2012 Next of Kyn 6 Cumulus Vineyard (3 btls, 1 mag)

A wine that flirts with perfection, the 2012 Cumulus Vineyard #6 is an interesting blend of 38% Syrah, 37% Grenache, 17.4% Petite Sirah and the rest Mourvedre that saw 33 months in 54% new French oak. There’s a tiny 191 cases made, and it’s one of the most singular, exotic wines I’ve tasted. Spice, cedar, chocolate, exotic flowers and an assortment of dark fruits all emerge from this full-bodied, layered blend that hits the palate with serious richness and depth. Yet, like all truly great wines, it’s light, ethereal and never, ever heavy. There’s big structure here as well, so forget bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+ years. ($1200 per 3 bottles/1 magnum)

The 2012 No. 6 - Cumulus Vineyard might very well be my favorite of Manfred and Elaine Krankl's 2012s, including naturally the wines of Sine Qua Non. This is the warmest site the Krankls work with and the need to harvest on the earlier side seems to also preserve a bit more verve than is often found in some of the other Sine Qua Non wines. A host of cherry jam, pomegranate, sweet spice, rose petal and mint open up effortlessly, all with striking energy that keeps the wine vibrant and wonderfully alive. The blend is 38% Syrah, 37 % Grenache, 17.4% Petite Sirah and 7.6% Mourvèdre, done with 36% whole clusters and aged in 54% new oak. Sold in cases of 3 bottles and 1 magnum at the price of $1,200.00 per case.

The 2012 Next of Kyn - No. 6 is a step up from the 2011. Among other things, the higher level of Grenache is quite evident in a flavor profile that is brighter and distinctly more red-toned than has been the case with prior vintages. Sweet raspberry, pomegranate and spice are all pushed forward in a powerful, super-expressive wine loaded with energy, nuance and the potential to develop beautifully for years to come. The blend is 38% Syrah, 37% Grenache, 17% Petite Sirah and 7% Mourvèdre, done with 36% whole clusters, also a big increase over 2011. Next of Kyn is sold as a box set of three bottles and one magnum.