PANDORA Edna Valley Estate Vineyard

John Alban could be described as an adventurer. Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, and Roussanne are the four varieties that led John to settle in Arroyo Grande, on Orcatt Road. Why, you ask? Quite simply because it is the best place in California to make great wines from Rhône grape varieties. After purchasing the ranch, John's pockets were empty, and he earned his living by selling his vines, for which he smuggled wood, i.e., genetic material from France, into the US, rather than planting them himself as he had originally planned. It was the vine nursery that financed John's first plantings. Step by step, Alban began to cultivate the best sites on his ranch. He didn't just hire construction companies to do this; no, he put together a fleet of old, rickety equipment and carved the terraces high above the road into the hillside himself, which has a wonderful west-facing view and from where you can even see the Pacific Ocean on clear days. The Syrah goes into the Seymours and the Grenache into this wine, the Pandora. If you like wines with muscle, lots of muscle, then Pandora is the right choice for you. The fruit of this wine is surprisingly dark, with a hint of floral notes, perhaps violets, and a good dose of pepper. This is a powerhouse Grenache that, when it hits the palate, doesn't ask questions or hesitate, but simply takes its place. The tannins are ultra-fine and the wine remains lively and wonderfully harmonious despite its immense power. This wine should be given some time, if you can resist.