Sine Qua Non 2017 Eleven Confessions Syrah

100 Points Jeb Dunnuck – The 2017 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is the wine of the vintage, and Syrah simply doesn’t get any better. Even in these more difficult vintages, I’m always amazed at what this estate is able to achieve. Dense purple-hued, with an incredible bouquet of sandalwood, dried flowers, incense, saddle leather, and assorted red and blue fruits, it hits the palate with flawless balance, a deep, full-bodied, concentrated mouthfeel, and a heavenly finish. It shows a more up-front, exuberant, sexy style, yet there’s still ample underlying structure and depth. Reminding me of Guigal’s Côte Rôtie La Mouline (maybe amped up just slightly), drink it over the coming 15-20 years. It’s worth pointing out that due to the difficulty in trademarking names today, the longer aged, 100% Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah and Grenache will simply bear the name “Eleven Confessions Vineyard” going forward.

98 Points Vinous – The 2017 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a bold, racy wine. Layers of deep, dark fruit build as the 2017 shows off its curves. The purity of the flavors is breathtaking. The 2017 was done with 29% whole clusters and aged in a combination of 59% new oak, 30% concrete and 11% neutral oak. It is a stunning wine in every way.

97 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Syrah Eleven Confessions bursts with notions of baked plums, stewed blackberries and black cherry preserves, with an undercurrent of Sichuan pepper, violets, chocolate mint and charcuterie, plus a lifted suggestion of black raspberries. Rich, full-bodied and decadently opulent, the palate explodes with pepper-spiked black and red berry preserves, framed by fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing epically long and spicy. Very impressive. (LPB) 97+