.
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Nose is quite strong with earthy, smokey, some leather and game notes. It's med-full in body and moderately tannic and unevolved. The tannins certainly suggest some cellar time. I would say the fruit, although it seemed closed to me, would definately stand up to meet the tannins in time.
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After a somewhat disappointing Mondavi Reserve, I thought I would try something a little more certain. This is very impressive, on opening, I thought the nose somewhat closed, but when you get taste it, it’s just explosive in the mouth. Wow! Rich and layered, this is extracted but just full of wonderful flavor. Dark and inky purple, nose of some smoke and rich layered dark fruit with some blueberry. The tannins on the finish suggest that a few years of cellaring will reward, it certainly has the fruit to stand up.
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Dinner with friends (Seattle, WA): I am not a huge fan of new world Syrah, but this is stunning. Rich, meaty, bloody, smoky, and tarry with a hint of raisin and menthol, this SCREAMS of Syrah. I simply love the nose on this! The palate is almost motor oil thick, coating the glass with opaque, purple liquid. Rich, powerful, yet not sweet or clumsy, a black fruit profile, a bit of mint, this is almost painfully young yet gorgeous and gripping, a really special expression of Syrah. My note is terse, but a wine like this really makes one sit up and take notice. Wow, how very unique! We decanted for two hours, back into the bottle, and then served an hour later and followed across 2.5 hours. This would have thrived with a LOT more air.
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I am sad. I had such amazing hope for this bottle based on the scores from others. I found this wine to be INCREDIBLY heavy-handed, very much like an Australian Shiraz. Monolithic, syrupy. No finesse, no verve. I think this would be just grand poured over shave ice, however. Wine is not all about amount of flavor/oz.
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Fantastic. Opaque, deep purple - mouth, tongue, and toothstaining. Aromas of bacon fat. Decanted for an hour, which helped a great deal. It was even better the second night, as we had about two glasses left. A wonderfully opulent and satisfying wine, even at this young age.
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Wow, this was a really fun wine to watch open up and blossom over the course of a long meal. Very deeply colored, aromas of tar, cherries, white pepper, and rose garden. So much fun to drink such a finish. Like everyone has stated, if you have multiple bottles, it is well worth opening one now, but time will smile nicely upon this wine.
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This was the first Alban I have ever had and it was great. Decanted it for 2 hours and could have used more time. I have 3 more and will let them rest for a couple of years.
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Everything they say. Deep deep blue/black color - impenetrable almost. Upon opening, waves of blueberry, strawberry and raspberry jam and cobler aromas. decanted 2 hours and when tasted absolutely coats the mouth with silk and velvet. Mouthfilling, but not chewy. Fruit, fat, bacon, tar, leather, all intermingled and supported by a lush feel that is damn sexy. Tasted a bit too warm, so there is some heat noticable, but the depth, complexity and power of this wine is inspiring. Won't touch another for 6-8 years, but will dream about it frequently.
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Dang! In typical Alban fashion, this is a dark, dark wine. Basically impenetrable in the glass, but for a bit of dark purple on the edge. The nose is rich, with roasted meats, black fruits, some menthol, and leather. On the palate this is a rich concentrated wine, but not as heavy as I would think. On the contrary, it is somewhat SQN-esque (or maybe, since Alban was around first, Manfred's wines are Alban-esque) - not jammy, not over-the-top, not a fruit bomb, but really intense, concentrated, and rich. Black fruits, tar, wintergreen, and a long, long finish. Really spectacular wine - the points are probably accurate, but on a personal level I'd give it a couple more.
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This wine is rich, extracted, huge, and I loved it. For the lack of a better descriptor, there is a campfire element to this wine that is pleasing rather than a flaw.
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At Gary Danko. Big, thick, rich, with meaty and earthy undertones. Exactly what I expected, although at this point maybe a bit overwhelming. A good reference point, but the others will rest peacefully for several years.
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My first Alban Reva consumed at the Wine Cask in Santa Barbara over a great dinner of grilled prime ribeye. This wine was so gorgeously, dense, meaty, and dripping with vsicosity that it almost had the body of a balsamic vinegar! Inky, dark red that could have passed for something I use in my fountain pen, the smokiness greets the nose along with the deepest, ripest, reddest fruits you can imagine. The tannins were incredibly well integrated; the mouthcoating feel of silk. This was one of the greatest wines I've ever had the pleasure of tasting!
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had a verticle of Alban wich was quite interesting. I don't have much experience with this wine.
1999- very different from the rest. much more subtle and refined. my least favorite of the bunch. 87
2000- this one started with a nose of barnyard reminicent of a pinot. the mought had dark red fruit and glycerin but I keep detecting a twinge of somthing, a fizz? nobody else noted it.. I allso thought this was alittle hot. 88
2001- this is more like it. nose radiating deep dark fruits, tar. nice mouth feel. balance, more dark fruit. voted best of the flight. Mine also 94
2002- similar to 01 but tighter and not quite as deep. 92
2003- even more of the same- tighter still but much deeper. smoky dark fruits, and tar. 93
I thought the 01 showed the best,, but down the road the 03 may be it's rival. I was sure how much of the difference was the how the vintage was vs. the age of the bottle. In my mind there was a definite progression from the 99 to the 03, each one with alittle "more" than the previous. after this I have decided to open my 01s now , and aim for the 03's in 08.
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Dark oozing blackness.....beautiful HUGE dusty spice, wisteria floral, boysenberry liqueur, first rain hitting dirt(), smoked cedar, tar nose. WOW.....not the typical reduced, charred oak stankness! Amazing spicy florals! In the mouth........it's an A-BOMB! Lusciously sweet and extracted wild berry fruit, almost port-like, with gorgeous floral, spice, earth, smoked meat.....all HUGE, yet extremely balanced and supple. Goes down smooth, yet kicks you in the ass with its intense, long finish. This is something special.....glad I can tag along for the ride awhile!
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Absolutely gigantic wine. Black color. Black taste. Big chested, no class whatsoever. I've had this twice before among similarly styled wines and have really loved it. It was polarizing here among the Rhones, with all but two of us going absolutely ga-ga over it. This tasting confirmed my personal bias toward the less sweet and more subtle -- but, I could really enjoy this in a different context.
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Run, don't walk to get one of these babies. HEDONISTIC, one of my favorites of all time. Soft, silky, smooth even at this young stage...I'm not inclined to cellar my remainder forever. Had with foie, beef tartare, mushroom soup, duck liver terrine, mushroom ravioli, scallops, sweetbreads at St. Johns. The only thing that keeps this from a perfect 100 was a bit of acidity at the 2 hour mark, though this may have been food related.
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Served a bit too warm which didn't do this already hot wine any favors. Gamy roasting meat notes with some super-ripe blackberry liqueur. Big and porty, lots of anise on the palate, though comes across as quite hot. Fine tannins somewhat obscured by heat.
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Glad I opened this early in it's life, as it is approachable now. Very intriguing nose. Makes you want to taste. Massive fruit, coffee, licorice on the palate. Reminds me a little of 01 Dead Arm. Did not decant and is very drinkable now, however it was too much with food at this point in its life. Will wait a few years to try another.
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Syrah tasting - My #3, Group #2. Opaque black purple. Rich big black fruit aroma with cofee overtones. Lovely rich deep concentrated black fruit but with nice overall balance. Long coffee finish but no bitterness. Rich mouthfeel with a hint of sweetness. 12/05
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2/5/2024 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 93 Points
20 years in, this is still drinking well. Color still youthful, nose of dark fruit with a little Alban funk (different than Cayuse funk, but seems to be present in Alban wines). Mouthfeel still full and velvety, and a crazy long finish.
