2007 Sine Qua Non Next of Kyn Syrah No. 1 Cumulus Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2007 Next of Kyn - No. 1 is just beginning to show the first signs of aromatic nuance and complexity. Sweet red cherry, plum, rose petal, coffee, tobacco and earthy notes give the wine its distinctive aromatic signatures. At nearly ten years of age, the 2007 remains vibrant and full of life. Some of the baby fat has melted away, but there is enough depth and vibrancy to support at least another decade of exceptional drinking. Silky, creamy tannins add to the wine’s sheer appeal. This is a fabulous debut for Manfred and Elaine Krankl’s Next of Kyn project. In a word: sublime.
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
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From Manfred Krankl, the wine wins the most impressive packaging of the year award. The box, which houses 3 bottles and a magnum is as big as a small coffin. Once the box is open, it\'s time to open a bottle. Deep in color, oak, licorice, blackberry jam, fresh herbs, boysenberry and stone aromas create the perfume. Soft, supple and elegant in texture, the wine does not have the weight and density found in most vintages of Sine Qua Non. That will please some tasters and upset others. Think of it as a better, cleaner, riper and more pure expression of fruit with softer textures than Krankl\'s pre 2000 Sine Qua Non Syrah\'s. From a blend of 92% Syrah and 6% Grenache with the remainder coming from 2% Roussanne, coupled with a miniscule production of 125 cases, good luck finding any. 95 Points
(includes 6% grenache and 2% roussanne; 15.5% alcohol, with almost 32 months in barrel) Glass-staining purple. Wild aromas of blackberry and boysenberry liqueur, smoked meat, licorice and Indian spices. Dense, large-scaled and sappy, with a lush texture to the flavors of candied dark berries, violet pastille and licorice. Deep and alluringly sweet, but a lively mineral quality adds vivacity and precision. A seriously structured but surprisingly lithe wine that finishes chewy and gently tannic, with a late note of bitter chocolate and superb length.
The 2007 Syrah Cumulus Vineyard is a meaty, earthy effort representing a hypothetical blend of a northern Rhone with the exuberant, unabashedly ripe, juicy fruit of California. Jus de viande, damp earth, black currant, and blackberry notes along with good minerality and an absence of oak are all present in this full-bodied Syrah. It still has some tannins to resolve, but it is a big, full-bodied, classic, promising debut effort from the Cumulus Vineyard. It should drink well for at least a decade. This is the debut release of the Ventura County home estate of Manfred Krankl’s vineyard, which is a separate entity from his Sine Qua Non wines. Composed of 92% Syrah, 6% Grenache, and 2% Roussanne, there are 125 cases of this cuvee, which is to be released in Spring, 2011. Krankl is furiously planting vines on these relatively steep hillsides near his home ranch. In addition to Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, he is also planting Touriga Nacional and Petite Sirah. Tel. (805) 649-8901
About the producer
The brainchild of Manfred Krankl, Sine Qua Non (commonly known as SQN) is a cult California producer whose wines are avidly collected. The winery focuses on Rhône-inspired blends, however is famously non-conformist with each release totally unique.