Alban 2014 Lorraine Syrah 1.5L

Lurid violet. A highly expressive, mineral-tinged bouquet evokes blackberry and blueberry preserves, candied flowers, incense and exotic spices. Alluringly sweet, palate-staining black and blue fruit liqueur, violet pastille and spicecake flavors are complicated by suggestions of black pepper and bitter chocolate. Smooth, steadily building tannins add gentle grip to an extremely long, seamless finish that shows outstanding detail and emphatically repeats the floral and mineral notes.

Score: 96 points -- Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2018