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10/23/2019 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 92 Points
Out for steak last night, I decided to bring a big, blockbuster styled Syrah to stand up to some of the fattiness of the meal. Right out of the bottle this had a big nose, a lot of barnyard funk and some meaty tones. First sip and this is ready to go, I wouldn't say past its prime like the drink by date on here suggests, but there's no reason to hold onto these bottles anymore. The palette was big and full, a mountain of black and blue berries with some kirsch layered on top. The disappointing part of the wine was the short finish, as this big wine didn't linger long in your mouth after it went down. Kind of weird, and maybe lending to this being over the hill, but it took away from the overall enjoyment. Not a bad experience at all, the wine was nice, but not something I would buy again at this price point.
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6/13/2018 - tummala wrote: 98 Points
Amazing wine. Awesome bouquet with hints of molasses. Chewy on the palate and a long finish.
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2/16/2018 - WetRock wrote:
Still tarry and meaty after all these years. Plenty of density in this still. You would hope for more complexity but I think this is one of those wines where you have to learn to accept what it gives in it's youth as it's best shot. I could be wrong but this doesn't seem like the kind of wine that's brooding while it waits to awaken into something harmonious and complex. This is big and brawny. Fun wines. Last of my stash.
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12/25/2017 - TXRhoneRanger wrote: 91 Points
This bottle wasn't up to 'normal' Reva standards. Was it the vintage? I dunno. Great fruit, but it had a really hard edge that I wasn't expecting. Tannic still as well. Not sur if those tannins will resolve. Enjoyed over 2 days with Prime Rib and leftovers, and it really never blossomed. Unsure if this will dry out or not. I would drink this one up. Still a beast though.
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5/26/2017 - markjanes wrote: 93 Points
dark as night, reddish rim… huge nose with loads of asphalt, meat, blood, dark fruits, baking spices. on the palate low acidity, viscous, deep, rich mid palate, very ripe tannins that are quite round and integrated, high alcohol. wine has good balance (especially considering the low acidity and all of that midpalate weight), great length, superb intensity, very good complexity. wine isn’t about finesse at all but has a fantastic texture and very good expression of place. this is certainly not my favorite style of wine but the quality here is top notch… wine has a lot of extreme data points that blend together remarkably well… impressive. at it’s peak i’d think… but i would have also thought this wine would have been blown up by now so it may well stay great for several more years.
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12/5/2016 - LikeABC Likes this wine:
In a great spot now. Opened 90 minutes in advance and visited a couple times at Christmas party. Integrated. Deep purple, almost aubergeine. Meat, pepper, tar, dark fruit. No alban funk.
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1/31/2016 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 97 Points
No question about the quality of this monolithic Syrah!
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11/15/2015 - bobwire wrote: 94 Points
Drink quickly. It's showing its age
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9/19/2015 - Mr T wrote:
Very dark and ripe and few if any signs of age
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9/7/2015 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 94 Points
This terrific bottle of wine is absolutely singing right now and probably would hold up another 7-8 years.
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5/20/2015 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Yum, drinking great, classic Cali Syrah in s roasted dense creosote way.
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3/24/2015 - warrenpeace Likes this wine: 95 Points
A monster, still young. Huge blueberry flavor. Can last another 5 years easily
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9/2/2014 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Impromptu gathering - Cos, Velvet Glove, SQN, Alban, Larkmead and etc. (Charlie Palmer - Washington DC): Intense black fruits, dark spices, nutmeg, allspices, caramel, tar and charred steak. Excellent concentration, intense jammy black and red fruit driven palate impression, sweet dark spices, nicely integrated tannins and long finish. This is still very youthful. A bit simple compare to the SQN in the crosshairs. Very Alban with dark sweet spices.
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7/31/2014 - Jonathan T Likes this wine: 97 Points
My last bottle of this wine. Makes me sad. This is the finest wine I've ever had from Alban and probably one of the top 5 Syrah-dominated wines I've had from CA. My previous bottle was only a year ago, but it has slightly evolved since then, as has been the case with every bottle I've had of this wine. The nose is even more explosive than the last bottle, but that may be because of better stemware. It is still an irresistable balance of meat, dried herbs and spices, but it's become more untame and wild in its gaminess. Previously, I described it as marinated tri-tip. Tonight it is more wild boar, grilled and sliced bloody, and wild boar sausage. Utterly magnificent.
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7/5/2014 - Mscruggs Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dark opaque color with a nose of tar. Ripe blueberry layered with graphite shavings on the palate with a long long 60 second finish. This wine does a great job masking it's 15.8% alcohol and is extremely well integrated and I believe will continue to show well for another 5-7 years.
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6/1/2014 - BVal wrote: 93 Points
Color: opaque black/purple core -> dense ruby rim showing impressive color penetration. Pungent bouquet of black and kalamata olives, road tar, sheep shit (in a good way; i.e., Alban funk), raspberries and roasted meat. Really, really needed a 3-4 hour decant to soften that funk though!
I'll be the first to admit that this vintage of Reva has always perplexed me. I've always thought it was too hot (15.8% coming through too much), too gangly and too awkward; especially in the context that it follows the amazing '02. I've worried that it would never come together coherently. I'm happy to say that this bottle (finally!) is starting to knit itself together. Palate presents a boatload of sexy, bold black fruit with tar, slow-roasted charred sirloin and mocha. Current structure indicates this is still a baby; plenty of fruit, sweet tannins, excellent acidity and a long, delicious finish (still with a bit of heat though). Certainly the best of several bottles I've had; perhaps just beginning to hit its plateau of maturity? Be sure to decant well if having any year soon.
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1/5/2014 - bobwire wrote: 98 Points
Haven't had a bottle of reva 2003 in almost 5 years. It was spectacular then but even betterand more interesting now. My first tasting, I recall the wine to be lighter and very fruity. The wine has age beautifully. It's put on considerable weight, the pepper and spice is more prominent, the fruit is still there but has taken a back seat and allowed all the other nuances to stand out.
its a superb syrah and a wonderful example of a california syrah at its best.
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12/22/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 96 Points
Mini Offline at Mike's featuring Alban; 12/21/2013-12/22/2013 (Minneapolis, MN): Excellent showing with smoke, roasted meats, white pepper, blueberries, and rose petals. While New World and high alcohol on the label this was balanced and had a long finish. Decanting 2.5 hours helped and consumed 2 glasses over the course of 3 hours. Powerful wine and should age nicely for a decade more. My second favorite wine of the night.
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12/21/2013 - mzimberg wrote: 95 Points
Super dark, slightly roasted nose of syrupy fruites. Great palate of charred rare beef. To me, that's the Alban signature. Lithe for such a huge wine. Some ground coffee, smooth and very long. Very impressive American Syrah.
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12/15/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 84 Points
Pre-Holiday Dinner @ Home: Rich and concentrated, but very ripe and sweet, with the fruit verging on prunes.
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12/7/2013 - Cow Town wrote:
It's been almost seven years since I last had this wine. The color is still dark as night, and aromas burst out of the bottle. The problem is that it screams black olive. I love black olives, bit this is tough to take. A streak of gamey scents break it up, but not in a good way. Mouthfeel is lovely, and the finish is long. But, tonight, it wasn't my thing.
