2016 Syrah Lorraine Vineyard

A perfect wine, the 2016 Syrah Lorraine is a quintessential example of this cuvée and has a glorious perfume of crème de cassis and black raspberry fruits interwoven with notes of chocolate, cured meats, white flowers, and toasted spices. Full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, and powerful on the palate, it still stays perfectly balanced, has a stacked mid-palate, ultra-fine tannins, and a finish that won't quit. Drink this heavenly Syrah any time over the coming 20-25 years. There are certainly no dogs in the recent vintages from John Alban – 2016, 2017, and 2018 are all brilliant vintages. At the top of the heap, the 2016s have everything: Incredible purity of fruit, flawless balance, and power paired with considerable elegance. These are magical wines and some of the finest I've tasted from the estate. Mostly still resting in barrel, the 2017s have big, exuberant personalities with already complex aromatics as well as plenty of structure on the palate. I was only able to taste the Patrina from 2018, but this is always a good indication of the quality from John, and it has a touch of the 2016s’ purity and elegance. I'll review the 2018s from barrel prior to release. Readers can't go wrong with any of these latest wines.