2018 Alban Vineyards, Lorraine Alban Estate Syrah, Edna Valley, Bottle (750ml)

RP100 "The 2018 Syrah Lorraine, which I tasted just after its bottling in mid-2022, is incredibly pure and powerful with a latency that suggests it will have a very long life in the cellar. It has a deep ruby-purple color and precise, layered aromatics: Morello cherries complement wafts of wild mint, cracked pepper, chargrilled meat, sage and bitter chocolate. The full-bodied palate is plush and luxurious, its concentrated core of sweet fruit supported by loads of powdery tannins and mouthwatering acidity, and it finishes with tremendous length. Wow!" EB for WA Sep 2022

JD100 (Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine) Starting off a duo of perfect wines, the 2018 Syrah Lorraine comes from a single vineyard of more chalky soils, and it's cut from the same cloth as the Reva with its purity and precision, yet it's always a slightly more feminine example of Syrah, with more black raspberry, white chocolate, flowery incense, baking spices, and peppery aromas and flavors. If the Reva is the Cornas in the lineup, this is the Côte Rôtie with its endearing elegance, suppleness, and just sheer charm. It certainly offers pleasure today, yet I'd nevertheless recommend 3-4 years of bottle age. As with the Reva, it will unquestionably evolve for two decades. It's a truly brilliant Syrah that will compete with the best out there." JD Sep 2022

"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."JD 2022