2010 Sine Qua Non Stockholm Syndrome Estate, Eleven Confessions Vineyard

Sine Qua Non was born of pure passion and a wishful dream – to make something that is so distinctive and so delicious as to make it indispensable to wine lovers the world over. And so, the started with the 1994 vintage, made four and a half barrels of Syrah that they called Queen of Spades.

The 2010 Syrah Stockholm Syndrome is a monumental effort that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Syrahs in the world. A blend of 96% Syrah, 3% Roussanne and 1% Viognier, it was fermented with 16% whole cluster before spending just under 42 months in 100% new French oak. It offers an incredible array of sweet dark fruits, cassis, white chocolate, licorice and hints of bacon fat that meld perfectly with its full-bodied, seamless, layered and impeccably put-together palate. Given the wealth of fruit here, it’s amazing how this stays light, graceful and elegant, without ever seeming over the top in any way. While there’s no shortage of tannin here, they’re sweet and integrated, so feel free to enjoy this rock-star effort anytime over the coming two decades or more. 
- 100 points, Robert Parker

The 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome is another perfect wine. This beauty is made from blend of 75% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 2% Roussanne and 1% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confession Vineyard, that spent just under 30 months in 22% new and 78% used French oak prior to bottling. It offers a huge nose of exotic red and black fruits, smoked duck, spice, and pepper that just screams Grenache! Deep purple colored, full-bodied, seamless, elegant, and just heavenly textured and long, with ultra-fine tannin, it opens up with time in the glass and is a monumental effort that has another 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it. - 100 Points, Jeb Dunnick

The current release of the estate vineyard (a.k.a. the extended barrel-aged cuvee), the 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome is an incredible effort that I couldn’t find a fault with. A blend of 75% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 2% Roussanne and 1% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confession Vineyard, it spent just under 30 months in 22% new and 78% used French oak prior to bottling. Locked and loaded, it knocks it out of the park with its cassis, licorice, smoked duck, spice-box and exotic herb-styled bouquet. The palate follows suit and while it has the expected depth and richness of the estate, it’s seamless, elegant and lively, with perfect balance, ultra-fine tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. It doesn’t get any better and count yourself lucky if you can latch onto a couple of these.
- 100 points, Wine Advocate

The 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome has an explosive energy to it that takes hold of the senses and never lets up. A distinctly dark side of Grenache comes through in an intense, opulent, full-throttle wine endowed with superb intensity and tons of fruit. Hints of over ripeness appear, especially on the finish, but that isn't enough to detract from the pure pleasure the 2010 delivers.
- 96 points, Vinous