{"product_id":"2002-alban-pandora-syrah-95-pts","title":"2002 Alban Vineyards Pandora Rhone Blend - 750ml","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2002 Alban Vineyards Pandora Rhone Blend - 95 pts! \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe 2002 Pandora (a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah) boasts explosive notes of kirsch liqueur, a dense ruby\/purple color, considerable elegance, wonderful sweetness as well as ripeness, and a superb 55-second finish. Arguably the finest Pandora produced by John Alban to date, it should drink well young, yet last for 10-15 years.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"first odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eVarietal\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eGrenache\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eVintage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e2002\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eRating\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e95 RP\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e750 ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eBottle Quantity\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eCountry\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eUSA\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eRegion\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eCalifornia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eLocation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eCentral Coast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eProducer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eAlban Vineyards\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eColor\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eRed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"last odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eWine Type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eTable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"first odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eRating\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e95 RP - 2002 Alban Vineyards Pandora Rhone Blend - 95 pts! The 2002 Pandora (a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah) boasts explosive notes of kirsch liqueur, a dense ruby\/purple color, considerable elegance, wonderful sweetness as well as ripeness, and a superb 55-second finish. Arguably the finest Pandora produced by John Alban to date, it should drink well young, yet last for 10-15 years. Rhone Ranger pioneer John Alban was one of the very first to recognize the potential of France’s Rhone Valley grapes planted on California’s Central Coast. He is essentially the lone wolf in the Edna Valley, so Alban sits at the summit of quality in this region. His wines are probably the most concentrated wines of all the major wines reviewed in this report, but there is much more to them than just pure brute concentration. These are wines with extraordinary aging potential. Going through the 1999s and 2000s that I had purchased from Alban, they are still incredibly young wines, and I think it’s safe to say, these are probably among the longest-lived Rhone Ranger wines being produced in California. The exception would be the white wines, which are best drunk in their exuberant youthfulness. Alban’s 2006s will be released this fall, after having spent 43 months in barrel. It is a great vintage for this winery, and fortunately there are decent quantities available, since 2006 was a far more abundant vintage than the three very tiny crop years of 2007, 2008, and 2009. The Syrahs of 2007 are again extraordinary. I am sure they will continue to become more concentrated and put on weight as they spend more time in barrel. The 2008s won’t be released for another few years, so I will only give some brief comments. To reiterate, there is no 2008 Seymour’s, and production is even smaller at Alban in 2008 than it was in 2007. I tasted through barrel samples of the 2009 Grenache, Mourvedre, and several Syrah cuvees, and this appears to be a flamboyant vintage with big fruit, lots of ripeness, heady alcohol, and a soft, luscious, up-front style. The 2009s will be even more flattering and charming than the 2008s. RP\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"first odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eWine Spectator\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"first odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eBurghound\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"first odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eVarietal\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eGrenache\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eVintage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e2002\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eRating\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e95 RP\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e750 ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eBottle Quantity\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eCountry\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eUSA\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eRegion\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eCalifornia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eLocation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eCentral Coast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eProducer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eAlban Vineyards\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"even\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eColor\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eRed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"last odd\"\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"label\"\u003eWine Type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"data last\"\u003eTable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e","brand":"CultWine.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":33955604594819,"sku":"4132333","price":190.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0353\/9864\/7939\/files\/2002-alban-vineyards-pandora-rhone-blend-750ml-100.webp?v=1770252144","url":"https:\/\/cultwine.com\/fr\/products\/2002-alban-pandora-syrah-95-pts","provider":"CultWine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}