2019 Sine Qua Non, SQN, Cumulus Vineyard, Next of Kyn, Central Coast, California, Case of 2 Magnum [1 No-13 & 1 Touriga Nacional]

LP100 "The opaque garnet-purple colored 2019 Next of Kyn Cumulus Vineyard no 13 is a blend of 29% Grenache, 29% Mourvèdre, 24.5% Syrah, 8% Touriga Nacional, 7.5% Petite Sirah, and 2% Petit Manseng. It skips out with bright, cheery notes of preserved black and red cherries, raspberry pie, and clove oil, with an underlying perfume of candied violets, cinnamon toast, and dusty soil. The palate is as full-bodied as it is delicately knit, with vibrant, amazingly pure black and red berry layers and a very fine-grained, silty texture. It finishes sophisticated, fragrant, and with incredible length. Beguiling." LPB for TWI Sug 2022

RP98 - "Every year I say I won't plant any more Touriga Nacional, and every year I plant more," Manfred Krankl quips. "There is no doubt at all that this grape variety has terrific potential in California." The 2019 Touriga Nacional Número Cinco is composed of 82% Touriga Nacional, 9.5% Mourvèdre, 7.8% Petite Sirah and 0.7% Petit Manseng, and fruit comes entirely from the Cumulus estate vineyard. It was made with 32% whole clusters and matured for about 32 months in 48% new French oak. Opaque purple-black in color, the nose is bursting with boysenberries, tar, Morello cherries, sage and bouquet garni aromas, and the full-bodied palate is packed to the brim with floral fruits. Powerful yet elegant, all that fruit is supported by finely grained tannins and notable juicy acidity that highlights nuanced flavors on the extended finish. Bottled May 11, 2022, and tasted May 24, 2022, it's showing beautifully at this stage just after bottling. Due to its extremely limited production (137 cases and 222 magnums), a single bottle will be sold in each Next of Kyn four-pack. It will be released in the fall of 2022." EB for TWA May 2022