California Rhone Rangers Wine Tasting Featuring Sine Qua Non, Andremily, Saxum and more... Saturday, June 13, 2026 7:30 PM
“I pray you, do not fall in love with me, for I am falser than vows made in wine.”
William Shakespeare, As You Like It
We never make vows with wine unless it is over 16% alcohol…. there are only a few grape varietals that can handle that level of heat without being out of balance with Syrah and Grenache being two of them.
Syrah or Shiraz is one of the few red grape varietals that can by itself be made into a world class wine that can be cellared for decades. Although the names are not identical the grape varietal is the same.
Grenache is another one of the most prominent Rhone varietals and although it is fairly different from Shiraz the wine drinking people that enjoy Shiraz also seem to enjoy Grenache.
I know this may seem like Déjà vu but that’s because we just hosted a tasting featuring Sine Qua Non wines, however so I figured it would be good to have a second look at these wines but this time we will be adding a few of the other great Rhone wines from California to compare, after all we are doing scientific research with wine here at Wine Watch!!
The fee for this tasting includes dinner and gratuity is $350 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.
California Cult Rhone Tasting
Featuring Sine Qua Non, Alban, Saxum and Andremily
Saturday, June 13th
7:30 PM
2009 SAXUM PADEREWSKI VINEYARD PASO ROBLES
2012 Saxum Terry Hoage Vineyard Paso Robles
2017 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache Sta Rita Hills
2017 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah Sta Rita Hills
2019 ALBAN VINEYARDS SYRAH REVA ALBAN ESTATE VINEYARD
2020 Alban Vineyards Pandora Red Edna Valley
2020 Andremily Wines Syrah Slide Hill Edna Valley
2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Grenache California
2021 Andremily Wines EABA Santa Barbara County
2023 Sine Qua Non Distenta V Syrah, California
Menu
Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie
Seared Ancho BBQ King Salmon Served over Black Bean Puree with Roasted Pepper Salsa
Syrah Braised Lamb Shank with White Bean Puree and Sundried Tomato
Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee with Raspberry Coulis
The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $350 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com. Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have issues and chef Toni will be happy to accommodate you.
A bit about Sine Qua Non from their web page:
"an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary."
Our wines were 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. Clearly a rather lofty, even unrealistic notion, but one we decided to pursue anyway. And so with the 1994 vintage started Sine Qua Non, made a whopping four and a half barrels of Syrah that we called “Queen of Spades.”
That first wine was a much greater hit than we could have ever imagined and it literally changed our life. What started as a hobby, more or less on a whim, has become not only our full time occupation, but indeed our life. It is now a part of just about everything we do.
These first four and a half barrels have grown into four different vineyard sites (see our Vineyards section please), a good number of wonderfully dedicated and hard working employees, a new winery building and a simply amazing number of loyal wine lovers the world over. In fact there are so very many lovely folks interested in our wines that we don’t have enough to go around and instead had to create something as annoying as a waiting list.
We are humbled by all the positive feedback we continuously receive by people like you as well as critics and journalists from all corners of the earth. We take that as our mandate to forever strive to get better, to never compromise and to stay true to ourselves and by extension to all those who have supported us and believed in us since those first 100+ cases of wine left our cellar…now so many years ago.
Although at heart we are a Rhone (Ranger) house where Syrah and Grenache play top fiddle… supported by Mourvedre, Rousanne and Viognier, we have an aversion to labels and dogmas or mindless ritual that are sometimes called tradition. And so we also grow non-Rhone-origin grapes such as Petite Manseng, Touriga Nacional, Graciano and Petite Sirah. Varieties we believe can work well on a Rhone canvas.
We are not working on a grape growing or winemaking THESIS. Instead we want all of our efforts to be reflected in every glass of SQN. And so our goal has been and always will be to understand Mother Nature’s often oblique ways and (re)act accordingly so that we may create wines that express all that Nature has so generously given us. And all that this beautifully warm and sunny place called California has to offer. Wines that speak to the heart and the mind both. Wines that are ripe and flavorful, but also graceful and balanced. Wines that are perfectly enjoyable and delicious young, but that will age and show a new and interesting personality with each passing year. Wines that surprise with each sip and where the last drop – not the first sip – was the best one. Wines that make you smile and happy and appreciate all that is lovely.
Wines that make you sense they were crafted by people who loved making them.
With that we hope you’ll join our vinous family and thanks again for looking us up.
In vino veritas,
Elaine & Manfred Krankl
All the Sine Qua Non in the store on SALE!!
