2005 Sine Qua Non The 17th Nail in My Cranium Syrah

I've only been able to taste the 2005 The 17th Nail In My Cranium Eleven Confessions Vineyard on a handful of occasions, and to say it never failed to impress would be an understatement. Based on 96.5% Syrah and 3.5% Viognier aged 38 months in French oak, it's still incredibly concentrated and opulent, with a sensational perfume of bloody red and blue fruits, leafy herbs, gamey meats, and ground pepper. It hits the palate with full-bodied richness as well as a layered, deep, opulent mouthfeel with resolved tannins and a sensational finish. While this is clearly mature, it still needs plenty of air to show at its best, and this bottle held up beautifully over two days, without a hint of fatigue or oxidation. It's a remarkable, singular wine from this genius of a winemaker that readers should enjoy over the coming 5-10 years. Review Date: March 2024

To say I came away impressed would be an understatement. Anyone who claims this big, rich style can't age needs to taste these wines. I opted to just list my scores for the older releases as I find Bob's initial write-ups spot on. They have solid concentration and overall balanced profiles that should allow them to cruise in the cellar. About as good as it gets across the board, these singular, incredible wines are the result of an obsessive attention to detail at all stages of the wine making process. There is no secret or hidden magic going on here. The incredibly talented and down-to-earth Manfred Krankl simply walks the walk as opposed to only talking about attention to detail or offering up the standard, wine is made in the vineyard comments. (JD) Review Date: August 2013