Alban Vineyards, Alban Estate Vineyard Grenache, Edna Valley

Amazing with beef tenderloin. A little lighter on its feet than the Reva or Lorraine Syrahs. Delicious.

2016 vintage

A darker, more serious expression of grenache - the alcohol is a little hot (%15.4) but that's not overwhelming, and the overall experience is a delicious one.

2014 vintage

90 min decant; Lighter in body than expected, but a really elegant style of Grenache. Candied strawberries, baking spices. hints of cedar and earth. Held up well over 2 days, but no rush to open these.

2019 vintage

Not a typical in-your-face Alban... subtle and subdued. Very sophisticated like a fine Burgundy. Not what we were expecting, but we loved it with pizza.

2019 vintage

Alban never misses. Perfect balance, great acid, great fruit, def high ABV but gives it great body, drinks velvety, great stuff.

2016 vintage

Very interesting wine. This is racy and fresh, wearing its 15.9 abv well. The nose is excellent and aromatic . The palate is a little lesser. High toned red and dark fruits with a touch of Rhone spice.

2016 vintage

Thoroughly delicious, especially in the juicy and expansive palate, with raspberry jam and red currant. The tannins are still quite powerful, coating your teeth. This may even improve a bit.

2016 vintage

No formal tasting notes....ten years in this wine is still going strong!

2014 vintage

Borrowing a line from El Presidente, like an offensive lineman, big but light on its feet. Massive nose with steaming road tar, creosote, bacon fat, blueberry compote, allspice. Full bodied but the bracing acidity balances it out. One of the few wines vinified at 15.9 that hide it well enough for my palate. There will always be a spot in my cellar for Alban wines.

2016 vintage

Nicely balanced between earthy, mushroom notes and raspberry jam with sweet spice.

2014 vintage

We've been drinking Alban Grenache since the 2005 that blew us away at a restaurant in Delray Beach and introduced us to Grenache. The '17 carries on a long string of superb winesfrom Booker and will not disappoint. Serve it to company and brag a little :)

2017 vintage

Decanted for one hour. Nose of raspberry liquor, bramble and herbs de Provence. Ripe black raspberry, herbs de Provence, bramble and drying tannins on the palate. Very long, layered finish with good depth. Medium to full bodied. Served with apple smoked turkey and corn bread, sausage dressing.

2016 vintage

Just okay. Huge fan and long-time member of Alban, but this was not great. Was restrained and lacked much structure. Soft and smooth with vegatal notes and muted fruit. Maybe an off bottle or an off night.

2016 vintage

Absolutely delicious. Spicy candle wax with a Slight sweetness, yet acidic and tannic to equalize the fruit. IMHO among the best Grenache expressions worldwide.

2019 vintage

Delicious!

2016 vintage

Lovely wine and so well balanced it drinks too easily

2016 vintage

A better bottle than our 2020 tasting... this one was a big blaster, smooth and chocolaty. It continues to remind me of the big Pahlmeyer Merlots of the past, great with food and a real pleasure to drink. 3/18/23 Another bottle, same score... quite delicious.

2016 vintage

All day long, this was a 95 point wine! Even at first taste. There is a lush blueberry compote mouthfeel that satisfies every sense of a true wine lover. Thank you John Alban, once again for understanding your grapes and your terroir in a great year. This one brought smiles to everyone’s face! #WineArchitect #ArchitecturalArtistry #alban #grenache

2017 vintage

After drinking a few vintages of Alban Grenache Estate and a few horizontal tastings with 2016 grenache-dominant CDPs, it can stand tall and rub should to should with top CDPs, such as Janasse Vielle Vignes/Chaupin (JD 99) or Vieille Julienne hauts lieux (JD 99). 2016 Alban Grenache Estate has a rich and ripe dark fruit profile (darker than its sibling Pandora) and has incredible velvety texture such that it’s so approachable and smooth (no hard edges) upon release. Yum! Yum! …

2016 vintage

By the glass. A wave of Californian winemaking with an insane concentration for a Grenache wine. When you expect high acidity, what you actually find is opulence and modernity. Intense wine also on the nose with excessive fruit for my humble taste. Someone told me they are wines that age well. Let’s trust it. My contribution. Por copas. Una oleada de elaboración californiana con una concentración desaforada para un vino de garnacha. Cuando uno espera una alta acidez lo que …

2017 vintage

Youthful big wine that will develop with time.

2017 vintage

Alban does it again. A wonderfully delicious wine that had a creamy feeling that reminded me of a Quilceda Cabernet. Paired with filets done on a Ninja Grill, first time trying this new appliance. Great raspberry nose and long satisfying finish done in the true Alban style.

2014 vintage

Even more disappointing than our previous bottle... tight and a bit tart, even after an hour in decanter. This is not the soft, lush fruit bomb we think of with Alban Grenache.

2014 vintage

Had this next to the Pandora. Both great but this is slightly less in your face. Still a big black fruited wine with long finish that I would be happy to drink any day.

2014 vintage

This is a very big wine, offering more black & blue than typical red grenache fruits, and it comes close to being somewhat unbalanced. Still, if you appreciate bigger wines, this is an excellent wine in its class - - lovely aromatics and a very long finish. Drinking well now, but still many years to go - - no need to rush.

2014 vintage

Everything I'd dreamed. I was so pleased and privileged to finally get on John Alban's list, and it was worth it. This was a sumptuous and racy grenache with great structure and finish for days.

2016 vintage

We are Grenache fans, they remind us of the big old-timey Napa Merlots that went so well with food. This one is a typical example, smooth and chocolatey, although not as good as some other Albans and not worth $115.

2016 vintage

Really nice with big and juicy mouthfeel and long finish that's too easy to drink.

2014 vintage

Loads of fresh red fruit with herbs, licorice, and smoke. Firm, but nicely balanced and drinking well already.

2016 vintage

A wonderful Grenache but perhaps a tad disappointing... closed and tight even after an hour in decanter. The flavor is there but it's under a blanket. I'm hoping another year will open it up.

2014 vintage

This is like a Christmas cake on the nose. Spice, blackberry, white pepper. Bursting with raspberry and blackberry on the palate. Finish is well -integrated. At no point does this wine belie it's 15.9% ABV

2016 vintage

Hit the spot on a cold, rainy evening. Full, rich and exuberant. Not loud nor obnoxious, but confident and strong. Still, a bit less energy then prior vintages, leading to getting a bit tiring after a couple glasses. None the less, perfect for such a day, and pretty delicious.

2014 vintage

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Alban Vineyards, Alban Estate Vineyard Grenache, Edna Valley

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