2023 Sine Qua Non Distenta V Grenache California
(98 points) Bottled only three weeks before this tasting, the 2023 Grenache Distenta V is deeply
Price: $295.00 Your Price: $265.50 Quantity in Stock: 3
2023 Sine Qua Non Distenta V Syrah, California
(98-100 Points) Tasted just before bottling, the 2023 Syrah Distenta V has all the makings of a
Price: $295.00 Your Price: $265.50 Quantity in Stock: 9
2022 Sine Qua Non Distenta IV White California
(98 Points) The 2022 White Wine Distenta IV is a blend of 32% Roussanne, 30% Gelber Muskateller, 15%
Price: $250.00 Your Price: $225.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2022 Sine Qua Non Distenta IV Grenache California
(98 Points) "Because my visit was scheduled for July 6, just two weeks after bottling on June 22, I...
Price: $285.00 Your Price: $256.50 Quantity in Stock: 3
2021 Sine Qua Non Distenta Grenache, California, USA
(98 Points) "Because my visit was scheduled for July 6, just two weeks after bottling on June 22, I tasted
Price: $350.00 Your Price: $315.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2021 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA GRENACHE, CALIFORNIA, USA MAGNUM
Price: $1050.00 Your Price: $945.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2021 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA SYRAH, CALIFORNIA, USA MAGNUM
(98-100 Points) "I tasted the 2021 Syrah Distenta III as a precise blend from barrel on July 6—it's due to
Price: $1050.00 Your Price: $945.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2021 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah, Sta Rita Hills
The assemblage is 85.0% Syrah, 9.7% Grenache, 1.3% Petite Sirah and 4.0% WHITES (Muskat and Viognier). 77% of the fruit was des...
Price: $487.50 Your Price: $438.75 Quantity in Stock: 2
2021 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Sta Rita Hills
The measurements on this model are: 86.1% Grenache, 8.5% Syrah, 4.4% Petite Sirah and a bit of high notes from 1.0% WHITE...
Price: $487.50 Your Price: $438.75 Quantity in Stock: 2
2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta White California
(98 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) The 2020 White Wine Distenta II could be a polarizing wine due to its
Price: $289.00 Sale Price: $245.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta Grenache California
(97 Points) - - (Wine Advocate) I first tasted the Grenache Distenta II from bottle at the beginnin...
Price: $289.00 Sale Price: $245.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2020 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions grenache California
Price: $487.50 Your Price: $438.75 Quantity in Stock: 3
2020 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I GRENACHE CALIFORNIA USA MAGNUM
77.9% Grenache, 9.4% Mourvedre 7.9% Syrah 4.3% Petite Sirah and 0.5% Viognier (97-100 points) ...
Price: $1150.00 Your Price: $1035.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Grenache California USA
77.9% Grenache, 9.4% Mourvedre 7.9% Syrah 4.3% Petite Sirah and 0.5% Viognier (97-100 points) ...
Price: $350.00 Your Price: $315.00 Quantity in Stock: 4
2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Syrah California, USA
82.9% Syrah, 7.5% Grenache, 3.9% Mourvedre 3.4% Petite Sirah 2.3% Whites (Petite Manseng & Muscat) This royal maj...
Price: $350.00 Your Price: $315.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2020 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah
Price: $487.50 Your Price: $438.75 Quantity in Stock: 2
2020 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I SYRAH CALIFORNIA USA MAGNUM
82.9% Syrah, 7.5% Grenache, 3.9% Mourvedre 3.4% Petite Sirah 2.3% Whites (Petite Manseng &
Price: $1150.00 Your Price: $1035.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2019 Sine Qua Non Distenta White California
(99 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) The 2019 White Wine Distenta 1 is a stunning—and unique—blend ...
Price: $312.00 Sale Price: $249.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
2019 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Grenache California
(98 Points) The 2019 Grenache Distenta I is composed of 76% Grenache, 8% Mourvèdre, 9.3% Syrah,
Price: $425.00 Your Price: $382.50 Quantity in Stock: 4
2019 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Grenache California
(99 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) The 2019 Grenache Distenta I is composed of 76% Grenache, 9.3%
Price: $300.00 Sale Price: $255.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
2019 Sine Qua Non Cumulus Vineyard 'Next of Kyn' Central Coast USA
(99 Points) Still in barrel, the 2019 Cumulus Vineyard No. 13 also contains less Syrah than in the past—
Price: $550.00 Your Price: $495.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2019 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Sta Rita Hills, USA
(100 points) The late bottled 2019 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is another undeniably great
Price: $495.00 Your Price: $445.50 Quantity in Stock: 3
2019 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I GRENACHE CALIFORNIA Magnum
Price: $995.00 Your Price: $895.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
2019 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I SYRAH CENTRAL COAST Magnum
(100 Points) The 2019 Syrah Distenta I is composed of 83.6% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre, 5.2% Petite Sirah, 6.2% Grenache, 1.4% Muscat ...
