2019 Alban Vineyards Reva Syrah | Alban Estate Vineyard, Edna Valley AVA San Luis Obispo County California 750 ml

In the earliest years of Alban Vineyards, I lived in a rented greenhouse propagating cuttings. When I wasn't making vines, I was busy looking for the future home for all the vines in my nursery. I spent 7 years looking at possible vineyard sites all over the Central Coast of California. Whenever I found a promising site, I negotiated a due diligence period during which I could do soil and site analysis. While mapping out the last piece I'd ever evaluate (because it was the one that turned into Alban Vineyards) I happened to name a little ridge on one part of the ranch 'Reva's Ridge'. It was a play on words incorporating the name of a Kentucky Derby winner: Riva's Ridge, and my mother's name which is Reva. Clearly I'd been in the sun too long and I will admit that I am a total 'mama's boy'. Years later, after calling the vineyard Reva and tagging the first barrel as Reva, I embraced the obvious: I named the wine Reva.
The grapes that go into Reva (97-100% Syrah with the balance of Viognier) are from neutral sandy soils and portions of ranch that are chalky and quite alkaline. This combination makes for a wine with dark color, concentrated flavors of black fruits, fennel, and graphite. Perhaps the most distinguishing note of Reva is a unique iodine and oyster shell aromatic that is unlike anything in our other Syrahs. The wine is aged 3.5 years in barrels before bottling unfined and unfiltered. | Alban Vineyards

...reveals a much cooler climate-like style in its blackberry, graphite, pepper, and bouquet garni nuances, and it picks up an almost Cornas-like game and white pepper character with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe yet polished tannins, and a great finish. It reminds me slightly of the 2018, although with slightly less concentration. It will evolve for 20-25 years. | 98 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com