A smooth operator with a cool blackberry, plum, and black cherry core that is flanked by flecks of raspberry and purple licorice notes (…no need to ask me what purple licorice tastes like. I have no idea. It just tastes like this wine – just go with it). Camphor, railroad tie, and brushy campfire flavors emerge after a few hours in the decanter, adding interest and layered depth. By the third hour in open air, things really start to pick up in terms of depth and concentration. The edges are so seamless, it’s almost as if the polish is going to be too sterilized. Yet the flavors undulate on the palate with a glide that can only be signature Manfred. Cascades along with a ton of swirling flavors intermingling, amalgamating, and separating again. Unresolved for sure, but a fun carnival of flavors to experience even now.
As the scholarly Gomer Pyle once said, “SUR-PRISE, SUR-PRISE, SUR-PRISE,” opening this early did in fact rob it of its even-more-awesomeness to come. So then, as I always seem to default to in most everything Krankl, this NoK will be banging after 10-years from vintage. Hold until 2027, though it is super compelling juice now. 96-97+ points.
When wine does not just flirt with perfection, but exhibits it. The perfect nose. The perfect palate. The perfect finish. The perfect x-factor. This is beyond enjoyable today, yet will age exceptionally well. See the previous note and when I think of 2017, this is possibly the Rhône wine of the vintage for all of California. Another addition to the Krankl pantheon. When wine is meant to blow your mind. Decanted for three hours. Drink 2024 -.
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Selected for Momofuku ribeye pairing in connection with dinner celebration at home. Six hour plus decant. A very small piece of cork disintegrated in the bottle at opening, which required some careful and precise cleanup. Dark purple. Nose is distinctly Syrah with pepper and spice. Perhaps a very minor touch of funk. Well balanced first sip. Some vanilla with it. More salt than vanilla in the second sip. Savory. Perfect acid to complement the steak. This may be the most integrated NOK tasted to date. Smooth. But full bodied. Yet not overpowering. Very impressive. With the extra long decant, this bottle is not too young. I love the wine and I want more. And here is my last thought: this is the most similar bottle relative to SQN in my experience. Ironic because I selected NOK from my cellar, not SQN. NOK has a special place in my heart because I cleared the list first. NOK is outstanding wine; it may be my favorite. My all time top non-Bordeaux wines include Chateau Rayas, Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis, Sine Qua Non Syrah Subir Eleven Confessions Vineyard, Sine Qua Non Grenache The Gorgeous Victim, and TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard. They were my highest ratings. This bottle of NOK is now number six (and tied with the those except the Rayas and Subir). Good company. My all time top Bordeaux wines include Chateaus Figeac, Lafite Rothschild, and Mouton Rothschild.
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Opened the night before then sealed and drank the next day. Definitely needs a long decant to drink now. Dark fruit and pepper/plum finish. Some roughness on the finish and a bit of green I attribute to the petite syrah component. Will hold awhile but I reserve judgement on this one compared to the other SQN offerings.
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I’m not a huge fan of long decants but this really needs it. Initially super funky being dominated by animal and wet earth (think traditional Rhone meets Portugal). At about hour three this note calms and the complexity starts to show. Blue/blackberry, smoke, leather, ash, cured meats, lavender, white pepper and mineral. Texturally dense and mouth coating with a silky finish. Likely drinks well the next few months then closes off until near that ten year mark.
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Decanted for four hours. Perfection-squared. The nose leaps out of the glass with blackberries, charcuterie, kirsch, pine, lava rock, fresh raspberries and this rain-drenched outside, with a an active chimney in the background. Perfect harmony and finely layered, the tannins show exceptional poise, with sweet, velvety tendencies. There’s this ruggedness throughout every phase, as this builds and builds. The aftertaste of red fruit and Spring flowers during the expansive, long finish is legendary. Quite approachable, and more than willing to age for many, many years. A full-bodied goddess that will haunt me for a very long time with its decadent yet well-mannered persona. This has so much energy and tension; just astonishing. Drink 2024 -.
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Decanted and drank over 8 hours. Rich Kaleidoscope of flavors with blackberry, meats, and a hint of white flowers. This wine is very rich with a velvety texture, yet stays light on its feet. This was my first allocation of nok so i wanted to try despite it being so young and it didnt disappoint. This wine is already amazing, but will only get better.