Price: $1150.00 Your Price: $1035.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2019 SINE QUA NON ELEVEN CONFESSIONS VINEYARD SYRAH STA RITA HILLS USA
(99 points) The 2019 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is elegant and perfumed and includes 13.1% Grenache, 3.3% Petite Sirah a...
Price: $495.00 Your Price: $445.50 Quantity in Stock: 2
2018 Sine Qua Non Next of Kyn Red Wine California
(100 Points) Manfred Krankl notes that the 2018 Cumulus Vineyard No. 12 represents a shift away from
Price: $525.00 Your Price: $472.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
2018 Sine Qua Non Grenache Profuga California
(98 Points -- Wine Advocate) The 2018 Grenache Profuga is composed of 77.5% Grenache, 10%
Price: $420.00 Sale Price: $350.00 Quantity in Stock: 4
2018 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache Sta Rita Hills USA
(99 points) The 2018 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a barrel selection and is composed of 83.7% Grenache, 9.1% S...
Price: $525.00 Your Price: $472.50 Quantity in Stock: 3
2018 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache Sta Rita Hills
(99 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) The 2018 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a barrel selection and
Price: $440.00 Sale Price: $349.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2018 Sine Qua Non Grenache Profuga California Magnum 1.5 L
(99-97 Points) Issue 250 End of August 2020, The Wine Advocate The 2018 Grenache Profuga is
Price: $975.00 Your Price: $877.50 Quantity in Stock: 2
2018 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah Sta Rita Hills
(100 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is slow to unfold but stunning...
Price: $495.00 Sale Price: $395.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2018 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah Sta Rita Hills USA
(97-99 points) The 2018 Grenache Profuga is composed of 77.5% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 8.3% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah and...
Price: $550.00 Your Price: $495.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika California California Magnum 1.5L
(98-100 Points) Issue 250 End of August 2020, The Wine Advocate Manfred Krankl did point out that the
Price: $975.00 Your Price: $877.50 Quantity in Stock: 2
2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika California California
(98-100 Points) Issue 250 End of August 2020, The Wine Advocate Manfred Krankl did point out th...
Price: $420.00 Sale Price: $350.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
2017 Sine Qua Non Next of Kyn Red Wine California
(98+ Points) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Next of Kyn Touriga Nacional 2017: This cuvée comes e...
Price: $959.00 Your Price: $863.10 Quantity in Stock: 1
2017 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache Sta Rita Hills
(98 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) The 2017 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is composed of 88.7% Grenach...
Price: $407.00 Sale Price: $325.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
2017 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Gorgeous Victim California
(98-100 points)(Wine Advocate) The 2017 Grenache “No Name As Of Yet” is a finished blend, set to be bottl...
Price: $370.00 Sale Price: $295.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2017 Sine Qua Non The Hated Hunter Syrah California
(97-100 points)(Wine Advocate) This wine will be bottled in August this year. Made exclusively from estate-grown frui...
Price: $350.00 Sale Price: $279.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2017 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah Sta Rita Hills
(97 Points -- Wine Advocate) Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Syrah Eleven Confessions bursts with n...
Price: $450.00 Sale Price: $355.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
2016 Sine Qua Non 'Pajarito del Amor' Grenache California
(100 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) Composed of 85.4% Grenache, 7.1% Petite Sirah, 6.9% Syrah and 0.6%
Price: $540.00 Sale Price: $429.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2016 Sine Qua Non 'Pajarito del Amor' Grenache California
(100 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) Composed of 85.4% Grenache, 7.1% Petite Sirah, 6.9% Syrah and 0.6%
Price: $495.00 Sale Price: $395.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2016 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confession Syrah Subir Santa Rita Hills
(99 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) Very deep purple-black, it comes bounding out of the glass with
Price: $450.00 Sale Price: $359.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2015 Sine Qua Non Syrah Trouver l’arène
The 2015 Syrah Trouver l’arène states “finding the arena.” If you re-read the burgundy portion of T.R....
Price: $475.00 Your Price: $427.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
2014 Sine Qua Non Grenache Shakti
(100 points) The 2014 Grenache Shakti is blended of 88% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Touriga Nacional,...
