John Alban Vineyards NORTH Pinot Noir 2015

Vor etwa 20 Jahren pflanzte John Alban Chardonnay und Pinot Noir in seinen eigenen Weinbergen im Edna Valley an. Das tat er jedoch nicht in der Absicht, eigene Weine zu produzieren, sondern weil er die Trauben gut verkaufen konnte. Mit zunehmenden Alter der Rebstöcke haben seine Frau Lorraine und John selbst grossen Gefallen an diesen zwei Sorten gefunden. Die Rebstöcke bringen hervorragende Trauben hervor, die John mit seinem Können und seiner immensen Erfahrung zu herausragenden Weinen werden lässt. Leider sind die Produktionsmengen sehr, sehr klein.

- 95 Punkte Jeb Dunnuck: „Coming from roughly 3 acres of Pinot Noir planted along the Orcutt Road, the 2015 Pinot Noir is a downright exuberant, concentrated effort that offers tons of darker raspberry fruits, smoked meat, fireplace and crushed flowers. Complex, elegant and layered, with a beautiful dried violet character that comes through with air, it's a serious, rich, age-worthy Pinot Noir that's going to shine with short term cellaring.
While John Alban is mostly known for his Rhône releases, he makes some seriously good Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs under his North Vineyards as well.“

- 94 Punkte VINOUS, Josh Raynolds: „Deep brilliant red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, candied rose and star anise, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Alluringly sweet and focused on the palate, offering concentrated raspberry, cherry cola, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that are given lift and spine by a core of juicy acidity. Powerful yet impressively lithe in character, showing outstanding energy and silky, even tannins that build steadily on a long, floral-dominated finish. 2021-2028.“