JEB DUNNUCK 98-100 POINTS - "Founded by John Alban in the mid-1980s, Alban Vineyards was the first estate in California dedicated exclusively to Rhône varieties and remains one of the world’s great wine estates. Based at the far end of the Edna Valley, it stands alone in the region, producing wines of a quality unmatched for miles in any direction. While vintages here sometimes echo the broader Central Coast, they just as often chart their own course, resulting in singular wines with a character all their own. A defining feature of the cellar is a long four-year élevage, which lends the wines their depth, exotic richness, and extraordinary ability to age."
"The 2021 Syrah Seymour's is slightly more open than the last time I tasted it, yet it still has its signature power and richness. Cassis, ripe black cherries, graphite, crushed stone, and leather all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a deep, layered mid-palate, ripe, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. As always with this cuvée, the cellar will be your friend."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 97 POINTS - "A visit to this highly respected estate in the Edna Valley (San Luis Obispo County) was long overdue, as Josh Raynolds most recently covered these wines in 2021. John Alban was a pioneering figure in the region in the early 1990s, hedging his bets on the potential for Rhône varieties to succeed in this maritime-influenced climate with geographic features that resembled the Rhône Valley. The wines quickly generated a cult following after early praise from Robert Parker. Alban Vineyards maintains a loyal roster of mailing list customers to this day that quickly snatch up the majority of the 6,000-or-so cases of wine produced here. John Alban is still heavily involved in winemaking but is now aided by son Jared."
"The 2021 Syrah Seymour's, from a parcel planted on flint, has real cool-climate character. Inky blue/black fruit, black and white pepper, wild game, incense and palo santo nuances sizzle up from the glass. Bright, chalky acids and citrus peel tones invigorate the palate as the Seymour's saturates deeply. Wave after wave of intense, concentrated flavors lash at the tongue. What impresses most is the complete and total balance here. Magnificent and incredibly distinctive. Wow."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 96 POINTS - "This year's visit to Alban focused on revisiting the bottled 2021 site-designate Syrahs, all of which largely reflected my impressions from last year's barrel tasting, showcasing the classic power and textural richness of the property's ultra-low-yielding vines. This time, I met with Jared Alban, who is taking on an increasingly central role in both the cellar and the vineyards, and I look forward to seeing what his perspective may bring to the estate."
"Derived from the windiest hilltop blocks at Alban and situated on flinty soils, the 2021 Syrah Seymour's Vineyard fulfills the potential shown from barrel and stands as the most multifaceted wine in the roster. It leads with the most aromatic complexity of the range, emerging from the glass with classic Syrah aromas of exotic spices, charred wood, cured and roasted meats and black pepper that float above a ripe but not over-the-top core of dark fruits. The palate is decidedly ripe but equally fine-grained and precise, with a serious density that maintains energy and verve despite the extreme power and weight behind it. It concludes with a composed and luxurious finish that still lets some savory edginess shine through."
"The 2021 Syrah Seymour's is slightly more open than the last time I tasted it, yet it still has its signature power and richness. Cassis, ripe black cherries, graphite, crushed stone, and leather all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a deep, layered mid-palate, ripe, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. As always with this cuvée, the cellar will be your friend."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 97 POINTS - "A visit to this highly respected estate in the Edna Valley (San Luis Obispo County) was long overdue, as Josh Raynolds most recently covered these wines in 2021. John Alban was a pioneering figure in the region in the early 1990s, hedging his bets on the potential for Rhône varieties to succeed in this maritime-influenced climate with geographic features that resembled the Rhône Valley. The wines quickly generated a cult following after early praise from Robert Parker. Alban Vineyards maintains a loyal roster of mailing list customers to this day that quickly snatch up the majority of the 6,000-or-so cases of wine produced here. John Alban is still heavily involved in winemaking but is now aided by son Jared."
"The 2021 Syrah Seymour's, from a parcel planted on flint, has real cool-climate character. Inky blue/black fruit, black and white pepper, wild game, incense and palo santo nuances sizzle up from the glass. Bright, chalky acids and citrus peel tones invigorate the palate as the Seymour's saturates deeply. Wave after wave of intense, concentrated flavors lash at the tongue. What impresses most is the complete and total balance here. Magnificent and incredibly distinctive. Wow."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 96 POINTS - "This year's visit to Alban focused on revisiting the bottled 2021 site-designate Syrahs, all of which largely reflected my impressions from last year's barrel tasting, showcasing the classic power and textural richness of the property's ultra-low-yielding vines. This time, I met with Jared Alban, who is taking on an increasingly central role in both the cellar and the vineyards, and I look forward to seeing what his perspective may bring to the estate."
"Derived from the windiest hilltop blocks at Alban and situated on flinty soils, the 2021 Syrah Seymour's Vineyard fulfills the potential shown from barrel and stands as the most multifaceted wine in the roster. It leads with the most aromatic complexity of the range, emerging from the glass with classic Syrah aromas of exotic spices, charred wood, cured and roasted meats and black pepper that float above a ripe but not over-the-top core of dark fruits. The palate is decidedly ripe but equally fine-grained and precise, with a serious density that maintains energy and verve despite the extreme power and weight behind it. It concludes with a composed and luxurious finish that still lets some savory edginess shine through."