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5/2/2022 - csimm wrote: 97 Points
A smooth operator with a cool blackberry, plum, and black cherry core that is flanked by flecks of raspberry and purple licorice notes (…no need to ask me what purple licorice tastes like. I have no idea. It just tastes like this wine – just go with it). Camphor, railroad tie, and brushy campfire flavors emerge after a few hours in the decanter, adding interest and layered depth. By the third hour in open air, things really start to pick up in terms of depth and concentration. The edges are so seamless, it’s almost as if the polish is going to be too sterilized. Yet the flavors undulate on the palate with a glide that can only be signature Manfred. Cascades along with a ton of swirling flavors intermingling, amalgamating, and separating again. Unresolved for sure, but a fun carnival of flavors to experience even now.
As the scholarly Gomer Pyle once said, “SUR-PRISE, SUR-PRISE, SUR-PRISE,” opening this early did in fact rob it of its even-more-awesomeness to come. So then, as I always seem to default to in most everything Krankl, this NoK will be banging after 10-years from vintage. Hold until 2027, though it is super compelling juice now. 96-97+ points.
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3/25/2022 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 100 Points
When wine does not just flirt with perfection, but exhibits it. The perfect nose. The perfect palate. The perfect finish. The perfect x-factor. This is beyond enjoyable today, yet will age exceptionally well. See the previous note and when I think of 2017, this is possibly the Rhône wine of the vintage for all of California. Another addition to the Krankl pantheon. When wine is meant to blow your mind. Decanted for three hours. Drink 2024 -.
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10/23/2021 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Selected for Momofuku ribeye pairing in connection with dinner celebration at home. Six hour plus decant. A very small piece of cork disintegrated in the bottle at opening, which required some careful and precise cleanup. Dark purple. Nose is distinctly Syrah with pepper and spice. Perhaps a very minor touch of funk. Well balanced first sip. Some vanilla with it. More salt than vanilla in the second sip. Savory. Perfect acid to complement the steak. This may be the most integrated NOK tasted to date. Smooth. But full bodied. Yet not overpowering. Very impressive. With the extra long decant, this bottle is not too young. I love the wine and I want more. And here is my last thought: this is the most similar bottle relative to SQN in my experience. Ironic because I selected NOK from my cellar, not SQN. NOK has a special place in my heart because I cleared the list first. NOK is outstanding wine; it may be my favorite. My all time top non-Bordeaux wines include Chateau Rayas, Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis, Sine Qua Non Syrah Subir Eleven Confessions Vineyard, Sine Qua Non Grenache The Gorgeous Victim, and TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard. They were my highest ratings. This bottle of NOK is now number six (and tied with the those except the Rayas and Subir). Good company. My all time top Bordeaux wines include Chateaus Figeac, Lafite Rothschild, and Mouton Rothschild.
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2/14/2021 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened the night before then sealed and drank the next day. Definitely needs a long decant to drink now. Dark fruit and pepper/plum finish. Some roughness on the finish and a bit of green I attribute to the petite syrah component. Will hold awhile but I reserve judgement on this one compared to the other SQN offerings.
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12/26/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 98 Points
I’m not a huge fan of long decants but this really needs it. Initially super funky being dominated by animal and wet earth (think traditional Rhone meets Portugal). At about hour three this note calms and the complexity starts to show. Blue/blackberry, smoke, leather, ash, cured meats, lavender, white pepper and mineral. Texturally dense and mouth coating with a silky finish. Likely drinks well the next few months then closes off until near that ten year mark.
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12/25/2020 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 100 Points
Decanted for four hours. Perfection-squared. The nose leaps out of the glass with blackberries, charcuterie, kirsch, pine, lava rock, fresh raspberries and this rain-drenched outside, with a an active chimney in the background. Perfect harmony and finely layered, the tannins show exceptional poise, with sweet, velvety tendencies. There’s this ruggedness throughout every phase, as this builds and builds. The aftertaste of red fruit and Spring flowers during the expansive, long finish is legendary. Quite approachable, and more than willing to age for many, many years. A full-bodied goddess that will haunt me for a very long time with its decadent yet well-mannered persona. This has so much energy and tension; just astonishing. Drink 2024 -.
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10/31/2020 - beau11 wrote: 99 Points
Decanted and drank over 8 hours. Rich Kaleidoscope of flavors with blackberry, meats, and a hint of white flowers. This wine is very rich with a velvety texture, yet stays light on its feet. This was my first allocation of nok so i wanted to try despite it being so young and it didnt disappoint. This wine is already amazing, but will only get better.
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