Alban Vineyards : "Patrina" Syrah 2014

A Californian Syrah with Black and Blue Fruit Aromas

John Alban began planting grapes for other producers in 1985 and bought his own estate in 1989. His objective was to bring the varietals of France's Rhone Valley to California. Today, he is considered one of the most influential Rhone producers of the country. Alban pioneered the cultivation of Viognier at a time where this white varietal could only be found in 20 hectares of Condrieu and Chateau-Grillet of the Rhone Valley. He also cultivates Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne. The Patrina Syrah 2014 of Alban Estates is a single-varietal Syrah wine, produced from fruit harvested in several different blocks with Reva, Lorraine, Seymour's and Pandora soils in the Sonoma County appellation of California. After harvest, the fruit is fermented in open-top vats using indigenous yeast, with gentle pump overs and punch downs. The wine then spends around 22 months in barrels (partially new French oak barrels) and is not fined or filtered before bottling.

The Patrina Syrah 2014 of Alban Estates presents an inky, deep purple-black color in the glass. On the nose, this Californian Syrah exudes aromas of blue and black fruits, including classis, blackcurrants, blackberry preserves, dark plum and cherry compote. The fruit is beautifully balanced with nuanced notes of scorched earth, tar and charcoal as well as freshly cracked black pepper. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied and nicely layered, with firm, rounded tannins and a persistent and energetic finish, with lingering notes of minerality and pepper. This wine is ready to drink now or could be kept through 2027.