2007 Alban Syrah Lorraine Estate

The 2007 Syrah Lorraine is a large-scaled, dramatic wine bursting with super-intense blue and black fruit, cassis, leather, spices and licorice. The Lorraine shows fabulous balance of aromatics, fruit and structure. Today the Lorraine offers the best potential for longevity. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032. My visit with John and Lorraine Alban and winemaker Glenn Skrabanik was a highlight of the ten days I spent in the Central Coast. I tasted all of the 2008s and 2009 reds from barrel, plus the 2007s from bottle. Those lucky enough to visit the winery won't see barrels ordered by conventional numbers, rather each series of barrels carries the names of thematic categories such as Kentucky Derby winners, Academy Award winners, etc. It is fair to say no one has done more for the Rhone Ranger movement in this country than John Alban. First and foremost, the Alban wines have led the way in terms of quality for many years. A founder of the hugely successful Hospice du Rhone, Alban has also planted and developed a number of clones that bear his name and that are used widely throughout California. For most of his early years Alban was forced to sell fruit from his property and rent out portions of his winery as a custom crush facility to make ends meet. Amazingly, after all these years 2011 is the first vintage in which Alban is not selling fruit and is vinifying only his own wines. Readers will find no shortage of compelling wines in vintages 2007-2009. The 2007s are big, powerful wines that show the opulence and weight of the year. Vintage 2007 was the first of three drought years that followed the generous 2005 and 2006 harvests. Alban gave his three top Syrahs a whopping 44 months in 100% new oak barrels. The 2008s are the product of a season marked by a spring frost. A blast of heat followed over Memorial Day, but the rest of the summer was relatively cool, with little sunlight because of the forest fires that year. As great as the 2007s are, I found myself equally drawn to the 2008s for their greater delineation and complex, multi-dimensional personalities. The 2009s are warm, radiant wines with silky, forward fruit and highly expressive aromatics. The 2008s and 2009s are still in barrel, though, so there is plenty of time to follow their evolution. Tel. (805) 546- 0305; www.albanvineyards.com

Straight up silky, perfumed, and elegant, the 2007 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine is a gorgeous wine! Displaying sweet raspberry ganache, crème de cassis, spiced meats and toasted bread like aromas on the nose, it continue to wow on the palate, with full bodied power, perfect balance and a seamless, harmonious texture. Where the Reva wows with black fruits and burly structure and impact, this finesses and seduces with red fruits and a seamless, flawless demeanor. A joy to taste and the finish shows fantastic length and superb focus.