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. (JD) (8/2016)

One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2012 Next of Kyn - No. 6 belongs to a group of vintages including 2007 and 2009 that are all about suppleness and raciness. Bright, perfumed and nicely lifted, the 2012 is also quite delicate. Grenache plays an important role in the blend, and that comes through in the wine’s silky, punchy fruit. Further time in bottle will allow the aromatics to develop more fully, but the 2012 is absolutely delicious today. Moreover, its sense of poise is truly exceptional. 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. (AG) (8/2017)