Price: $450.00 Your Price: $405.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2014 Sine Qua Non Syrah Piranha Waterdance
(100 points) Blended of 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1%
Price: $450.00 Your Price: $405.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2013 Sine Qua Non Male Syrah California
(98 points) The 2013 Syrah Male is an elegant, seamless Syrah that exudes class in its creme de cassis,
Price: $375.00 Your Price: $337.50 Quantity in Stock: 2
2013 Sine Qua Non Grenache Female California
(98 points) Manfred's 2013 Grenache Female checks in as a blend of 78% Grenache, 19% Syrah and 3%
Price: $375.00 Your Price: $337.50 Quantity in Stock: 2
2010 Sine Qua Non Stockholm Syndrome Syrah California
(100 Points) -- (Jeb Dunnuck) The 2010 Syrah Stockholm Syndrome is an incredible blend of 96% Syrah,
Price: $975.00 Sale Price: $779.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2003 Sine Qua Non Papa Syrah California
(98 Points) -- (Wine Advocate) There are 860 cases of the 2003 Papa, a blend of 97% Syrah, 2%
Price: $660.00 Sale Price: $525.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
About the Vineyards where these wines come from:
We own and lovingly farm four rather different Estate vineyards. All have different soils and micro-climates, but all share farming practices that are gentle, hands-on, natural (although we are not certified, we are essentially organic) and consistent. We believe these to be the four cornerstones of great fruit and subsequently great wine.
is 33 acres located in the cool Santa Rita Hills appellation. We planted 22 acres in 2001, primarily Syrah and Grenache, but also some Roussanne and a tiny bit of Viognier and Petite Sirah. The other 11 acres were Pinot Noir, planted by the previous ranch owners. About half of this has been grafted to three different clones of Chardonnay and a touch of Muscat. Because the climate is rather cool, we regularly experience very late harvests; seldom before the end of October and frequently well into November. This means very long “hang time” and thus full flavored, but never over-ripe or raisined fruit. Although the vineyard is densely planted with 2,420 vines per acre, we typically have very low yields of less than 1.5 tons per acre or more importantly around 1 ¼lb. of fruit per vine. This is one of the many criteria toward great wine quality.
is our “home” vineyard. It is located in the rather little known area of Oak View (south of Santa Barbara) where we live and where we also have our winery. The area is relatively warm and therefore it typically is the first of our vineyards to be harvested. Here we have numerous small blocks of varying vine training styles. The first block was planted in 2004 and is comprised of Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne. In 2008 we planted two more blocks. These house the rare white grape Petite Manseng, the equally rare Portugese Touriga Nacional, as well as small amounts of Mourvedre, Petite Sirah and two more small Syrah sections. One of these blocks is trained in a sort of Cote Rotie style. It is a super dense planting at 4,350 vines per acre and also own-rooted (no foreign rootstocks grafted onto the scions).
This CUMULUS Vineyard is also the fruit source for a newer brand that was launched with the 2007 vintage. It is called NEXT OF KYN. A young sister to SINE QUA NON if you will.
is a vineyard property that we purchased in the spring of 2010. It is located near the quaint town of Los Alamos in the central coast. A small vineyard of mostly Syrah and a bit of Petite Sirah had been planted there in the year 2000 and, much to our surprise and delight, it was all own-rooted… our favorite, albeit a somewhat risky proposition because of the exposure to the dreaded phylloxera. This vineyard has rather sandy soils and the micro-climate could be called moderate. Staggeringly beautiful fruit has come from this site. In fact, we were so impressed that in the early spring of 2011 we planted another block, in even sandier soils. In fact, almost pure sand and very deep. The first delightful fruit from that vineyard block came with the amazingly great 2014 harvest. What a treat this site is. Hard to put into words.
is a place tucked away in the remote Tepusquet Canyon. It is a Hermit’s paradise. Hard to find, hard to access, way up at some 1800 feet elevation. There, in that hidden paradise, we planted a little bucolic 2 acre vineyard in a Chateauneuf-du-Pape like bush vine style, but all Mourvedre for now. We picked the first tiny bit of fruit nuggets there in the stingy 2015 vintage. The effort is a bit disproportionate to the quantity received, but heck it is worth the struggle at times.
At this time, we only have one more fruit source that is not grown and owned by us. And that is the heart warming Bien Nacido Vineyard in the very cool area of Santa Maria. Syrah from that vineyard was our very first fruit source and our first SQN wine… “Queen of Spades”… came from that fruit. We no longer contract Syrah, but we still have a small section of delightful Chardonnay for our white wine program and a tiny little “laboratory” block for Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne and Marsanne.
