1996 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine

Community Tasting Notes (5) Median Score: 92 points

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  1/11/2013 - Why Yes wrote:

  Score Reserved.
  
  Streaks on the cork, possible heat exposure. Reserving judgement for this reason.
  
  Beautiful nose true to the Alban wines. Lots of spice and Earth with a fair amount of charred meat fat.
  
  In the mouth, sour component that dominates and distracts. Keeps the wine from being complete. Possible heat damage. Hate to score this with potential less than optimal storage conditions. But did want to note the fact that this could be OTH.

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  12/2/2011 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points

  Very nice aged Cali syrah. Red fruit, earth, spice and pepper, medium bodied, smooth and good finish. Drinking well.

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  12/17/2009 - locovino wrote: 92 Points

  Excellent Central Coast Syrah which is holding up well. In the glass a nice, dark purple. Beautiful nose of dark berries and road tar wth hints of exotic spice and mint. In the mouth this wine is very well balanced with modarate acidity and smooth tannins. I'd guess this one could hold on for another five years but is really fun to drink now. Have to say that it is not nearly as compelling as the '95 Alban Grenache tasted a few years ago but still quit a good drink.

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  2/28/2007 - schwammendingen wrote: 95 Points

  I decided to try one of my three bottles after having read about it here at cellartracker. I hardly believed the 99/100 points given, but I more or less agree now! Very dark ruby-black colour. The nose is absolutely splendid: black cherries and cassis, licorice, smoke, syrah-like peppery aspect, sweet-fruity aspects, all wonderfully woven together to a very interesting bouquet which keeps you diping your nose in the glass again & again. In the mouth it has nice concentratrion, all kinds of black berries, pepper, licorice, smoke, a touch undergrowth, powerfull, full-bodied and a lip-smacking juiciness which really asks for more. The finish is very, very long. This wine is just about ready for drinking but still needs 1 or 2 hours of breathing before pouring. It will keep for at least another 5-8 years, maybe a lot longer. A good surprise, after nearly 10 years of cellaring, this wine is becoming really splendid. Thank you Alban Vineyards. I have some 1995 and 1997 Reva from the same producer and I hope they will be as great!

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  2/19/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 99 Points

  Dark oozing wildberry,boysenberry,blackcherry fruit....still sweet and juicy. Smoooooth, mouthcoating tannin serves it up soft and willing. Gorgeous exotic wood spice, roasted hazelnut, acacia flower, pomegranate juice, dried tobacco/herbs, sweet smoky asphalt. Very complex flavors...ALL balanced up perfectly. This is just about as good as it gets folks! 99pts

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