2018 Sine Qua Non, Eleven Confessions Collectors Case, Sta. Rita Hills 6x75cl

The Wine Independent 100/100

The deep garnet-purple-colored 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is composed of 82% Syrah, 10.6% Grenache, 5.3% Petite Sirah, and 2.1% Viognier. After a little swirl, a tornado of black cherry compote, blueberry preserves, dried mulberries, and Indian spices storms out of the glass, followed by sparks of potpourri, star anise, and dried lavender, with touches of charcuterie and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is built like a brick house, featuring firm, ripe, rounded tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly packed black and blue fruit layers, finishing with long-lasting exotic spice layers and a refreshing lift of red berries. Epic. This vintage was made using 28% whole clusters. It was aged for 38 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. 978 cases and 276 magnums were made. The 2018 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a blend of 83.7% Grenache, 9.1% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, and 1.2% Viognier. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, notes of black raspberries, stewed black and red plums, and boysenberry preserves waft effortlessly from the glass with an evocative undercurrent of garrigue, underbrush, wild sage, and rose oil. Full-bodied, the savory laced palate shimmers with energy, framed by very fine-grained, densely pixilated tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing with jaw-dropping length and minerality. This 2018 Grenache was made using 45% whole clusters, and 52% of the wine was aged in new French oak barrels, 51% of which were large demi-muids. The remaining 48% was aged in used oak (2-5 years old) or varying sizes. The total time in oak was around 38 months. 919 cases and 276 magnums were made. [24/08/2022]

Anticipated maturity: 2024-2054

Jeb Dunnuck 100/100

The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is pure gold and Syrah doesn’t get any better, no matter what region you’re talking about. Incredible notes of ripe cherries, currants, ground black and white pepper, cured meats, and saddle leather all soar from the glass, and it’s full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate. Opening up with time in the glass, it certainly offers pleasure today yet warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the Krankl family for another utterly magical wine. The 2018 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard comes all from the estate vineyard located on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills and is even more Grenache-dominated, checking in at close to 84% Grenache with 9% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, and the rest Viognier. Aged a whopping 38 months in 52% new barrels, it has an insane bouquet of black raspberries, herbes de Provence, violets, mulled cherries, sandalwood, and new leather. As complex and nuanced as they come, this full-bodied beauty has awesome purity of fruit, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, sweet, fine-grained tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s one of those wines that makes you run out of adjectives. One of the finest examples of Grenache to pass my lips, give it 2-3 years and enjoy over the following two decades. [29/08/2022]

Anticipated maturity: 2024-2042