SINE QUA NON

2016 Subir Estate Syrah, Eleven Confessions Vineyard | Ventura, California 750 ml

...the perfect prom companion. It was painted with 89.7% Syrah, 4.6% Grenache, 2.5% Petite Sirah and 3.2% white Viognier. Here we fermented with 44.9% of the fruit whole cluster (unusual that we have more on Syrah than Grenache, but the nose and palate said to do it) and 82% new French Oak was employed to make this stud suave enough to chaperon that gorgeous Grenache majesty. Clearly and maybe expectedly there is nothing wimpy going on here. But this is the ultimate, reliable, responsible gentleman. I don't know how else to put it. The wine has tons of fruit, but is not a "fruit- bomb" in the derogatory sense. The wine is loaded with muscle, but is not an oaf. The wine has lots to tell, but does not coyly or artificially whisper and is not a show-off either. You have to pay attention to get it all, but if or when you do, you'll be delighted that you started the process and that you know enough about wine to tell the difference. Just a complete, detailed wine. | Manfred Krankl for SQN Wines

Meaning "Rise" in Spanish, the 2016 Syrah SUBIR is the estate release that's all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita HIlls... There are few wines that can spend close to four years in barrel and still emerge with freshness and purity, yet this estate seems to produce wines that do it with ease. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as heavenly array of creme de cassis, white chocolate, blackberries, unsmoked tobacco, and peppery spice, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless texture, incredible depth of fruit, and that rare mix of power and elegance that's that hallmark of truly great wines. This was a great vintage for the Central Coast, and this is a true gem of a wine that tops out on my scale. While it's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, it offers incredible pleasure today as well. It will have 20+ years of longevity. | 100 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com