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11/9/2013 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
This hasn't budged since my last tasting in March, 2012. Loads of funk for the first two hours in bottle, and with another 2 hours in decanter, this still needed time to unfold. Dark as night, with tremendous depth of flavors and good freshness, this is built to last. recommended
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10/15/2013 - Jonathan T Likes this wine: 98 Points
My original tasting note on this wine includes descriptors not suitable for children, so I need to edit my thoughts on this wine. I'm absolutely confounded by this wine. I have had many syrah-based wines in my lifetime, but none that have gained such weight and energy with age as this one has. I've had several bottles of this vintage of Reva and it's always been gorgeous, but this is in another league. This is an Adriana Lima that is sexier than ever in her 30's. I have to disclose that my palate is partial to Alban fruit, which is why I prefer the older SQN's sourced heavily from Alban than more recent SQN's using estate fruit from Eleven Confessions. I love the sweet grilled peppers and slowly smoked sweet, peppery, and savory Santa Maria marinated tri-tip and the hint of oak and subtle herbs. It lacks the minerality of the best Saxum or SQN, but I don't miss it. I'm not even going to guess what the drinking window is on this wine, but I can't imagine wine getting much better than this. Certainly this wine is not for everyone. I'm sure some guys would kick Adriana Lima out of the bed, but I would imagine most tasters will find this wine mesmerizing. This is my new WOTY as of Oct 2013.
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9/22/2013 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Pablo's WW tasting at Council Oak. Too hot for me.
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8/15/2013 - Mrbuzz wrote:
CVd a glass tonight....killer! Just as my last note.....lets see how this shows over the next few yrs using the Coravin!
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5/11/2013 - scooter260 wrote: 97 Points
Drank over 3 days....best in day3! Enormous power, mighty tannins still present but loads of fruit. Lets quote The Wire here......sheeeeeeeeeit!
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5/6/2013 - Dnathanson wrote: 100 Points
Perfect wine. Drink now or hold for 10 years...
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4/29/2013 - KenK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still drinking nicely. Big bold rich with nice black pepper edge and a tar like quality.
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2/9/2013 - Deryl Likes this wine: 96 Points
Big bold wonderful Alban. Fantastic with a classically presented filet mignon.
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2/8/2013 - canan wrote: 96 Points
Misc Tasting: Powerful nose packed with a mix of dark mashed fruits and a lot of tomato stalks.
Dense and boiled mashed dark fruits on the palate but are strangely enough still able to maintain an acceptable balance.
The palate also has some sweet cherries and gunpowder but also a lot of refreshing acidity.
Still a very young and compact wine and completely true to the Reva style.
Loved it :-)
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1/24/2013 - JOsgood wrote:
A massive, massive wine. I couldn't drink it. New world rocket fuel to the max.
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1/21/2013 - markbp Likes this wine: 93 Points
Northern Rhone vs...Tasting. A dense and concentrated wine. Some notes of violet/lavender reminiscent of the Northern Rhone but distinctly it's own thing. Power over grace for sure. I felt like I could almost take a bite out of this wine. A great wine but the 2007 was superior for me.
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10/25/2012 - mnh wrote: 96 Points
Sexy great fruit
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10/10/2012 - keithgg wrote: 88 Points
Hot on the nose, bit better on the palate. Not for those who like an elegant wine.
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3/15/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
PnP, this benefited from 3 hours of aeration, but another 2 would not have hurt it in the least. Purple toward opaque, no sign of age. Reading through the tn's, it seems you're either a fan, or not - very few in the middle. Having said that, I am a fan, but I'm in the middle. Distinctly Alban, with plenty of tar, African spice, roasted beets, mocha and ground espresso sharing the stage with bright black and blue fruits, with flavors following. The palate is massive, no other way to put it. So much so, that by the last glass, my brain told me to go find some new-release Muscadet, fast. Generous (and seamless) on all fronts, this is a hedonist's dream come true. Shared with beachrooster and VinoPKM, the company outshining the wine. Score: A-
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3/9/2012 - profiler54 wrote: 93 Points
Dense dark deep inky purple color. Nose was a bit hot and alcoholic with woodiness, toasty mocha french oak, black pepper with blackberries and raspberry...This wine was difficult to drink very hot and alcoholic . Medium acid and dense tannins. This wine is was ve extremely concentrated and tight. I felt I was drinking it way too young. It was so massively brutish that I gassed the bottle,corked it and drank over the course of two additional evenings. I did find this wine more approachable during the 2nd and 3rd attempts at consuming. It is very well made but a bit to much alcohol for my taste. 15.8% I would say it needs more time a minimum 5 years Outstanding
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2/21/2012 - sumshark wrote: 95 Points
Same as previous bottle, got softer and more balanced better over several hours
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12/28/2011 - xtian wrote: 93 Points
Big and rich, but a bit disjointed / edgy.
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11/6/2011 - ogres3 wrote:
An absolute killer wine. Very good nose, big and bold with a long finish. Drank at Bona Terra.
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7/31/2011 - fisk15 wrote: 90 Points
Heavy and thick in the mouth with tar, black berry and oak. A bit overbearing currenty. Need to drink in the right context in order to enjoy, not following any lighter wine.
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6/18/2011 - WineBOPper wrote:
I have to echo Salil. This wine was just as undrinkable as it was in 2007. Poured it out then, poured it out last night.
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5/3/2011 - samiamx_1999 wrote: 92 Points
Really full and heavy in the mouth, made the '04 Blackjack Harmonie that followed it seem featherweight (wrong order, I know). And by that I mean luxurious, a good thing. A negligible amt of very fine sediment at the end. Tannins were almost non-existent, though by the end they were perceptible, smooth. Had with a caesar salad and pasta, which were extraordinary, but can't provide more detail re the Reva, focus was not on the wine tonight.... Very good wine, but bad QPR. There are so many terrific wines out of Paso now, hard to justify a purchase such as this.
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3/31/2011 - jerhardt wrote: 93 Points
A nice bottle of wine that is aging pretty well. My tastes have drifted away from this style, but this is still fun to drink.
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3/21/2011 - Hollowine wrote: 94 Points
Drank at dinner with a '98 SQN E-rased, Pop-n-Pour with Steaks and chocolate cake.
My first '03 Reva, I hope it won't be my last. Company took center stage so this TN is after the fact but worth the time to note. I now "get" the Alban nose I've hear so much about. I'm a big Cayuse fan, so I like funk, the Reva had this in spades. Unlike the SQN, the Reva seemed to go through a few transitions through the evening, only once getting a bit big and hot, but the majority of the night it was so amazingly focused and pure. Raspberries, tar, minerals, it had it all and paired so well with these fine steaks. I'll give the SQN the wine of the night, but this was no ugly runner up by any stretch of the imagination, and clearly can go years. Damn I love Syrah, and John Alban is an artiste extraordinaire with this wine. 50+5+12+17+10
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3/19/2011 - B Dub wrote: 93 Points
Rich, dense, inky and potent California Syrah. Decanted and enjoyed over several hours. Very dark, opaque, reddish-purple hue with a viscous nature. The wine actually appeared black in the decanter. Moderate fine sediment was also present. Immediate strong smells of black berry jam, ripe black cherries and olive juice. This concentrated wine tastes of more ripe dark fruit and bitter currants. It has both sweet and bitter flavors in the midpalate. Heat is detectable, but I felt the higher alcohol content (15.8%) was well balenced. The finish improves with time and ends with moderate length and a pleasing bitter bite. Tough to pair this wine with food. Some palates may find this wine "over-the-top". I would recommend a full flavored, barbecued steak such as a bone-in rib eye or just drink alone. I would expect this wine to hold up well for atleast the next 7 years as it seems well built.
