2016 Syrah Seymour's Vineyard

Another perfect wine is the 2016 Syrah Seymour's, and it too is as classic an expression of this terroir as you could imagine. Sporting a deep purple/black color as well as a Guigal La Landonne-like bouquet of smoked black fruits, cured meats, crushed violets, spice, and crushed stone-like minerality, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, flawless balance, a massive mid-palate, and a blockbuster of a finish. Always the more structured, austere, and backward of the three Syrahs from Alban, it nevertheless has incredible purity of fruit. It won't hit maturity for another decade and will most likely have 30-40 years of overall longevity. 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.