2011 No. 10 Cumulus Vineyard

This retrospective tasting provided a great opportunity to revisit the first seven releases of Manfred and Elaine Krankl’s Next of Kyn. As compelling as the Krankls’ Sine Qua Non wines are, I have always found Next of Kyn to be just as fascinating, especially in recent years. This vertical only served to reinforce that impression.

Next of Kyn, Manfred and Elaine Krankl's project from their Cumulus vineyard in Oak View, keeps getting better with each passing year. Petite Sirah, Touriga Nacional are among the varieties planted alongside Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre in these soft, undulating hillsides that surround the winery. There is an old saying that "behind every great man there is a great woman." That is certainly true at Sine Qua Non, where Elaine Krankl has shown incredible grit and determination for years. "I remember when we didn't have enough money to pay the light bills because we were buying barrels," she says, a poignant reminder of how fast and recent Sine Qua Non's ascent to the top has been. In particular, the last year has been especially trying, as Manfred Krankl continues his recovery from a serious motorcycle accident. I was delighted to see Krankl in good spirits, his wit, sarcasm and general sense of humor all back to normal, although months of physical therapy still lie ahead. Still, that is far better than how things looked during the immediate aftermath of the accident, when early reports were dire. As for the wines, they are tremendous as always, but somehow wine seems a bit less important on this day, when the fragility of life is so evident. One last note, at this time of year, I typically taste the future releases from barrel. Because of Manfred Krankl's accident, the winery is understandably a bit behind schedule in assembling the blends, and the Krankls did not want to show anything that was rushed or not fully representative. Instead, they opened a few older vintages that show just how beautifully these wines develop in bottle.

Manfred and Elaine Krankl’s Next of Kyn wines continue to dazzle. A totally separate project from Sine Qua Non, Next of Kyn is made entirely from the Krankl’s Cumulus home vineyard in Oak View, where Petite Sirah, Touriga Nacional are among the varieties planted alongside Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Even though Cumulus is the warmest site the Krankls work with, the Next of Kyn wines have thus far shown a little more tannic backbone than is often found at Sine Qua Non, although there are of course more similarities than differences in style. Above all else, the wines off this property have already proven to be highly distinctive and full of personality.