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1/8/2011 - MicklethePickle wrote: 91 Points
1/8/11. 2003 Alban Syrah Reva
With H at home. This wine is more black than red. Very deep and brooding. Nose suggests a very powerful wine with briary, chocolatey aromas much in evidence. Doesn't get much richer than this wine. Absolutely coats the tongue as it cuts a broad swath across the palate. Surprisingly smooth and finely-textured wine with boatloads of glycerine and alcohol. Tremendous ripeness and hints at though does not suffer much from high alcohol levels. A monster by any definition, with food it would need a really strong partner to show it's best and not dominate the culinary experience. 5-13-16-7: 91/100
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12/29/2010 - cct wrote:
deep black ruby. A ton of fresh black olive tapenade on the nose. Huge olives, some burnt rubber, anise and blackberry fruit.This would be a chip shot in the blind tasting arena. Screams Alban. Rich and very dense, but not heavy. More black olives, violets, meaty white pepper, carnivore stuff going on. Rich and very long. A bit awkward right now, but it is freshly opened. This is very distinctive and I think I really like it, but its both weird and very good. I will watch it over the next few hours and see what happens. Jury is out to some degree.
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11/29/2010 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 97 Points
Ok, its been almost 5 years since I last had this(where does the time go?)....and this is STILL a beast of a wine! As black as a wine can get, the mouthfeel is full and rich, very sweet and ripe, yet has plenty of acidity for cut. But don't kid yourself...this is as ooooze monster as they come! Throw this in a blind Burgundy tasting with a bunch of Burgheads....it will scar them for life! For those who like the style, this is quintessential big boy Syrah. Just HUGE gobs of rich dark black/blue fruit, but with plenty of mineral and acidic structure to balance it out well imo. Complex as hell with smoky tar(I think John likes to think of this as "minerality")...it's TAR John! ;-) dusty graphite spice, smoked meat, gorgeous florals, little heat(but more like Port). Flavors just go on and on, but I'll tell you it still needs more time. I just had a '97 Lorraine and it was smokin! This is way bigger than that wine...but I would love to see what 13 yrs does to this? I'll bet it will be amazing! For now, this wine IS amazing to this Alban-head...but could get better. So +pts it is.
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7/17/2010 - tyvoodoo wrote: 75 Points
The wine was to say the least..... a complete mess. Super hot and thick, almost black road tar syrup like. There was substantial fruit to go along with the overpowering alcohol and scorched oak. For all of the over the top components it seemed to have a hint of balance with it was chunky, tannic and really hot. I dont ever remember this wine tasting this way, then I had to stop and think that maybe I just cant appreciate these types of wines anymore?
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6/18/2010 - djs wrote: 86 Points
Decanted 2 hours and drank over next 3. Lots of sediment. Very thick inky color. Dark fruits, oak and some alc. on the nose that was somewhat enjoyable. One dimensional and a bit hot on the palate. Short finish.
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6/10/2010 - Eric wrote: 96 Points
Wow, knockout Reva, always my favorite vintage, but this 2003 in particular just goes from strength to strength. Smoked meat, road tar, very masculine and intense, extremely savory but with loads of fruit weight. This was served following a 2007 SQN Labels, and the Alban was strongly preferred by everyone.
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6/10/2010 - salil wrote: 60 Points
15.8% alcohol and it's apparent before the first sip thanks to the blast of alcoholic vapours that dominate the nose. Hugely extracted dark fruits, hot, alcoholic, garish and one of those wines that seems to be more about making as much of an impact on the palate as possible, rather than actually being enjoyable to drink or serviceable with food. (Did I mention alcoholic?)
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2/12/2010 - stevetimko wrote:
Big, ripe wine. Mostly balanced. Thick, viscous wine. Bacon fat on the nose and dark fruits on the nose and the palate.White pepper on the palate. Some olive flavors. I feel myself wanting to ape Parker to describe this wine. I like it but it's also very intense.
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2/12/2010 - glaze3 wrote:
2nd time with this wine and a much different showing this time. Drank over 2 days with bottle open the entire time. Day one was all about heavy toasted oak, tar, and dark fruit that was somewhat closed and tannic. Day 2 brought out a nose of heavy licorice and prunes. The palate was very pruney and bordering on port with still a lot of structure to work through. Overall not what I remember and not very enjoyable.
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1/29/2010 - Mike Dildine wrote: 95 Points
Very dark basically opaque black red. Hyper intense flavors of blackberries, smoke, game, bacon and spice. Lingering aftertaste. Extremely lush and viscous. Still a puppy, will continue to evolve for years to come.
Day 2. Should have initially added that this wine was first tasted at a restaurant (Cassanova in Carmel) and was popped and poured. While the nose was somewhat muted at the restaurant, on day 2, it soared! Flavors are, if anything, even more integrated, attractive and intense. I've raised the rating to 95. This wine has years of life ahead.
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1/28/2010 - orcharddude22 wrote: 97 Points
By far the best bottle of syrah I have ever had!!!! Complex tastes of smoke, blackberries, anise and tar. Fabulous WOW. Smoooth and tasty but still has plenty of years ahead. Wish I had more.
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1/14/2010 - WineArchitect wrote: 95 Points
What a fantastic wine!
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1/6/2010 - placecarnot wrote: 87 Points
Thanks for bringing this, John. I can't believe all it takes is lots of new oak to get 98 and 96 from RMP and TWS, and neither review even mentions oak--TWS mentions a hint of cedar.
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12/29/2009 - llink wrote:
Blackberry, prunes and ashphalt on the nose. Sweet, viscous palate with syrup like consistency and dark fruit flavors tinged with bitter chocolate. Long finish. Typical Alban, over the top in a well made way, very hard to pair with anything but a big slab of beef. The heaviness of the palate is this wine's flaw.
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12/1/2009 - moben wrote: 93 Points
Not as good as remembered. Great but not sublime.
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11/21/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 96 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): This time around the wine didn't come across as perfectly in balane as the previous tasting - though it was still remarkable.
Jammy super rich with massive amounts of black fruit, coal, smoked meat - again the immense bacon fat play - black flowers and olives.
Lots of raisinated flavors with over the top peppery rock.
Really has everything you can look for in this style of super viscous syrupy nearing WD-40 textured juice.
A winner to accompany a nice slab of meat. This is possibly why it seemed to rock so much the last time sampled at Joe's Stone Crab.
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11/21/2009 - psmith wrote:
Black. Big, tarry wine with dark fruits and modern styling. Fruit still masks the structure. Needs time, but promising.
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11/7/2009 - Wrighty wrote: 89 Points
Danny's 95+ wine night (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Tasted blind
Burnt nose, alcohol. Lots of glycerin. Plush palate (sure it was a Glaetzer). Tarry.
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10/10/2009 - herberto wrote: 88 Points
This is a strange wine. Huge, intense blueberry, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, ripe tending to the point of pruney. Sweet and Rich. But very hot, and inelegant, and out of balance.
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9/29/2009 - smokie wrote: 96 Points
Wow.
