2020 Sine Qua Non, SQN, Eleven Confessions Syrah, Sta. Rita Hills, Magnum (1.5L)

JD99 "One of those singular, powerhouse wines that will stop anyone in their tracks (well, its stopped me anyways), the 2020 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard offers an insane nose of bloody red and blue fruits, ground pepper, graphite, cured meats, and baking spices, with some classic Sta. Rita Hills marine/salty sea breeze-like nuances. With a dense, powerful mouthfeel, full-bodied aromas and flavors, massive fruit, and building tannins, this beauty is going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and blow you away over the following two decades. It reminds me of the 2005 Nail in my Cranium with its massive, powerful, yet flawlessly balanced style, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this evolve along the same trajectory as that wine. The 2020 is 84% Syrah, 12% Grenache, and the rest Petite Sirah and white varieties, fermented with one quarter whole clusters and aged 38 months in 58% new oak." JD Aug 2024

AG98 "The 2020 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a dark, exotic beauty. Rich, sumptuous and layered in the glass, the 2020 is classic Sine Qua Non from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint, building into a stunning crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures. What a wine. The blend is 84% Syrah, 11.5% Grenache, 2.3% Petite Sirah and 2.2% Viognier and Golden Muskateller. " AG for VM Aug 2024

LP98 "The 2020 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard comes entirely from the Krankls’ estate vineyard, which they planted in 2000 and 2001. A blend of 84% Syrah, 11.5% Grenache, 2.3% Petite Sirah, plus 2.2% of Gelber Muskateller and Viognier, the wine was vinified with 25% whole clusters and aged for around 38 months in primarily French oak barrels, 58% new, though 9% was aged in concrete. Exuberant notes of juicy plums, boysenberry preserves, and aniseed come bounding out, followed by hints of iris bulb, aniseed, Indian spices, and fragrant soil. Full-bodied, the palate is so, so satiny smooth and seductive, delivering a refreshing line to balance, finishing long and spicy. 849 cases and 228 magnums were made." LPB for TWI Sep 2024