2017 Faethm Fingers Crossed White

Starting out, the 2017 White Wine Fingers Crossed is a sensational blend of 73% Roussanne and 27% Viognier brought up all in new oak. Awesome notes of caramelized lemon zest, white flowers, crème brûlée, and subtle oak all emerge from this concentrated, beautifully balanced, full-bodied white. It’s up with the best examples of Roussanne out there. There’s nothing liking starting out with a bang, and that’s exactly what Nicolas and Julia Krankl have done with their inaugural release under the Faethm label. The son of Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non, Nicolas, along with his wife Julia, created Faethm in 2017, and their first release, which immediately sold out, went live in 2019. I can’t recall a new estate that has impressed me as much right out of the gate and these 2017 and 2018s are truly brilliant wines. And while Nicolas trained with his father at Sine Qua Non and has certainly followed in those footsteps, these are not carbon copy wines, and they have their own distinctive characters. The focus is on Rhône varieties and fruit sources include a who’s who list of great sites and include Cumulus Vineyard, White Hawk, The Third Twin, and Bien Nacido. Unfortunately, production is a tiny 250 cases, and I would assume it will grow slowly, so if you want some these wines, get on the mailing list ASAP.

The 2017 White Wine Fingers Crossed, a blend of 73% Roussanne and 27% Viognier from Cumulus and White Hawk, is off the charts gorgeous. Rich, luscious and deep, but not at all heavy, the 2017 is a pure and total pleasure to taste. Apricot, lemon confit, white flowers, almonds, sage, chamomile, a touch of new French oak and a hint of reduction build in a creamy, viscous white of stunning beauty. Sadly, Nikolas and Julia Krankl bottled just one barrel of this stunning elixir. Readers lucky enough to own it are in for a real treat. Wow!