2014 Sine Qua Non Syrah Piranha Waterdance

A wild, exotic wine, the 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance hits the palate with serious richness, power and voluptuousness. This is in a decidedly lush, exotic style. A rush of super-ripe, intense fruit builds into a flamboyant finish in a heady, inviting wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The blend is 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1% Graciano, done with 26% whole clusters.

Blended of 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1% Graciano, sourced from 34% The Third Twin, 35% Eleven Confessions and 31% Cumulus (all estate vineyards), the provocative, inky purple colored 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance was made using 26% whole cluster and hits the scent scene with exuberant, pure crème de cassis, blackberry cordial and blueberry coulis notes with hints of espresso, licorice, garrigue and menthol, plus a gorgeous underlying perfume of red roses. The full-bodied palate is oh-so-elegant and pretty, revealing very finely pixelated tannins that beautifully frame the almost electric intensity, culminating in an epically long, licorice and chocolate-laced finish. Too stunning for mere words and rude to even try—just drink it. 1,839 cases and 600 magnums were produced.

The 2014 Syrah Waterdance is utterly sensational, and like all great wines, blends incredible intensity and depth with a weightless elegance and seamlessness that’s hard to believe. Checking in as a blend of 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah and the rest Mourvèdre, Touriga Nacional and Graciano that was fermented with a quarter whole clusters and aged in just over 50% new oak, it offers to-die-for notes of crème de cassis, cracked pepper, liquid violets, wet stone and hints of spice. Utterly sensational on the palate as well, it’s a full-bodied, rich, unctuous beauty that has nothing out of place, perfect balance, sweet tannin and a finish that won’t quit. Ideally it would be given 4-5 years of cellaring and it will see its 20th birthday in fine form. I loved the 2013s from Manfred Krankl, and these are reminiscent of the 2010s (as are the 2015s). The 2014s are more plush and sexy, with a forward style that’s already impossible to resist. The 2015 reds were all tasted as barrel samples, and these show the firm, structured style of the vintage and I suspect are going to require bottle age to show at their best. I’ve also included the “The Third Twin” releases here, and it, like the Next Of Kyn releases, are released under a separate label and focus on the estate The Third Twin vineyard located outside of Los Alamos.