2013 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard

The 2013 Syrah Reva sports an inky color as well as notes of crème de cassis, charred earth, licorice, wood smoke and just hints of the classic iodine and seaweed character that really defines this cuvee. Supple, seamless, silky and opulent, with sweet, sweet tannin and a silky finish., it shows more and more spice with time in the glass and is incredibly polished, layered and balanced. Drink it any time over the coming 15-20 years. If I had to come up with a list of the greatest wine estates in the world, Alban Vineyards would certainly be in there. Readers need to understand that this estate is an anomaly, lying at the very end of the Edna Valley, and the only estate in 50+ miles making wines of this quality. Vintages here marginally track the larger Central Coast theme, yet not always. These are singular wines. John commented that he thinks 2015 is a step down over 2012, 2013 and 2014, but that it’s better than 2011. I only tasted his whites, but like everyone else in 2015, his yields were decimated, so there’s very little of these to go around. I report on the red from barrel next year. His 2014s are all terrific as well, with full-bodied, ripe, classic Alban Style. Where this estate doesn’t track with the rest of the Central Coast is with his 2013s and 2012s; in general, the 2012s are the sexier, more open-knit, and the 2013s more concentrated and structure. In John’s case, the vintages are reversed, with the 2012s showing more structure and the 2013s just packed with sweet fruit. As I’ve written in the past, for the life of me, I can’t understand why no one else in the Edna Valley tries to make wine anywhere close to this level of quality.

Youthful purple. Expressive, mineral-accented aromas of black and blue fruit liqueur, licorice and incense, given spicy lift by a peppery quality. Plush and expansive on the palate, offering sweet cassis, blueberry and fruitcake flavors that show excellent depth and a suave floral pastille flourish. Delivers an impressive blend of richness and vivacity and closes sappy, smooth and very long, featuring slow-building tannins and a lingering mineral note. (JR)

Bright purple. Highly perfumed, mineral-tinged cherry and dark berry aromas are complicated by suggestions of woodsmoke, olive and cracked pepper. Concentrated blueberry, cassis, cola and violet pastille flavors show an appealing mix of richness and vivacity. The mineral and smoke qualities come back strong on the clinging finish, which is shaped by youthful, mounting tannins.