One of the original Rhone Rangers from California and we have a few new releases and some older vintage wines from the godfather of the Rhone wine movement in California. There were less than 50 acres of Viognier in California when John Alban started planting Rhone varietals is the Central Coast of California. John was instrumental in bringing over the best clones and planting some of the first high quality Rousanne, Syrah, Grenache and Viognier in the state of California. There are only a few cases of each of the wines below that come to Florida as most of these wines are still only available on their mailing list.
Alban Vineyards – New Releases
2025 Alban Vineyards Viognier Central Coast
Price: $35.00 Your Price: $31.50
The Central Coast bottling that is often more than 75% from our own vineyard, and an Estate bottling. It showcases the forward heady stone fruit of this variety. It is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel and bottled early.
2021 Alban Vineyards 'Patrina' Syrah Edna Valley
Price: $65.00 Your Price: $58.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
Patrin is a Roma word for leaf and grass blades. We wanted a romani association for this wine because it is not a wine from a ‘place’ so much as one shaped by us; our traditions and joys. The Roma have a very strong and romantic culture, but they are not tied to any particular location.
By mounding up patrin in specific configurations called Patrina, Romani mark secret trails that their comrades can follow to special gathering places. Under the right circumstances, Patrina lead these kindred spirits to wonderful celebrations underscored by wine and song.
Our vineyards are a patchwork of isolated soil types that you may recognize as Reva, Lorraine, Seymour’s and Pandora (very much wines of a place). Between and in route to these well healed sites are vineyards that are not so obviously distinct. We have blended these disparate and ‘disenfranchised’ blocks into a single wine we call Patrina. Like the Romani trails from which Patrina derives its name, we hope these bottles lead you to some great merriment, or more.
While the grapes for Patrina are raised with the same detail and attentiveness as the rest of our vineyards, and then fermented open top with indigenous yeast, gentle pump overs and a few punch downs once soft, it is bottled unfined and unfiltered after ‘just’ 22 months in barrel to preserve its youthful exuberance. All the density and concentration folks have come to expect from our reds with black and blue fruits, mineral notes, and flowers.
2021 Alban Vineyards Grenache Alban Estate Vineyard
Price: $125.00 Your Price: $112.50 Quantity in Stock: 5
(95-97 Points) Based on 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah, the 2021 Grenache has a juicy, upfront style in its blackberries, blueberries, pepper, lavender, and violet-like aromas and flavors. With a big, exotic, full-bodied mouthfeel and a terrific mid-palate, it brings a powerful, opulent, yet classic 2021 focused style. Jeb Dunnuck, Review Date: 08/2024
2020 Alban Vineyards Lorraine Estate Syrah Edna Valley
Price: $202.50 Your Price: $182.25 Quantity in Stock: 2
(98 Points) Wow, the 2020 Syrah Lorraine is a blockbuster-styled expression of this cuvée. It has an inky purple hue as well as a blockbuster nose of ripe black and blue fruits, smoked meats, ground pepper, iodine, and floral notes. These carry to a full-bodied, deep, unctuous Syrah with flawless tannins, a deep, layered mouthfeel, and a massive style that will evolve for two decades. Jeb Dunnuck, Review Date: 08/2024
2019 Alban Vineyards Lorraine Estate Syrah Edna Valley
Price: $219.00 Your Price: $197.10 Quantity in Stock: 4
(96 Points) I tasted the 2019 Syrah Lorraine on July 8, shortly after its bottling in June. With air, it unfolds steadily from cassis, blueberries and aniseed to nuances of violet, mint and botanicals. The full-bodied palate is plush and silky, refreshing and lifted, with tremendously perfumed fruit and a long finish with generous, graphite-laced fruit. This graceful, juicy Syrah is approachable straight from the bottle but will benefit from another 3-5 years in bottle to unwind. It will be released in the spring of 2024. Wine Advocate
2010 Alban Vineyards Lorraine Estate Syrah Edna Valley, USA
Price: $265.00 Your Price: $238.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
(97 Points) Sporting the same inky color as the Reva, the 2010 Syrah Lorraine Vineyard has terrific elegance and purity in its sweet black raspberry fruits, crushed flowers, creme de cassis and subtle smoked meat characteristics. Seriously concentrated and backward on the palate (this cuvee normally is the most approachable of the lineup), with a rich, full mouthfeel, a big mid-palate and a great finish, give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy through 2030. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2020 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Edna Valley
Price: $125.00 Your Price: $112.50 Quantity in Stock: 4
(98 Points) Unabashedly powerful yet visceral and alluring, John Alban's Syrah is a benchmark expression of the sun-drenched intensity of the maritime Edna Valley in San Luis Obispo. Smoky, spicy swirls of raspberry preserve, leather and sweet tobacco meld into a palate that's profoundly ripe yet lively and fresh, struck by layers of dusty graphite, ore and iodine. Breathtaking in youth but certain to develop further complexity. (ALI) Decanter, Review Date: 02/2024
2019 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard
Price: $125.00 Your Price: $112.50 Quantity in Stock: 11
In the earliest years of Alban Vineyards, I lived in a rented green house propagating cuttings. When I wasn’t making vines, I was busy looking for the future home for all the vines in my nursery. I spent 7 years looking at possible vineyard sites all over the Central Coast of California. Whenever I found a promising site, I negotiated a due diligence period during which I could do soil and site analysis. While mapping out the last piece I’d ever evaluate (because it was the one that turned into Alban Vineyards) I happened to name a little ridge on one part of the ranch ‘Reva’s Ridge’. It was a play on words incorporating the name of a Kentucky Derby winner: Riva’s Ridge, and my mother’s name which is Reva. Clearly I’d been in the sun too long and I will admit that I am a total ‘mama’s boy’. Years later, after calling the vineyard Reva and tagging the first barrel as Reva, I embraced the obvious: I named the wine Reva.
