Sine Qua Non Subir Syrah Eleven Confession 2016

Sine Qua Non Subir Syrah Eleven Confession 2016 is a 750ml, 16% ABV Syrah-dominant blend from Sta. Rita Hills that earned a perfect 100 points from Jeb Dunnuck. It also received 99 points from Wine Advocate and 98 points from Vinous, placing it among the most critically acclaimed wines Manfred Krankl has ever produced.

Quick Facts: ABV: 16%  |  Origin: Sta. Rita Hills, California  |  Vintage: 2016  |  Producer: Sine Qua Non

Production & Heritage

Sine Qua Non, founded by Manfred Krankl in Ventura, California, has built a cult following for wines that never repeat the same label or name twice. The Eleven Confession 2016 is composed of 89.7% Syrah with small proportions of Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Viognier. The fruit was 56% destemmed and vinified with 44% whole clusters, then aged for a full 38 months in 82% new French oak — a nearly four-year barrel tenure that few wines could survive while retaining freshness and purity. The Subir vineyard sits on heavy clay soils and is the coolest site in the Sine Qua Non portfolio, sometimes not harvested until November, yielding wines of considerable structure and muscular presence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A deep purple-black wine that bounds from the glass with profound notes of baked blackberries, plum preserves, and blueberry pie. Beneath the fruit, layers of lilacs, tilled earth, wild sage, tobacco leaf, and espresso emerge with time.

Taste: Medium to full-bodied on entry, the palate reveals dense crème de cassis, ripe dark cherries, and white chocolate at mid-palate. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of inky dark fruit, while peppery spice, lavender, mint, and dried herbs add complexity. Despite its power, the wine is remarkably juicy with a tautly structured frame.

Finish: Long and firmly structured, with a backbone of rounded tannins that carry unsmoked tobacco, truffle, and espresso into a persistent close. The lingering dark berry fruit retains freshness despite the wine's weight and extended oak aging.

How to Drink Subir Syrah 2016

This wine demands to be served at cellar temperature — around 60–65°F — in large-bowled Burgundy-style stemware to allow its complex aromatics to fully unfurl. Decanting for at least an hour is recommended to soften the firm tannins and unlock secondary nuances. A wine of this caliber and concentration is best enjoyed on its own or alongside richly flavored dishes rather than in any mixed application.

Best For

• Collectors seeking a perfect-score California Syrah for long-term cellaring
• Celebrating a milestone anniversary or career achievement
• Gifting to a serious Rhône-variety wine enthusiast
• Pairing at a curated dinner featuring braised or grilled red meats

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Subir Syrah 2016 taste like? It delivers deeply concentrated baked blackberry, plum preserves, and crème de cassis wrapped in muscular tannins, with secondary layers of tobacco leaf, espresso, lavender, and wild sage. Despite its 16% ABV and nearly four years in oak, the wine retains remarkable freshness and juicy dark fruit purity.

How does Subir Syrah 2016 compare to other Sine Qua Non releases? The Subir vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest site in the SQN portfolio, planted on heavy clay, which gives this wine notably more structure and tannic grip than the estate's warmer-climate bottlings. Its 38-month aging in 82% new French oak is among the longest barrel tenures for any SQN release, contributing additional depth and complexity.

Is Subir Syrah 2016 good for cellaring? With a tautly structured palate, firm rounded tannins, and a perfect 100-point score from Jeb Dunnuck, this wine has the architecture and concentration to reward extended cellaring for a decade or more.

Where is Subir Syrah 2016 made? It is produced by Sine Qua Non, a winery based in Ventura, California, from fruit grown at the Subir vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County — the coolest vineyard site in the SQN program.

What foods pair well with Subir Syrah 2016? Braised short ribs benefit from the wine's tannic structure cutting through rich fat. Grilled lamb chops echo its herbal sage and lavender notes. Aged Comté or Gruyère complement the wine's earthy truffle undertones. Dark chocolate desserts mirror its white chocolate and espresso character. Wild mushroom risotto harmonizes with its tilled-earth and savory complexity.

What sizes does Subir Syrah 2016 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, consistent with Sine Qua Non's typical bottling format for their vineyard-designate Syrahs.

Is Subir Syrah 2016 worth the price? This wine positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of California Syrah, justified by its perfect 100-point Jeb Dunnuck score, 99 points from Wine Advocate, extremely limited production, and Sine Qua Non's status as one of the most sought-after cult producers in the world.

Why Subir Syrah 2016?

A perfect 100-point score from Jeb Dunnuck is not handed out casually, and the Eleven Confession 2016 earned it through sheer depth and precision. The 38-month rest in predominantly new French oak is an audacious winemaking decision that paid off — the wine emerged with its dark fruit core intact and its structural integrity formidable. Sourced from the coolest, most muscular vineyard in a portfolio already known for intensity, this bottling represents an extreme expression of what Sta. Rita Hills Syrah can achieve on heavy clay soils. For collectors and serious enthusiasts, it stands as one of the defining California Syrahs of the 2016 vintage.