I'll take the bait here, since I've been involved to a degree. I still buy a few Alban wines at retail after being unceremoniously dumped from the list.

What did I do to deserve that? Was it complaints about the outrageous price increases? No. Was it the shoddy customer service? No. (Alban customer service is an oxymoron). It was the nerve I had to complain about shipping charges....$48 a six pack to Nevada when Talley (a mile or two down the road) was charging $24.

All that said, I still enjoy the occasional Alban, especially the roussanne, which I think is his best wine. Most people want the big reds, including a friend who gets an erection every time I suggest I might open one.

I've got 99s ready to go and will open some before summer.