2019 The Third Twin (Sine Qua Non) Nuestra Senora Del Tercer Gemelo California

"The 2019 Nuestra Senora Del Tercer Gemelo, entirely from The Third Twin estate vineyard, is composed of 33% Grenache, 23.5% Syrah, 19% Mourvèdre, 19% Petite Sirah, 4% Graciano and 1.5% Muskat. "I love Muskat in red wines, even better than Viognier," Manfred Krankl enthuses, and I have to agree"this barrel sample offers tremendous aromatic purity and complexity, as if the volume has been turned up and the camera has been focused. It boasts continually shifting, layered aromatics as it spends several hours in the glass: blueberry and blackberry jam, tar, coffee beans, thyme and botanicals, plus loads of floral nuances. Full-bodied yet light on its feet, its concentrated fruits are framed by abundant, super-fine tannins and seamless acidity, and it has a hauntingly long finish. It was made with 19% whole clusters, and matured about 33 months in 13% new French oak, with a large portion of the wine moved to cement tanks after about a year and a half in barrel. 97-99 Points."-(EB) Review Date: May 2022