The late bottled 2019 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is another undeniably great wine from this incredible estate and it tops out my scale. Based on 89% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah, and the balance Gelber Muskateller (Muscat Blanc), all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, it spent 39 months in 50% new French oak, with the balance in 2- to 5-year-old barrels. It's a powerful, full-bodied, opulent Grenache that brings to mind a great vintage of Domaine de Marcoux's Vieilles Vignes with its gorgeous red and black fruits, smoked herbs, leather, and assorted spicy, sandalwood, and peppery nuances. Full-bodied on the palate, it has flawless balance, a deep, layered mid-palate, and velvety tannins. It brings that rare mix of richness and elegance that only Grenache can. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+.
100 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2023)
The 2019 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a wild, exotic wine. High-toned aromatics meld into a core of dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and new leather. There is a touch of volatile acidity that, for me, is not a signature of Sine Qua Non wines. Dollops of Syrah, Petite Syrah and Gelber Muskateller round out the blend
98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Sep 2023)
The 2019 Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache is deep garnet-black in color. Notes of Christmas pudding, blackberry pie, and boysenberry preserves slowly awaken and emerge before opening out to fragrant suggestions of licorice, Indian spices, potpourri, and chargrill with a touch of cinnamon stick. The full-bodied palate explodes with powerful flavors of black fruit preserves, exotic spices, and floral nuances, paved by velvety tannins with beautiful freshness, finishing long and opulent. Coming 100% from the Krankls' Eleven Confessions Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, the blend this year is 89.4% Grenache, 5.5% Syrah, and 4.1% Petite Sirah with a 1% splash of Gelber Muskateller (a white grape - Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains). 35% whole clusters were used in the winemaking. It was aged for around 39 months in French oak barrels, mainly large demi-muids, 50% new. It was bottled in January 2023. 922 cases and 240 magnums were made.
98 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Aug 2023)
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