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9/28/2009 - ScottS wrote: 94 Points
Pre-dinner birthday wine celebration in Tahoe. Massive & full bodied but nicely balanced with loads of black fruit & tar. Served on the cool side to avoid any heat.
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8/30/2009 - numcwrt2 wrote: 98 Points
First time with this vintage. Wow, great, great wine....drinking incredibly well, fully balanced, dark fruits, tar, leather nose, exploding from the decanter about 4 hours prior to drinking. Palate was seamless, multi layered, and lingering with rich, chocolatey dark/stewed (Tom's word) fruit. This will continue to evolve and will be interesting to follow. 98pts.
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8/29/2009 - buckeye76 wrote: 98 Points
VERY RICH FRUIT IN THE NOSE WITH TOUCHES OF SPICE. BIG FRUIT IN THE FLAVOR, NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
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8/5/2009 - rthun wrote: 98 Points
Yet another fantastic bottle of Alban. The 2003 Reva was outstanding. Super concentrated. Near black color. Flavors of blackberries, plum, licorice, petrol, tar, gun metal, barnyard and minerality with a nice floral bouquet. If served blind, I would have probably guessed SQN Midnight Oil. Still has plenty of miles left in the tank. I would think this wine will be at its peak in 4-5 years. A hedonist's delight. Yummy! 98+!
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6/23/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 94 Points
A hit once again~! This time there was aromas of cocoa powder and black cherries. OMG, fruit! Flavors of the same and after breathing thirty minutes, there were additional flavors of terroir, gunsmoke, hickory......where's the barbeque Mike? Viva Alban. It lives and shows more with deep patience. I truly feel Alban's wines are among some of the finest examples of Northern Rhone verietals of all producers made in Cali. Sorry Joe, and I am still waiting for the letter from SQN! The care, effort and love placed into the making of these wines is so far beyond what most expect in wines from our continent. I love Alban wines! Good luck if you can get on the list. EG
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5/7/2009 - xwine wrote:
At Deuce with the gang. A freak of a wine (and I don't mean that in a good way). Color is nearly black, opaque. Huge nose, overly ripe dark fruit, and plenty of oak -- way over the top. Palate is simply massive, with more overly ripe dark fruit. Hard to get any nuances, just big, dark, ripe fruit. Flabby and unbalanced. Finish is hot and bitter. Represents everything I hate about these "new" wines built on extraction, alcohol and power -- no elegance, no nuance, no subtlety, no fun!
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4/21/2009 - NomadicEntrepreneur wrote: 95 Points
floral nose, meaty. petrol edge
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4/20/2009 - Eric wrote: 96 Points
Wow, wow, wow. This remains the best Reva I have tasted. A great combination of motor oil and ripe Syrah. Meaty, intense, complex and smooth.
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3/24/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 98 Points
Oh my goodness! This was a truly viceral wine experience. Johnny brought this out with the 99 Elevation to Joe's with Jill and me.
Just as Parker stated this has an ENDLESS aroma spectrum. Huge deep richly extracted sappy blackberries, mushrooms, cassis, leather, tobacco, violets and charcoal.
Lush soy sauce and vanilla with beautiful oak on the back end provide endless enjoyment. Flawless massive nose. Most likely the biggest most extracted nose ever!
Smoked meat jumping out of the glass and BBQ pit aromas too. Absolutely mind boggling just in the nose!!!! Then when I thought there was nothing else to smell...MOTOR OIL!!!! So cool!!!
The palate is equally stunning. Showing more and more blackberries, truffles, leather, tar and tons of smoked meat. This is a behemoth of a wine. Absolutely ETHERAL.
Best Syrah ever tasted!!! Bravo. Instant Alban fan overnight.
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3/6/2009 - lars1014 wrote: 97 Points
Same as previous notes. This is seriously good wine.
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1/10/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 94 Points
Huge nose of spearmint and cocoa powder upon opening. Aromas of smoke and licorice after one hour. The fruit was closed after two hours. This wine is a baby and needs time!
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12/25/2008 - Badfish wrote: 95 Points
Ultra dark thick opaque liquid in the glass. The nose yields explosive sweet syrupy fruit including crème de cassis, blackberry liquor, tar, funk, earth, and some heat as the wine warms. On the palate this is rich and porty with over the top sweetness; like drinking crème de cassis. The wine is full-bodied with what I suspect are ample tannins, they are just covered by gobs of fruit. There is some pepper character but this wine lacks poise, freshness, and any sign of delicacy for my palate. The finish is great however, with tremendous length and fruit depth. I would prefer the complexity without the sickly sweet fruit, as it is just way too much for food. I recommend drinking this as an aperitif. Just too much going on for me to personally enjoy drinking a whole glass. Maybe I have been drinking too much Bordeaux lately. This wine is actually quite unique as it has the funky tar and full-bodied character that may dissuade casual drinkers who typically love the sweet ripe fruit also represented here. With that said my score reflects the quality of the wine for people who love this style. My vote for ooze monster of the year. Followed over two days.
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12/14/2008 - blondon wrote:
Decanted 2 hours, drank over the next 4. Incredibly deep color, purple/dark blue/black. Viscosity of 2 stroke motor oil, gripped the glass on the swirl and didn't let go. Nose of road tar, eucalyptus, essence of black plum, blackberries, pepper and baking spices. The layers of flavors in this wine is fantastic, each building on the other in a harmony of texture, ripe fruit, acidity, pepper and roasted meat. The finish is smooth, long, and closes with a burst of fruit. Simply a wonderful expression of Syrah.
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11/30/2008 - dcardoni wrote: 98 Points
Just fantastic. Nothing comes as close to the La Las from a Cali syrah perspective than the Reva. Chewy, tons of smoked bacon and cigar - just brilliant. Really wish I had more, but it's so decadent right now that I was too weak and couldn't stay away.
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11/16/2008 - Mr T wrote:
Great stuff. Joel really loved it. This was especially great on the initial tastes as I think we liked it best in its most reduced form. It got bigger and a bit more blowsy and sloppy w/ air and warmth. The food made have been a bit rich to pair with this. Very nice drink.
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11/8/2008 - clayfu wrote: 94 Points
Incredibly dark and deep colored wine. A nose of toasted oak/fresh vanilla, smoke, pepper, rich deep black berries. Giant gobs of mellow/ripe blackberry, syrup, pepper, cocoa coat the insides of your mouth. As rich and big as the wine in, it's a very smooth drink. Nice long finish with a backbone of tannin and acidity that suggest its ability to age. What's most surprising is after about 2 hours you start tasting meat and bacon fat on the palate. Reminded me a bit of a Youthful Cali Cab when we first drank it...
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11/1/2008 - KevinP wrote:
Didn't meet expectations - see previous note. Guess the style just isn't for me.
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9/27/2008 - tacman wrote: 92 Points
beautiful with 3-day braised short ribs
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8/3/2008 - sumshark wrote: 95 Points
Great bottle of wine! Unreal extraction, super long finish, just wanted to drink for hours. Only negative is the higher alcohol content, but held in check with the abundance of fruit complexity of the wine.
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7/6/2008 - lars1014 wrote: 98 Points
This wine was not perfect, but it was awfully close. This was served with New York strips from Lunds which was an excellent combination. Flavors of every purple/black fruit imaginable wrapped an intense core of pepper, briar, and tannin. There is no doubt that this wine has alcohol, but it is (actually) buried by all the flavors. The finish lasts for over a minute. A truly exceptional wine.