The grapes that go into Reva (97-100% Syrah with the balance Viognier) are from neutral sandy soils and portions of ranch that are chalky and quite alkaline. This combination makes for a wine with dark color, concentrated flavors of black fruits, fennel, and graphite. Perhaps the most distinguishing note of Reva is a unique iodine and oyster shell aromatic that is unlike anything in our other Syrahs. The wine is aged 3.5 years in barrels before bottling unfined and unfiltered.
2020 Alban Vineyards Pandora Red Edna Valley
Price: $202.50 Your Price: $182.25 Quantity in Stock: 6
(93 Points) Hailing from the pure chalk soils of Seymour's Vineyard, the 2020 Grenache Pandora was aged for 34 months in 60% new French oak. The nose is a fragrant yet immensely concentrated mix of ripe berries, purple flowers and hints of kelp-driven umami tones. The palate is full-bodied and slick in texture, featuring loads of polished black fruits lined with subtle acidity that lead to a finish dominated by saturated fruit flavors, crushed stones and oak tannins.
John Alban is a pioneer through and through, having spearheaded the Rhône Ranger movement and set into motion what would become some of the Central Coast's most sought-after bottlings, both through his eponymous label and those he inspired and mentored. The Alban wines are unapologetically style-driven, anchored around ripe, forward fruit intensity and the equally unabashed use of extended élevage in new French oak. Although they remain primarily full-throttle examples of the Edna Valley, recent vintages have seen many wines reeled in from some of their prior hedonism, most notably the signature trio of vineyard-designate Syrahs. Published: Jul 18, 2024, The Wine Advocate
2020 Alban Seymour's Syrah Edna Valley
Price: $202.50 Your Price: $182.25 Quantity in Stock: 5
(98-100 Points) As with the Lorraine release, the 2020 Syrah Seymour's is a monster of a wine offering more density and depth than normal while staying balanced with classic Seymour's structure. This inky purple-hued beauty offers a gorgeous perfume of pure cassis, crushed stone, graphite, and ground pepper. Full-bodied, massively concentrated, and pedal-to-the-metal on the palate, it has building tannins and a solid spine of freshness that keeps you coming back to the glass. It will take a solid decade to hit the early stages of maturity, but don't let that stop you from trying a bottle in its youth. Jeb Dunnuck, Review Date: 08/2023
I would try to tell the story of this producer but John does an amazing job describing his journey, this excerpt comes from his website: https://www.albanvineyards.com/about
“Before I was old enough to drink wine (legally), I spent a lot of time wondering why Europe fermented over 500 different grape varieties, while California was using about 6. The strangest part was that people only drank 2 of the six. Fortunately, I was too young to recognize that anyone seriously planning to change how many wine types were being produced in California would have to contend with the American love affair with Cabernet and Chardonnay; our wine equivalents of chocolate and vanilla.
Far into my quest for wine grapes that would make sense for California, I celebrated my 24th birthday. That evening a friend handed me a glass of Condrieu. Knowing nothing about the wine, and informed simply (though erroneously) that it was cheap, I downed what would prove to be one of the most significant gulps of my life. Instantly I could see myself producing the world's greatest six-dollar bottle of wine. I envisioned myself hanging out with the Gallo boys. The next day I researched everything U.C. Davis had on the subject of Condrieu- about 12 sentences. I learned 3 key facts: Viognier is the grape of Condrieu, it ain't cheap, and I'd soon be moving to the Rhone if I wanted to learn much more.
