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2018 Alban Vineyards Reva Alban Estate Syrah

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

July 28, 2024 - $96

Estimate

RATINGS

98The Wine Advocate

...offers alluring aromas of warm chocolate, lilac, cracked pepper and charcuterie that complement an intense core of blackberry and blueberry preserves alongside a singular streak of iodine or pen ink character. The palate is full-bodied and packed with powdery tannins, boasting tremendous detail, layering, perfume and length. All that generosity, so finely woven, suggests it will be an epically long-lived wine.

98Jeb Dunnuck

...powerful black fruits, iron, iodine, pepper, and assorted more gamey aromas and flavors. These all carry over to the palate, where it's full-bodied and has the pure, focused style of the vintage as well as a stacked mid-palate.

95Wine Spectator

Dark and brooding yet light on its feet, with multilayered black raspberry, smoked meat, river stone and peppered mocha flavors that grow intense on the dynamic finish.

95Vinous / IWC

Powerful, mineral-accented black and blue fruit and floral aromas take on pipe tobacco nuances with air. Fleshy, juicy and expansive in the mouth, offering ripe blackberry, kirsch and violet pastille flavors that tighten up slowly through the back half.

PRODUCER

Alban Vineyards

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.

REGION

United States, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

Edna Valley AVA is within San Luis Obispo County, and within the large Central Coast AVA. Edna Valley became an AVA in 1982 and it includes 22,400 acres of extremely fertile land blessed with a long growing season. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the principal grapes, though Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Albarino, Grenache, Viognier, Merlot and Petite Sirah also are grown. Spanish missionaries were growing grape vines in the Edna Valley in the 18th century, but the valley’s modern wine industry took off in the 1970s. Today there are more than 50 Edna Valley wineries.

TYPE

Red Wine, Syrah (Shiraz)

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.