Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Grenache 2017

Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Grenache 2017

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£450.00
Regular price  £622.00
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  • Robert Parker rating 98
  • Vinous rating 97
Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Grenache 2017
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HED90751

75 cl

15.8%
Regular price  £622.00
Sale price 
£450.00 28% off
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Sine Qua Non is the highly regarded winery located in Ventura County, known for producing some of the most sought-after and limited-production wines in California. Established in 1994 by winemaker Manfred Krankl and his wife, Elaine, the winery has gained a cult following for its exceptional Rhône-style blends and unique, artistic labels. Each vintage produced by Sine Qua Non features distinctive names and artwork, adding to the allure and collectability of their wines. The Eleven Confessions Grenache 2017 is a blend of 85.4% Grenache, 7.1% Syrah, 6.9% Mourvèdre, and 0.6% Viognier. The nose is stunningly expressive, showcasing layers of red and black fruits, such as raspberries, blackberries and black cherries, intertwined with hints of violets, white pepper and garrigue. On the palate, this Grenache is full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, displaying a silky texture, vibrant acidity, and well-integrated tannins.
98 Robert Parker
This Grenache is all Eleven Confessions vineyard-grown fruit. Eleven Confessions is the Krankl’s estate-owned vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. As mentioned in my report last year, 33 acres are planted here. Eleven acres of Pinot Noir were already planted when they purchased the property, about half of which has been grafted over, and a further 22 acres were planted by the Krankls in 2001. In order to fully ripen Manfred’s preferred medium—mainly Rhône varieties—in this area more commonly planted to cooler-climate grapes such as Pinot and Chardonnay, the Krankls need to go super low on the yields and long on the hang time. “This vineyard is by far the coolest of our vineyards,” Manfred recently explained. “Sometimes we don’t harvest until November.” Punitive yields of 1.5 tons per acre or less are common. In the years when it’s good and ready to sing, Eleven Confessions is used to make a single-vineyard wine under the Sine Qua Non label. “The wines have a lot of structure and presence,” Manfred commented. “The soil is mainly heavy clay, so the wines can be pretty muscular.” The 2017 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is composed of 88.7% Grenache, 10.6% Syrah and 0.7% Viognier. The winemaking includes 47% whole cluster, and it was aged for 38 months in 62% new French oak (83% were large demi-muids) and 38% in used vessels of various ages and sizes (two to five years old). Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the nose starts off a little closed, offering glimpses at stewed plums, blackberry preserves, and chocolate-covered cherries, giving way to fragrant notions of licorice, violets and cinnamon stick. While there’s no question that this is a big, concentrated, full-bodied wine, it is also incredibly elegant, well-poised and nuanced, featuring many floral and baking spice layers within the decadent black fruits and sporting firm, very finely grained tannins, finishing with incredible length and depth. I would recommend a good 3-5 years of cellaring, then drink it o
97 Vinous
The 2017 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is shockingly tight and unyielding today. That should not pose an issue in a few years' time, once the tannins soften, but readers should plan on cellaring the 2017 for at least a few years. Bright floral accents and red-toned fruit all run through this backward yet vibrant Grenache from Manfred and Elaine Krankl's Eleven Confessions Vineyard, so named because of the eleven clones planted in the vineyard. Dollops of Syrah and Viognier round out the blend.Antonio Galloni1st October 2021

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The wines of Sine Qua Non need little introduction. Mould breaking, iconoclastic, visionary are just some of the descriptors invoked when critics and wine lovers discuss this unique winery. Based in Ventura, north of LA, the wines of Sine Qua Non regularly notch up perfect scores from critics while the waiting list for a direct allocation is well over ten years.

Founded by Manfred and Elaine Krankl in the early 1990s, the duo swiftly gained attention from wine lovers and critics for their superb Rhône blend wines, quirky labels and uncompromising approach in the vineyard and cellar. The winery has experimented with producing Oregon Pinot Noir, dessert wines and an array of quirky single varietal reds and whites, but generally revert to producing the wines for which they are most famous - Grenache and Syrah. The wines are generally big and bold, but those who like things cranked up to eleven should look no further than Manfred's "extended barrel ageing" program.

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