2018 Alban Vineyards, Reva Syrah

MAX 2 fl. per kunde!

100% Syrah aged 42-months in French oak offers up more fruit and purity than normal, with only hints of its normal iodine/seaweed tinged profile. Loaded with sweet black raspberry, cassis, wild herbs, flowers and subtle blood and iodine qualities, it is a full-bodied, decadent Syrah that has incredible mid-palate depth, beautiful freshness and a blockbuster finish. This is one of the most extraordinary Syrahs you will ever try made by one of California's pioneers of the variety. 

Leading off the three Syrahs, the 2018 Syrah Reva is a classic expression of this cuvée with its powerful black fruits, iron, iodine, pepper, and assorted more gamey aromas and flavors. These all carry over to the palate, where it's full-bodied and has the pure, focused style of the vintage as well as a stacked mid-palate. Readers looking for a quintessential Alban Syrah will love this beauty, which can be drunk any time over the coming 20+ years.

It’s clear that Alban has another truly special vintage on their hands with these 2018s, and these might be the finest wines I’ve tasted from this estate. Reminding me slightly of the 2016s, these aren’t massive, over-the-top wines, and they excel every bit as much for their purity, balance, and elegance as they do for their richness and texture. The 2019s also showed well, and those will be reviewed from bottle next year. As I hope these reviews show, I don’t think anyone is doing Rhône varieties better.
- 98 Jeb Dunnuck