Benchmark Wines by

Alban Vineyards

The Winery

Alban Vineyards

“Alban Vineyards is an educational center and a virtual mecca for young winemakers aspiring to make great Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne and Viognier.”
- Robert Parker

John and Lorraine Alban first purchased their now legendary land in 1990 because of the striking geographic similarity to the beloved Rhône Valley in France. With a heavy emphasis on powerful Rhône style blends, this California estate has a global reputation for being difficult to acquire without a trusted source like Benchmark Wine Group. Located in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo County, Alban has a total of 66 acres devoted to growing Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and more. They produce a total of about 6,000 cases per year under their own label, most of which are sold on allocation to a lengthy waiting list, as well as sell some of their grapes to other notable producers. The meticulous effort and strategic combination of California terroir with Southeastern French varietals that Alban Vineyards provides is essential for any cellar.

www.albanvineyards.com

2002
Out of Stock
750ml
WA95
WS94
CT94
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Tasting Notes

WA95
The 2002 Grenache (15% Syrah is included in the blend), which I tasted several days after bottling, is absolutely remarkable. The problem is, there is virtually no production as the crop size was minuscule (.6 tons of fruit per acre). This wine, which is destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts in open-topped fermenters, and is both punched down and pumped over, may be the finest Grenache the Albans have yet produced. Classic aromas of raspberries, kirsch liqueur, and hints of blackberries, anise, and loamy soil soar from the glass of this dense purple-colored Grenache (one of the blackest I have ever seen). Tipping the scales at 15.3% alcohol, this monumental Grenache is a tribute to just how great this varietal can be in Edna Valley.
WS94
Superrich and concentrated, with a wealth of flavor, stretching out from espresso, huskleberry, currant, leather and beef carpaccio, accented by hints of vanilla, sage and dusty berry, ending with a long, intense, fully tannic aftertaste, but in the end it's the fruit that surges to the forefront.

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