2001 Alban - Pandora Rhone Blend - USA - California - San Luis Obispo - Edna Valley - Red

Poured small amount to rinse glasses and dump. Glass completely coated and the massive and impressive nose simply erupted from the glass. Fat enormous nose of licorice, cranberry, pepper. Big spicy finish. Nose bursts with black raspberry and hickory and a bit of funk. Intensely rich. Sweet tannin. Meaty. Cloves. Thoroughly hides the 16% alcohol. Concentrated, ripe and fat but with impressive acidity. Gradually revealing cigar and menthol. Paprika.

Pandora is Alban?s top of the line blend of Grenache and Syrah from the Seymour?s Vineyard (Alban also makes his best Syrah from Seymour?s Vineyard). The 2001 is less immediately appealing and hedonistic as prior vintages. Nevertheless, the 2001 Pandora offers compelling drinking. The wine has a deep purple hue with lots of thin slow moving moderately pigmented legs. Strong aromas of burnt toast, some merde, roasted plum, pretzel, slight vanilla, star anise, and minerals. Plush cascading tannins are deftly matched with excellent acidity. Viscous but still agile flavors of roasted fruits, cr?me brul?e, silky black pepper, and minerals. The finish lasts and lasts. Alban?s best cuv?es and vineyard designates are worthy of purchase every year.