2022 Faethm Fingers Crossed Syrah
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Another singular, as well as absolutely perfect, wine from this remarkable family team, the 2022 Syrah Life And Death is 100% Syrah from Bien Nacido and Stolpman vineyards, aged 21 months in 61% new oak. It has a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a classic Bien Nacido nose of blackberries, pepper, iodine, and iron notes, with perfectly integrated background spicy oak. Deep, pure, elegant, and beautifully balanced on the palate, it has full-bodied richness, integrated acidity, and a seamless profile. This is stunning stuff that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and can be enjoyed over the following two decades. Drink 2027-2047. Run by Nicolas and Julia Krankl (Nicolas is the son of Sine Qua Non's Manfred Krankl), Fingers Crossed continues to establish itself as one of California's top estates. It's important to realize that these are not Sine Qua Non copycats. They have their own style, which leans slightly more Old World, with notable stem influence and elegance, while still delivering serious California fruit. The lineup includes two whites and two reds, with the names changing each year. The Brain Teaser wines are barrel samples (2023s) that should be bottled soon, while the Life and Death wines are the finished 2022s. Both the white and red blends incorporate Rhône varieties, with the white blend now largely driven by Chardonnay, alongside Roussanne and Marsanne. The goal is to produce the finest white possible, not match some predetermined blend. Fruit sources include Bien Nacido, Stolpman, Alta Mesa, Sanger, and Rancho Boa Vista, and they've also acquired some old Sine Qua Non parcels. Production remains tiny, though they've been able to pick up additional parcels in top vineyards, so I expect modest growth going forward. These are consistently world-class wines that show remarkable balance between richness and elegance. If you want them, get on the mailing list.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
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Dramatically different from the Red Wine, the 2022 Syrah Life & Death reveals a slightly deeper ruby/plum hue as well as a gamey, classic Syrah perfume of blackberries, bouquet garni, ground black pepper, and smoked bacon fat. It's full-bodied, plush, has a round, sexy mouthfeel, and a blockbuster finish.
Tasted before bottling, the 2022 Syrah Life And Death is the first single-variety bottling from Fingers Crossed. It was sourced from Bien Nacido and Stolpman Vineyards, fermented with 18% whole clusters and aged for 21 months in 61% new French oak. True to the varietal makeup, the nose is darkly fruited and streaked with hints of black pepper, framed with a dusty, herbal quality that melds with touches of alcoholic heat. The palate is ripe, soft and luscious in texture, transitioning to a gritty, slightly hot finish. This was a moving target in the glass and could improve after bottling, although that back-end burn is problematic.
The 2022 Syrah Life and Death is another deep, resonant wine. It's the first pure Syrah for Fingers Crossed, in this case from Bien Nacido and Stolpman. Inky dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, dried herbs and mocha fill out the layers. This dense, powerhouse Syrah hits all the right notes, but it’s a baby today.