Values from John Alban, The Rhone Master

Starting in 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989.With a focus on creating wines made from Rhône Valley varietals, Alban came to be a pioneer of the Rhone Rangers movement, and is considered one of the most influential American Rhone producers.

On beginning to grow Viognier, Alban stated "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres (20 ha) in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieuand Château-Grillet. Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction.

OUR WINES FROM ALBAN VINEYARDS

ALBAN, VIOGNIER, CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA, 2022
Alban Central Coast Viognier showcases the forward heady stone fruit of this variety. It is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel and bottled early.

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
This estate makes one of the top Viogniers out there, and the 2022 Viognier Central Coast is a great entry point for readers looking to see what all the fuss is about. While it's released under the Central Coast appellation, it’s all estate fruit from Edna Valley and has a beautiful, medium to full-bodied style as well as textbook aromatics of citrus oil, white flowers, ginger, and minty herbs. Brought up mostly in stainless steel (10% in barrels), it has beautiful acidity, terrific balance, and a great finish.

BUY FOR $32.95

ALBAN VINEYARDS, PATRINA ESTATE SYRAH, CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA, 2020
While the grapes for Patrina are raised with the same detail and attentiveness as the rest of the vineyards and then fermented open top with indigenous yeast, gentle pump overs and a few punch downs once soft, it is bottled unfined and unfiltered after 'just' 22 months in barrel to preserve its youthful exuberance. It offers all the density and concentration folks have come to expect from their reds with black and blue fruits, mineral notes, and flowers.

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Bottled in January of 2023, the 2020 Syrah Patrina opens with iodine and cassis, taking time to blossom with scents of tar, blueberry candy and peppermint patty. The palate is full-bodied and highly polished with abundant, velvety tannins, bursts of mouthwatering acidity and a surprisingly ethereal finish.

BUY FOR $64.00