2017 Alban Vineyards Estate Roussanne

Alban Vineyards is in Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County, on the central coast of California. Founded in 1986 by John and Lorraine Alban, the 66-acre estate was one of the original “Central Coast Rhone Rangers.” Like many of its newer neighbors, Alban Vineyards focuses entirely on making Rhone Valley style wines. The estate makes a limited amount of wine, which is hard to find, given the critic’s usual high regard for Alban’s Syrahs, Grenaches, Mourvedres and Viogniers. Robert M. Parker Jr. calls Alban Vineyards “the great shining success story of Edna Valley,” adding that the estate “is a stunning source for terrific wines.” Alban also shares some DNA with its famous neighbor in Ventura County, Sine Qua Non. Manfred Krankl, SQN founder and winemaker, trained with John Alban before starting SQN. Krankl made some of his first vintages in partnership with John Alban, a celebrated and influential winemaker.

Central Coast AVA is a huge wine producing area that extends from Santa Barbara County in the south to San Francisco in the north. With more than 100,000 vineyard acres, it includes parts of six counties near the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 20 smaller AVAs lie within the Central Coast AVA. Central Coast earned appellation status in 1985. Included in the appellation are parts of the counties of Contra Costa, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. Nearly every grape varietal grown in California is grown somewhere in the Central Coast AVA, though Chardonnay accounts for nearly 50% of the entire wine grape crop.

This white grape is often blended with Marsanne. It is one of the few grapes allowed in many Rhone appellations. It is easily distinguished by its russet color when ripe. Producers who favor Roussanne include Chateau Beaucastel and Sine Qua Non.