2014 Alban Grenache Alban Estate Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Deep lurid ruby. An explosively perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, incense and baking spices, along with a sexy floral pastille nuance that builds in the glass. Sappy, appealingly sweet and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry preserve, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Closes on a gently tannic note, displaying superb delineation and leaving sweet red fruit preserve and lavender pastille notes behind.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
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A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah, the 2014 Grenache sports a deep purple color as well as exotic notes of jammy blackberries, smoked meats, ground pepper, spring flowers and peach pit. With an almost Viognier-like lift, full body, ultra-fine tannins, and beautiful length, it’s one of the finest expressions of Grenache coming from California today. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 10-15 years. This was another brilliant tasting with California Rhône pioneer John Alban. The current releases here are the 2014s, which are from a vintage that reminds me of the 2006s with their incredible richness and depth. These are thrilling wines that are going to age just about forever. The 2015s were mostly tasted out of barrel and at this stage are tight, firm, and focused, with plenty of obvious structure. These are going to continue putting on weight with time in barrel, and it’s certainly another terrific vintage from this reference point estate. These are awesome, world-class wines in every way.