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5/31/2008 - JLL wrote: 98 Points
add to my 5/22, mint, iodine and beef, spectacular....incredible after 3 hours in the decanter
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5/22/2008 - JLL wrote: 96 Points
bravo, dark as night and the best syrah that I have tasted this year. Impenetrable color, beef, asphalt, and stero altered dark berries on the nose. enriched tannins on the taste (decanted for 3hrs), the fruit is black with the tar picking up a sweet additive. long long finish. spectacular...96pts
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5/8/2008 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Alban Syrah Verticals (WineBank, Menlo Park, California): Tight, tart berry nose with a touch of VA; tight but complex palate with pepper, berry, boysenberry, and oak showing, needs a few years; medium-plus finish
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3/9/2008 - silton wrote: 95 Points
Dark and brooding, but layered and approachable: the molassas, blackberry, tar, and pepper core doesn't crowd out the blueberry, charcoal, mineral, mocha, floral, and hickory smoke complexity. Once fully warmed to room temperature, a tiny suggestion of heat does preclude this from immortality, yet still is one of the best Syrah's I've enjoyed.
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2/23/2008 - jwolfsthal wrote: 96 Points
opened for a special dinner with Joe and Priscilla. Amazing and almost indescribable nose. Deep, intoxicating aromas. Tar, smoke, vinegar, spice. Very tight out of the bottle, a bit of heat. Decanted for 2 hours and then put back in the bottle for the trip to dinner.
Poured as deep black, almost ink. Mellowed amazingly. Deep, multiple layers of fruit, structure, spice and texture. My friend said "this wine has at least 7 different layers" but was at a loss to describe them. Really wowed the dinner. Paired wonderfully with chicken livers and pheasant breast. Velvet, class, flavor, depth, spice. What more can you ask for?
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2/16/2008 - JLL wrote: 95 Points
upon opening, iodine was the prevalent smell. Decanted for 3 hours, iodine was still present, but dark fruit exploded through the taste and finish picking up a beefy impression as well. Very well made
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1/30/2008 - jhngo wrote: 90 Points
Very strong aromatic spicy syrah with deep earthy tones & big time acidity. Tasty.
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1/3/2008 - MNP wrote: 94 Points
Amazing beast of a wine. Huge fruit pours out of the glass. Good structure should support in years to come .Blueberries and black pepper dominate. Went great with a Flannery pork roast.
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1/1/2008 - KevinP wrote:
This performed a bit below my (albeit very high) expectations. Decanted for 2 hours and consumed over 2 more. The color was very dark but noticeably purple. Huge nose of menthol, tar and dark fruit. Also huge on the palate, but with a hint of VA and heat. The overall impression was that the wine was very powerul and primary. Perhaps I shouldn't look for nuance or subtlety in an Alban Syrah, but I'm going to bury the rest of mine and hope....
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12/20/2007 - E wrote: 95 Points
A bit more tannic last night than on prior tastings
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11/21/2007 - Colima74 wrote: 91 Points
Took to FMIII's preTurkey day dinner....dark, dark, dark in the glass. This is a bruiser, with dark blue/black fruit. What holds it together is a balance due to perfect acidity that makes this fairly easy to drink. I think this can last years and years, and I don't plan to open another for some time.
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10/6/2007 - JLL wrote: 94 Points
Drank on a whim with friends tonight, decanted for 1hr, floral nose that melded with tarred dark berry. Mid and finish went on and on, with a bit of heat......this is the best bottle of this vintage that I have tasted so far. I am eagerly anticipating these over the next 5 years...
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10/4/2007 - winefool wrote: 95 Points
Great American Syrah Smackdown (My House): Group #5. Midnight black opaque purple color. Big lifted sweet nose of blueberry with hints of pepper. Big tar and asphalt black fruit with good acidicy and nice pepper spiciness on the finish. Not hard to pick as an Alban in the blind group. Lovely as usual...
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10/4/2007 - Nanda wrote: 97 Points
Great American Syrah Smackdown (Chris Hughes' place - Chicago, IL): Deep opaque purple with a luscious, rich and ripe nose. Aromas of flowers, dark fruit and creme brulee jump from the glass. Generous palate is loaded with dark fruit, black pepper and toasty notes. Pure and focused fruit are concentrated and linger on the palate all day long. Well balanced with low, but lifting acidity. Long finish loaded with smoky fruit and pepper. My WOTN, Tied for group's #5.
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9/25/2007 - jc-mmb wrote: 93 Points
while this was a wonderful bottle, it paled next to the poker face. however, that being said, it was still a nice bottle as evidenced by the 93. color was deep and dark purple a la alban. nose showed some heat but dark berries and road tar/asphalt as well. pretty darn good on the palate with the dark berries showing their stuff. unfortunately the alcohol shows its heat which detracted a bit from the overall enjoyment. a bit of menthol was evident too. finish was satisfactory but a little drowned out by the heat.
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9/20/2007 - rmodak wrote: 95 Points
Very consistent. Dark blackberry, graphite, menthol, loam. Rich meaty mouthfeel and very fine but evident tannins. WOTN at our dinner in BA.
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9/2/2007 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 97 Points
a real stunner...the nose was singing on this. high alcohol is well hidden by unctuous fruit.
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7/25/2007 - goofy Yno wrote: 95 Points
this bottle rocked!! Initially had some musty funk with blow off revealing deep dark fruits, smoky , grilled nose. an explosion of rich fruit on the tongue with a long. long finish.
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7/7/2007 - gorm wrote: 96 Points
Dennis' summer tasting: BLACK to the edge. The nose seems unreal - you are lost in a black hole of bitter black berries. Full-bodied, intensity like I've never exerienced before - who turned up the volume? This is the blackest, densest, most intense wine that I've tried, the "Big Bertha" of Syrahs, darker than the dark side of the force. It just manages to keep all those forces at bay and remain some sense of balance displaying some peppery and bitter spices, loads of roast and even some herbal dill-like elements. You have got to bow to this wine even if its bordering undrinkability. Did I mention that there something black and sinister about this wine? 96+.
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6/4/2007 - jerhardt wrote: 95 Points
Superb. Not quite as aromatically explosive as the recent '02 Lorraine I had, but in time, I think this will surpass even that amazing wine. Deep, dark, thick, and rich, yet so perfectly balanced and light on its feet. Dark fruits, coffee, pepper, and of course a bit of asphalt. At times a bit sweet; at others a bit salty. An ever changing chameleon that was a blast to drink.
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5/19/2007 - Eric wrote:
Northern Hemisphere Syrah at the Ragen's (Seattle, WA): My #1 and group WOTN. Incredibly dark. A complex nose that is big, meaty and loaded with menthol and tar. Mmm, tasted blind this obviously seemed to be an Alban with lots of blackberry, spicecake and blood. This is a HUGE wine but actually pretty vibrant despite the sheer size and density. This ended up being the wine of the night and was my top choice for sheer impressiveness (although the one Crozes-Hermitage present was a lot more pleasant to drink with dinner).
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5/10/2007 - Robertito wrote:
Consumed with ribs from Smoque on 4/8/07... well, just see kStoddard's note... my notes would be nearly identical... remarkable stuff!!!
