Alban Vineyards Grenache, Pandora | 2020

A few Fridays ago, we welcomed Jared Alban of Alban Vineyards to the Vinya house. Jared’s dad, John, was a pioneer of Rhône varieties in California and founded his namesake winery in 1989. Along with Bob Lindquist of Qupé and Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon, Alban put California on an international stage beyond Cabernet and Chardonnay. Collectively, they brought attention to Syrah, Grenache, Mourvédre, and Viognier, and their wines developed a long-lasting, consumer love affair that influenced modern-day, California fine wine. 

Luckily, we got to open a bottle of his super limited Pandora Grenache, with only 54 bottles making its way to the state of Florida. I'm biased because Grenache is one of my "Top Five" grapes, but WOW is Pandora sublime and sexier than Taylor Swift's red lipstick. 100% Grenache from the family's very steep Seymour's Vineyard, a mostly sandy site with veins of chalk, the new release of Pandora was aged in 60% new French oak, which melts into the palate. In textbook Alban style, the aromas are off-the-chart — a wondrous coma of red-velvet berries, wildflowers, sweet fennel, and yakitori spice. Polished, but not squeaky, it glides like a feather. So, get what you can, before it goes poof! ~Allegra A