I frantically completed my course work and research for my Master's in enology at Davis, immersed myself in everything Rhone, and applied for a scholarship that was being offered by the Franco-American chamber of commerce. The degree "allowed" me to start re-paying my student loans, the Rhone immersion kept me smiling, and the scholarship was my ticket to France.
While apprenticing anywhere producers would let me- from Beaujolais to Provence, I also spent a good bit of time organizing climate and soil information. Everything I found indicated that Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Roussanne made more than mere sense for California. The information left me puzzling over how we ever planted Chardonnay from Ukiah all the way down to Temecula. I would have plenty of time to puzzle as my next 6 years would be spent 'picking up sticks'.
Vines are propagated from vines. Just as it's tough to get a chicken without an egg and vice versa, it's impossible to get vines without vines. Because there was essentially no Grenache Noir, Roussanne, or Viognier in California at that time, and the clones of Syrah were few and poorly documented, I would need a lot of time to make cuttings. Starting with only a handful of various selections, it took years to generate commercial quantities of the vines I wanted to grow.
Spending all those years in green houses, I lost touch with reality. At a time when there were fewer than 50 acres of Viognier in the world, I propagated 32. Perhaps the only wine more obscure than Viognier was varietally labeled Roussanne. Our release of pure Roussanne in 1991 was the second such wine produced globally and the first from the United States (what exactly Bergeron is remains in doubt).
Since reds take more cellar time, I originally hit the road pouring my two whites-Viognier and Roussanne. If I had not been so young and brash, I might have been discouraged by the barrage of folks who kept telling me that consumers haven't heard of these wines, and no one can pronounce Viognier (Vee-own-yeah is easy to say; tough to read. Anything with the word So-veenyown; as in Cabernet So-veen-yown is truly hard to say).
What I really discovered on my journeys was that compared to the amount of wine I had, there was an abundance of progressively minded folk all over the world open to the idea that delicious is more important than varietal recognition. I am forever indebted to the core group of courageous and passionate wine buyers and sommeliers who championed Alban Vineyards in the early years. The people who were driven to hand-sell and promote wines that in and of themselves were of little economic significance to them. These 'missionaries' nurtured the fledgling California rhone movement, and with it took our wine trade from black and white into the age of color. I am delighted to see Rhone varieties flourish throughout California and rather overwhelmed by Robert Parker's declaration in The Wine Advocate that I am "...the spiritual and qualitative leader of the movement..."
Many of our original customers are now my good friends. Some I have even worked with to help start wineries of their own focusing on Rhone varieties. Two moved to San Luis Obispo County to help organize Hospice Du Rhone- the world's largest international celebration of these wines, visit www.hospicedurhone.org. As the Rhone renaissance became truly international and significantly rooted in what happened here in California, perhaps the greatest surprise in my life thus far was how the story came full circle. In 2005 I was made an honorary citizen and Decurion of Cote Rotie and Condrieu. The sons and daughters of the producers who were terrified about my plans to develop their then threatened varieties internationally, believed that my efforts had actually accelerated recognition and interest in their own wineries. Being presented this distinction before the leaders of these key northern Rhone appellations, on their home turf, remains somewhat surreal to this day.
In some ways my life is still measured in sticks. As more people have discovered the world beyond chocolate and vanilla, there has been an explosion in plantings of these varieties. Alban Vineyards has provided a large portion of the cuttings needed to see California's Viognier acreage go from 0 to over 2000, and Syrah has jumped from a few hundred acres to more than 17,000. Grenache will be next. But the story has gone way beyond change and diversity. Of the 22 wineries in California included in Robert Parker's The World' Greatest Wine Estates, 10 currently make at least one 'Rhone', and 2 produce almost exclusively wines from Rhone varieties. While we Rhone producers may forever be 'garage bands' at heart, our stage is now very much international.
Andremily Wines on SALE!!
Andremily Wines has quickly earned the respect and now sits alongside some of the greatest producers of Rhône-varietal blends in California’s Central Coast. This should not come as a surprise as owner and winemaker Jim Binns earned his winemaker wings during his 12 years as assistant winemaker to Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non (2006-2017). During his tenure at Sine Qua Non they achieved an amazing 27×100 points scores! Jim continues to add to his fame with every vintage as his stunning line-up at Andremily seems to just get better and better every year, balancing hedonism and elegance to near perfection every year.
