The 2018 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a blend of 83.7% Grenache, 9.1% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, and 1.2% Viognier. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, notes of black raspberries, stewed black and red plums, and boysenberry preserves waft effortlessly from the glass with an evocative undercurrent of garrigue, underbrush, wild sage, and rose oil. Full-bodied, the savory laced palate shimmers with energy, framed by very fine-grained, densely pixilated tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing with jaw-dropping length and minerality. This 2018 Grenache was made using 45% whole clusters, and 52% of the wine was aged in new French oak barrels, 51% of which were large demi-muids. The remaining 48% was aged in used oak (2-5 years old) or varying sizes. The total time in oak was around 38 months. 919 cases and 276 magnums were made. The deep garnet-purple-colored 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is composed of 82% Syrah, 10.6% Grenache, 5.3% Petite Sirah, and 2.1% Viognier. After a little swirl, a tornado of black cherry compote, blueberry preserves, dried mulberries, and Indian spices storms out of the glass, followed by sparks of potpourri, star anise, and dried lavender, with touches of charcuterie and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is built like a brick house, featuring firm, ripe, rounded tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly packed black and blue fruit layers, finishing with long-lasting exotic spice layers and a refreshing lift of red berries. Epic. This vintage was made using 28% whole clusters. It was aged for 38 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. 978 cases and 276 magnums were made.

The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is slow to unfold but stunning once it opens, featuring layered aromas of cassis, coffee beans, garrigue and cracked pepper before segueing to soaring floral perfume. A blend of 82% Syrah, 10.6% Grenache, 5.3% Petite Sirah and 2.1% Viognier, it's made entirely of estate fruit. It was fermented with 28% whole clusters and matured about 38 months in 50% new French oak. It has an opaque ruby-purple in color, and the palate is full-bodied, powerful and seamless, boasting powdery tannins and integrated acidity. It has a concentrated core of floral fruit and a tremendously long finish. It was bottled on December 15, 2021, and tasted May 24, 2022. 978 cases and 276 magnums will be released in the fall of 2022.

The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is pure gold and Syrah doesn't get any better, no matter what region you're talking about. Incredible notes of ripe cherries, currants, ground black and white pepper, cured meats, and saddle leather all soar from the glass, and it's full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate. Opening up with time in the glass, it certainly offers pleasure today yet warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the Krankl family for another utterly magical wine.