Eleven Confession Syrah 2020

Sine Qua Non is arguably California's most cult producer . Its wines are extremely rare , produced in small quantities , sometimes only a few barrels. Needless to say , you have to join a waiting list to get your hands on them . Another important characteristic is that the estate is owned by the iconoclastic Austrian artist and restaurateur Manfred Krakl . Krakl founded the winery with his wife , Elaine, in 1994 in Ventura , California, a city an hour north of Los Angeles. Each wine tells a story , has a different name , and a unique label , created, of course, by Manfred himself.

Jeb Dunnuck – Rated 99:

One of those singular and powerful wines that will leave you speechless (it certainly left me speechless). The 2020 Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah offers an exceptional nose of red and blue fruits, ground pepper, graphite, cured meats, and spices, with some marine and saline nuances typical of the Sta. Rita Hills. With a dense and powerful palate, rich aromas and flavors, intense fruitiness, and developing tannins, this wine will benefit from 2 to 4 years of cellaring and will continue to amaze you for the next two decades. It reminds me of the 2005 Nail in my Cranium, with its massive, powerful, yet perfectly balanced style, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve in a similar way. The 2020 vintage is composed of 84% Syrah, 12% Grenache and the rest Petite Sirah and white grape varieties, fermented with a quarter of whole bunches and aged for 38 months in oak barrels.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) – Rated 98:

The 2020 Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah is darkly beautiful and exotic. Rich, sumptuous, and complex on the palate, this 2020 vintage is a classic Sine Qua Non from start to finish. Silky tannins envelop a heart of intense red/purple fruit, lavender, rose petals, and mint, creating a breathtaking crescendo of aromas, flavors, and textures. What a wine! The blend is composed of 84% Syrah, 11.5% Grenache, 2.3% Petite Sirah, and 2.2% Viognier and Golden Muskateller.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...). In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.