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4/22/2007 - enosnob wrote: 98 Points
The descriptive "great" is over used in sports and wine, but this is truly a great wine! The nose delivers spice, back pepper, dark fruit, smoke and earth. The color is dark purple and it truly shimmers. The wine is unctious, supple, balanced, and full bodied. The flavor fulfills the promise of the nose and the color. It delivers layer upon layer of balck and white pepper, spice, will black fuit, earth, and more. The finish simply rolls on and on with fruit, mint and more spice. This was my 5th of the 6 i was lucky to get. I am going to try to excercise discipine and keep my hands off the last one for a while!
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4/22/2007 - E wrote: 97 Points
Another ethereal experience from alban
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3/28/2007 - wineismylife wrote:
WIMLNR. Not sure what was going on with this wine but I got an unusual aroma up front of something like petro or fertilizer or maybe sulphur. Not sure. Just one quick taste before I pressed on and didn’t have a chance to revisit. No recommendation.
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3/2/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 96 Points
Boysenberries, cherry kirsch, and blueberries explode out the glass. Even before tasting this I know it's going to be an enormous wine just from the nose. Tastes of blackberries, leather, tobacco, tar and petrol. Huge extraction and concentration. Layered mid palate. Great freshness and acidity. The finish is powerful and lasts for minutes. A monster of a wine. One of the best Reva's I've ever tasted. 15.8% alcohol.
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2/22/2007 - Cow Town wrote: 92 Points
Drank over three days: day one was was all about the fruit, on the nose and in the mouth. Day two was about earth and Northern Rhone flavors. Day three seemed to tie them all together. Very nice.
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2/19/2007 - lbrent wrote: 89 Points
BBQ spice, asphalt, deep berry. Complex, but too much heat on finish.
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2/18/2007 - mmeng wrote: 90 Points
Solid...but not much more than that. May need a bit more time in the bottle
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2/2/2007 - sounder66 wrote: 93 Points
A rich and roasted syrah that reminded me of Washington's Cayuse En Cerise of the same vintage.
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1/24/2007 - ScottS wrote: 95 Points
50+5+14+18+8=95 pts
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1/14/2007 - tmay wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruit and leather nose. Balanced, lush good finish.
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12/3/2006 - Ben Andersen wrote:
Wild, seemingly unstable / voltile nose. On the palate, high alcohol, spice, dark fruit. Not for me.
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11/19/2006 - winestem wrote: 94 Points
What a wine! powerful, silky, dense, meaty, fragrant, ink-like! Wow!
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11/19/2006 - E wrote: 93 Points
Drank a bottle of this over 2 days this weekend and was certainly a bit underwhelmed compared with our first experinece 10 months ago.
Tannins showing a bit more and licorice on the nose and palate. Still dense and extracted but perhaps going through a phase.
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11/11/2006 - mnh wrote:
Wine Exp: Deep purple. Violet and Black fruit nose. Big fruit balanced alchohol. Huge midpalate. Excellent finish. 97 points
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11/5/2006 - schaykin wrote: 95 Points
Upon pouring, the color is so dark it is startling, and its thickness sticks to the sides of the glass. The wine is so thick
and chewy, with layers of juicy fruit, and smoke. Next to this wine, the Pegau 2003, which I enjoyed the prior night, seem tame.
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10/21/2006 - winefool wrote: 95 Points
WS California Wine Experience Top Ten Tasting (San Francisco Marriott): Pitch black with deep purple at the edges. Towering aroma of black cassis, iodine, and violets with bright acid notes. Big bold black fruit with asphalt, tar, and spice. Great acidity - a great wine! 95-96pts.
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10/19/2006 - Quequeg wrote: 95 Points
Not just good; actually "oh-my-god good". Depth of flavor and chewiness unlike almost anything I've ever had, especially after an hour-and-a-half in the glass. I can't even begin to describe it; I can only express my ineffable joy that I still have three more in the cellar.
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9/20/2006 - jwwinec wrote: 94 Points
This is all that it's been cracked up to be - huge concentration, richness, and glycerin, with a appearance of motor oil. The fruit is explosive on the nose and palate, but this wine is not fruit driven - there is lots of other stuff going on, leather, sandalwood, herbs, white pepper. Very well balanced, seamless. The large-scale tannins are mostly hidden under all the stuffing, creating a velvety mouthfeel. Some oak is noticable, but again it is in balance with the rest of the wine. The only drawback is the high alcohol, which becomes apparent on and mars the finish. For many Alban wines I have had, the alcohol is the Achilles heel, detracting from what is otherwise an extraordinary wine, and giving me cause for concern when aging this wine. Decanted for two hours, consumed over the next two.
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8/27/2006 - superuser wrote: 92 Points
The first time I had this (several months ago), it was fantastic--probably a 95. This time, I had to take it down a couple of notches. It was very tight and still needs serious time. Not sure if it'd shut down between now and then, but I will hold onto my other bottles for a few years.
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8/11/2006 - JLL wrote:
Had this twice over the past week (once at an offline), not yet ready for prime time, although everything is there for this to be spectacular in 2-3 years. thick motor oil, nose of prunes and tar (many confused this with a young amarone), thick tannins even after decanting for 4 hours. GIVE THIS TIME!!!!
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8/9/2006 - Tejano wrote: 94 Points
Boy this is dark, and has a thick viscosity that actually coats and darkens the side of the glass upon swirling. Firm nose of dark fruit with a strong ripe character that also had some spice and a herbal quality. And what a grip, as there was a strong rounded texture framed by a tannic structure that made for a long lingering taste. A great wine that stands all by itself.
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7/1/2006 - llink wrote: 91 Points
Inky black/purple, dense like a liquer. Very giving nose of smoky tar, blackberries and menthol. Extremely viscous, coats the palate with extract of syrah. Very Aussie on the palate. Nice complexity, but a touch sweet, hot and biting on the finish. The structure and extract stand up to the alcohol, but it overwhelms the beef. This wine is difficult to match up with food, as it is a true 10W-40 Syrah that should probably be drunk on its own. It may soften with further aging, but I'm afraid the alcohol will overwhelm the fruit if the fruit starts to fade.
Finished the second half of the wine on July 4th, 3 days after opening. Still very round and full, with no ill effects from 3 days in the fridge (poured into a split and vacu-vinned). The finish continues to bite, as the alcohol makes its presence known. Wait a year before opening another bottle.
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6/21/2006 - caboychuck wrote:
Nose is quite strong with earthy, smokey, some leather and game notes. It's med-full in body and moderately tannic and unevolved. The tannins certainly suggest some cellar time. I would say the fruit, although it seemed closed to me, would definately stand up to meet the tannins in time.
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6/13/2006 - Rani wrote:
Huge blackberry jam nose. Dense and sweet. Weird. Good in its own way but I wouldn't be able to bring myself to drink more than one glass.
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6/5/2006 - Mark wrote: 95 Points
After a somewhat disappointing Mondavi Reserve, I thought I would try something a little more certain. This is very impressive, on opening, I thought the nose somewhat closed, but when you get taste it, it’s just explosive in the mouth. Wow! Rich and layered, this is extracted but just full of wonderful flavor. Dark and inky purple, nose of some smoke and rich layered dark fruit with some blueberry. The tannins on the finish suggest that a few years of cellaring will reward, it certainly has the fruit to stand up.
