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98 WA. “The 2018 Grenache Profuga is composed of 77.5% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 8.3% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah and 0.9% Viognier. The vineyard sources are 38% Cumulus Estate, 35% The Third Twin Estate, 23% Eleven Confessions Estate and 4% Bien Nacido vineyard. Forty-one percent whole cluster was performed, predominately on the Grenache. The small proportion of Viognier was co-fermented with red grapes, but interestingly, because it ripens earlier, the white berries are frozen and added to the reds at the time of fermentation. As an added bonus, these frozen grapes help to cool and, therefore, slow the fermentation. The wine was aged for around 23 months in 37% new French oak, 57.8% used oak and 5.2% concrete. It was bottled on July 29, 2020. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is a mélange of fresh black cherries, boysenberries, red roses and raspberry leaves with hints of cracked pepper, dusty earth, bay leaves and aniseed. The concentrated, full-bodied palate possesses the most gorgeous silken texture, nonetheless delivering a solid backbone including a lively line of freshness, finishing with epic length and lots of spicy fireworks. 1387 cases plus 600 magnums were made. ‘Naming wines is becoming impossible,’ Manfred Krankl told me last year in a fit of frustration. ‘Everything has already been taken. Even, 'No Name!'‘ After this conversation, his nearly completed registration of the name ‘Squeezebox’ for one of the new releases fell through. Someone had already registered that name. The wine’s name had to be changed to ‘Ziehharmonika,’ meaning ‘squeezebox’ in German. It was the last straw. The Krankl’s are done (for now) with new fanciful names for every new Sine Qua Non label each year. From 2019 onward, the wines are all to be called ‘Distenta,’ meaning ‘unlabeled’ in Latin, with a number to follow. Accordingly, the 2019 Grenache and Syrah releases this year are called ‘Distenta I.’ ‘I cannot say that there will never be a fanciful name again, but for now, we are trying to avoid the nightmare of litigation or removing labels,’ said Elaine Krankl. More importantly, the original artwork for the labels will continue to be different every year, as will the blending creation inside the bottle.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, Aug 2021 |