2022 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah

99 points Jeb Dunnuck

An absolute tour de force that ranks at the very pinnacle of California winemaking, this extended-barrel-aged Syrah delivers mesmerizing power matched with profound, deep-seated complexity. The glass overflows with rich black fruit compote, smoked game, liquid violets, and freshly cracked black peppercorns. It anchors the palate with stunning, multifaceted richness, a completely seamless mid-palate, and incredibly polished, building structural tannins that carry into an endless finish. It delivers a “rare mix of power and elegance that’s that hallmark of truly great wines.” Jeb Dunnuck, September 2025

99 points Vinous

Displaying magnificent pedigree and energy, this spectacular estate Syrah is driven by a vibrant line of bright, electric acidity that perfectly shapes its massive fruit profile. Layers of crème de cassis, flowery incense, and dark cocoa unfold effortlessly across an ultra-fine, velvety mouthfeel. It is a spellbinding, perfectly integrated masterpiece from the Krankls that balances massive concentration with a remarkable sense of structural focus, proving that “bright acids drive a line of intensity through the fruit, lending notable freshness.” Antonio Galloni, August 2024

2022 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache

100 points Jeb Dunnuck

A flawless, opulent wine that entirely tops the scale, this late-bottled estate Grenache marries dramatic, full-throated richness with a level of purity that only this variety can achieve. Captivating aromas of kirsch, sweet wild strawberries, sandalwood, and leather lead into a incredibly deep, layered, and multi-dimensional palate. The tannins are impeccably fine-grained and velvety, framing an effortless, sweeping finish that stands out as an undeniably great effort which “brings that rare mix of richness and elegance that only Grenache can.” Jeb Dunnuck, September 2025

98 points Vinous

Wonderfully exotic and wild, this expressive Grenache showcases a captivating, high-toned bouquet of dark red fruits, dried lavender, rose petals, and new leather. The mouthfeel is incredibly broad, supple, and expansive, expanding across the palate with striking persistence while maintaining a beautifully framed, cool-toned precision. It is a stunning, beautifully crafted showstopper of a wine where “layers of red fruit, spice and lavender unfurling in a finish.” Antonio Galloni, August 2024

Cult Wines International Notes:

Sine Qua Non represents the ultimate, fiercely independent pinnacle of California’s “Rhône Ranger” movement, founded in 1994 by the iconic and visionary artistic duo Manfred and Elaine Krankl. Operating with a philosophy that treats winemaking as high art, the estate famously crafts micro-allocations featuring unique names, shapes, and custom hand-drawn labels for every single vintage. While their standard “Distenta” cuvées utilize multiple world-class vineyards, this ultra-exclusive, six-bottle wooden box set represents the absolute crown jewel of the SQN portfolio: the Extended Barrel Aged (EBA) program sourced entirely from their beloved Eleven Confessions Vineyard. Located in the eastern, uncommonly warm sector of the otherwise cool Sta. Rita Hills AVA, this legendary 33-acre estate property features heavy clay and gravelly soils that naturally restrict vine vigor, forcing the roots deep and yielding an incredibly small, fiercely concentrated crop of under 1.5 tons per acre.

The 2022 growing season at Eleven Confessions Vineyard was a masterclass in patience and climatic extremes, demanding an incredibly extended hangtime to achieve the estate’s signature, luxurious phenolic ripeness. A temperate spring and steady summer allowed the low-yielding vines to slowly develop immense complexity, which was suddenly supercharged by a historic, record-breaking heat wave in early September. Rather than rushing to pick, the Krankls relied on the heavy clay soils to retain vital moisture, allowing their deep-rooted Syrah and Grenache vines to naturally process the heat and build monumental sugar concentration without losing balancing acidity. Harvest extended late into the cool autumn, resulting in ultra-thick-skinned, tiny berries that spent an astonishing 38 to 40 months in hand-selected French oak barrels to naturally soften their colossal structures. The resulting 2022 EBA box set is an absolute blockbuster triumph, offering three bottles of inky, gamey, mineral-laced Syrah and three bottles of explosive, floral, high-toned Grenache defined by a mind-blowing textural weight and decades of cellaring potential.