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4/7/2006 - Eric wrote: 96 Points
Dinner with friends (Seattle, WA): I am not a huge fan of new world Syrah, but this is stunning. Rich, meaty, bloody, smoky, and tarry with a hint of raisin and menthol, this SCREAMS of Syrah. I simply love the nose on this! The palate is almost motor oil thick, coating the glass with opaque, purple liquid. Rich, powerful, yet not sweet or clumsy, a black fruit profile, a bit of mint, this is almost painfully young yet gorgeous and gripping, a really special expression of Syrah. My note is terse, but a wine like this really makes one sit up and take notice. Wow, how very unique! We decanted for two hours, back into the bottle, and then served an hour later and followed across 2.5 hours. This would have thrived with a LOT more air.
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4/7/2006 - nomerlot wrote: 89 Points
I am sad. I had such amazing hope for this bottle based on the scores from others. I found this wine to be INCREDIBLY heavy-handed, very much like an Australian Shiraz. Monolithic, syrupy. No finesse, no verve. I think this would be just grand poured over shave ice, however. Wine is not all about amount of flavor/oz.
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3/22/2006 - landshark wrote: 95 Points
still a little tight the rest of mine will rest for awhile
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3/19/2006 - andyb1068 wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic. Opaque, deep purple - mouth, tongue, and toothstaining. Aromas of bacon fat. Decanted for an hour, which helped a great deal. It was even better the second night, as we had about two glasses left. A wonderfully opulent and satisfying wine, even at this young age.
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3/18/2006 - burcusabrews wrote: 96 Points
Wow, this was a really fun wine to watch open up and blossom over the course of a long meal. Very deeply colored, aromas of tar, cherries, white pepper, and rose garden. So much fun to drink such a finish. Like everyone has stated, if you have multiple bottles, it is well worth opening one now, but time will smile nicely upon this wine.
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3/13/2006 - rsanders99 wrote: 95 Points
This was the first Alban I have ever had and it was great. Decanted it for 2 hours and could have used more time. I have 3 more and will let them rest for a couple of years.
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3/3/2006 - jwolfsthal wrote: 96 Points
Everything they say. Deep deep blue/black color - impenetrable almost. Upon opening, waves of blueberry, strawberry and raspberry jam and cobler aromas. decanted 2 hours and when tasted absolutely coats the mouth with silk and velvet. Mouthfilling, but not chewy. Fruit, fat, bacon, tar, leather, all intermingled and supported by a lush feel that is damn sexy. Tasted a bit too warm, so there is some heat noticable, but the depth, complexity and power of this wine is inspiring. Won't touch another for 6-8 years, but will dream about it frequently.
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3/1/2006 - MarkC wrote: 95 Points
Dang! In typical Alban fashion, this is a dark, dark wine. Basically impenetrable in the glass, but for a bit of dark purple on the edge. The nose is rich, with roasted meats, black fruits, some menthol, and leather. On the palate this is a rich concentrated wine, but not as heavy as I would think. On the contrary, it is somewhat SQN-esque (or maybe, since Alban was around first, Manfred's wines are Alban-esque) - not jammy, not over-the-top, not a fruit bomb, but really intense, concentrated, and rich. Black fruits, tar, wintergreen, and a long, long finish. Really spectacular wine - the points are probably accurate, but on a personal level I'd give it a couple more.
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2/20/2006 - sounder66 wrote: 92 Points
This wine is rich, extracted, huge, and I loved it. For the lack of a better descriptor, there is a campfire element to this wine that is pleasing rather than a flaw.
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2/19/2006 - jerhardt wrote: 93 Points
At Gary Danko. Big, thick, rich, with meaty and earthy undertones. Exactly what I expected, although at this point maybe a bit overwhelming. A good reference point, but the others will rest peacefully for several years.
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2/16/2006 - winestem wrote: 97 Points
My first Alban Reva consumed at the Wine Cask in Santa Barbara over a great dinner of grilled prime ribeye. This wine was so gorgeously, dense, meaty, and dripping with vsicosity that it almost had the body of a balsamic vinegar! Inky, dark red that could have passed for something I use in my fountain pen, the smokiness greets the nose along with the deepest, ripest, reddest fruits you can imagine. The tannins were incredibly well integrated; the mouthcoating feel of silk. This was one of the greatest wines I've ever had the pleasure of tasting!
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2/2/2006 - goofy Yno wrote: 93 Points
had a verticle of Alban wich was quite interesting. I don't have much experience with this wine.
1999- very different from the rest. much more subtle and refined. my least favorite of the bunch. 87
2000- this one started with a nose of barnyard reminicent of a pinot. the mought had dark red fruit and glycerin but I keep detecting a twinge of somthing, a fizz? nobody else noted it.. I allso thought this was alittle hot. 88
2001- this is more like it. nose radiating deep dark fruits, tar. nice mouth feel. balance, more dark fruit. voted best of the flight. Mine also 94
2002- similar to 01 but tighter and not quite as deep. 92
2003- even more of the same- tighter still but much deeper. smoky dark fruits, and tar. 93
I thought the 01 showed the best,, but down the road the 03 may be it's rival. I was sure how much of the difference was the how the vintage was vs. the age of the bottle. In my mind there was a definite progression from the 99 to the 03, each one with alittle "more" than the previous. after this I have decided to open my 01s now , and aim for the 03's in 08.
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1/31/2006 - Mrbuzz wrote: 98 Points
Dark oozing blackness.....beautiful HUGE dusty spice, wisteria floral, boysenberry liqueur, first rain hitting dirt(), smoked cedar, tar nose. WOW.....not the typical reduced, charred oak stankness! Amazing spicy florals! In the mouth........it's an A-BOMB! Lusciously sweet and extracted wild berry fruit, almost port-like, with gorgeous floral, spice, earth, smoked meat.....all HUGE, yet extremely balanced and supple. Goes down smooth, yet kicks you in the ass with its intense, long finish. This is something special.....glad I can tag along for the ride awhile!
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1/19/2006 - BordeauxNut wrote:
Absolutely gigantic wine. Black color. Black taste. Big chested, no class whatsoever. I've had this twice before among similarly styled wines and have really loved it. It was polarizing here among the Rhones, with all but two of us going absolutely ga-ga over it. This tasting confirmed my personal bias toward the less sweet and more subtle -- but, I could really enjoy this in a different context.
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1/9/2006 - E wrote: 99 Points
Run, don't walk to get one of these babies. HEDONISTIC, one of my favorites of all time. Soft, silky, smooth even at this young stage...I'm not inclined to cellar my remainder forever. Had with foie, beef tartare, mushroom soup, duck liver terrine, mushroom ravioli, scallops, sweetbreads at St. Johns. The only thing that keeps this from a perfect 100 was a bit of acidity at the 2 hour mark, though this may have been food related.
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12/22/2005 - psmith wrote: 89 Points
Served a bit too warm which didn't do this already hot wine any favors. Gamy roasting meat notes with some super-ripe blackberry liqueur. Big and porty, lots of anise on the palate, though comes across as quite hot. Fine tannins somewhat obscured by heat.
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12/10/2005 - tbone wrote:
Glad I opened this early in it's life, as it is approachable now. Very intriguing nose. Makes you want to taste. Massive fruit, coffee, licorice on the palate. Reminds me a little of 01 Dead Arm. Did not decant and is very drinkable now, however it was too much with food at this point in its life. Will wait a few years to try another.
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12/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
Syrah tasting - My #3, Group #2. Opaque black purple. Rich big black fruit aroma with cofee overtones. Lovely rich deep concentrated black fruit but with nice overall balance. Long coffee finish but no bitterness. Rich mouthfeel with a hint of sweetness. 12/05
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