2021 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah, Sta Rita Hills

The assemblage is 85.0% Syrah, 9.7% Grenache, 1.3% Petite Sirah and 4.0% WHITES (Muskat and Viognier). 77% of the fruit was destemmed and 23% was left to ferment whole cluster (WITH the stems). That wine aggregation was left in barrels for +/- 38.5 months, with 52% of those barrels being brand new, and the rest between 1 to 4 years old, ALL in French oak. I am sure this is of no surprise to you when I write that this wine is no wimp, but one could say it is surprising how mellow, how well behaved, how elegant this is... No critic has tasted it yet, but E and I have had it several times…just a few days ago most recently. My notes state:

Great, SUPER dark, but brilliant color. There is a very deep nose of graphite, tree sap, stewed ripe red cherries, wet stone, myrrh and exotic flower pedals. It is a lively nose, but not obscene. The palate is super lush and velvety and rather pleasantly giving. There is a delightful, almost playful, vivaciousness here and an alluring, satiny feel. It is very friendly and pleasing, unpretentious and its elegance sneaks up on you. The wine is tightly woven, so that no piece, no fancy description sticks out, but rather makes for a harmonious whole. You don’t want to stop drinking it.