100 points Jeb Dunnuck

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. It’s 89.7% Syrah with the rest Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Viognier that was 56% destemmed and spent a full 38 months in 82% new French oak. 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 a heavenly array of crème 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.  (8/2020)99 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

 

Very deep purple-black, it comes bounding out of the glass with precociously profound notes of baked blackberries, plum preserves, blueberry pie, tilled earth and lilacs plus tobacco leaf, wild sage, truffles and espresso nuances. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tautly structured, strutting a firm backbone of rounded tannins and fantastic freshness supporting the muscular, tightly wrapped layers, finishing with epic length and loads of minerally fireworks. (LPB)  (8/2020)

98 points Vinous

The 2016 Syrah Subir, from Elaine and Manfred Krankl’s Eleven Confessions ranch, is a powerhouse. It is the rare Sine Qua Non wine that demands cellaring. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of inky dark fruit. Hints of spice, lavender, mint and dried herbs emerge with coaxing, but the 2016 is in no mood to show all of its cards yet. Subir is 89.7% Syrah, 4.6% Grenache, 2.5% Petite Siraha and 3.2% Viognier, vinified with 44% whole clusters. It is projected to spend 38 months in oak, 82% new. (AG)  (8/2020)