Jim and his wife Rachel’s work hand and hand with their two children which were the inspiration of the winery name. Andremily was inspired by, their son Andrew, and daughter Emily. When thinking of names for their new brand, they wanted their new venture to express a sense of family, which was accomplished by combining both of their children’s first names. In 2012, Andremily was born and Jim decided to moved on from Sine Qua Non in 2017 in an effort to dedicate 100% all of his time and efforts to Andremily Wines. The winery is located in the coastal city of Ventura, where they bring their rare elixirs through elevage.
Manfred Krankl was very supportive from day one, and literally gifted Jim SQN’s contracts for two of his prized blocks of the White Hawk Vineyard in Santa Barbara’s Cat Canyon. Jim then started looking for other sources to compliment White Hawk, and luckily was able to secure a few great blocks at the Larner Vineyard in Ballard Canyon and then Alta Mesa Vineyard in the Cuyama Valley. Thus the foundation of Andremily winery was firmly in place and the debut 2012 vintage of ‘Andremily No.1’ was released to huge critical acclaim. A few more sources have been added to the tool box since, including the purchase of the Slide Vineyard in Edna Valley, which marks the beginning of Andremily Estate Vineyard.
2023 Andremily "White Cuvée" Central Coast White Blend
Price: $120.00 Your Price: $108.00
2022 Andremily Wines Mourvedre, Santa Barbara County
Price: $150.00 Your Price: $135.00 Quantity in Stock: 9
2022 Andremily Number 11 Santa Barbara County Syrah
Price: $150.00 Your Price: $135.00 Quantity in Stock: 11
2022 Andremily Wines Syrah Slide Hill Edna Valley Magnum
Price: $450.00 Your Price: $405.00
2022 Andremily "White Cuvée" Central Coast White Blend
Price: $120.00 Your Price: $108.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2021 Andremily Wines Rose California
Price: $84.00 Your Price: $75.60 Quantity in Stock: 2
2021 Andremily Wines Grenache Santa Barbara County, USA
Price: $150.00 Your Price: $135.00 Quantity in Stock: 6
2021 Andremily Wines Syrah #10 Santa Barbara MAGNUM
Price: $300.00 Your Price: $270.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2021 Andremily Wines EABA Santa Barbara County, USA
Price: $150.00 Your Price: $135.00 Quantity in Stock: 11
2021 Andremily Wines Mourvedre Santa Barbara County MAGNUM
Price: $300.00 Your Price: $270.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2021 Andremily Wines Syrah #10 Santa Barbara
Price: $144.00 Your Price: $129.60 Quantity in Stock: 8
2020 Andremily Wines Syrah #9, Santa Barbara County, USA
Price: $145.00 Your Price: $130.50
2020 Andremily Wines Syrah Slide Hill Edna Valley
Price: $295.00 Your Price: $265.50 Quantity in Stock: 6
2019 Andremily Wines Eaba, Santa Barbara County, USA
Price: $145.00 Your Price: $130.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
2017 Saxum Vineyards James Berry Vineyard MAGNUM
Price: $460.00 Sale Price: $390.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
2016 Saxum Vineyards James Berry Vineyard Rocket Block Paso Robles MAGNUM
(100 Points) Another perfect wine is the 2016 James Berry Vineyard Rocket Block, which always comes from a single block of the ...
Price: $585.00 Your Price: $526.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
2013 SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD PROPRIETARY RED PASO ROBLES
Price: $225.00 Your Price: $202.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
2013 SAXUM HEART STONE VINEYARD PASO ROBLES MAGNUM
(95 Points) Checking in as a final blend of 54% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 11% Mourvedre, the
Price: $450.00 Your Price: $405.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
2012 Saxum Terry Hoage Vineyard Paso Robles
Price: $215.00 Your Price: $193.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
2012 SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD PROPRIETARY RED PASO ROBLES
Price: $225.00 Your Price: $202.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
2012 SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD PROPRIETARY RED PASO ROBLES MAGNUM
(97 Points) There are 1,580 cases of the 2012 James Berry Vineyard and it reminds me of the 2009 Janasse Chaupin (which is one ...
Price: $499.00 Your Price: $449.10 Quantity in Stock: 1
2010 SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD PROPRIETARY RED PASO ROBLES
Price: $225.00 Your Price: $202.50 Quantity in Stock: 2
2009 SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD PASO ROBLES
Price: $225.00 Your Price: $202.50 Quantity in Stock: 2
2009 SAXUM PADEREWSKI VINEYARD PASO ROBLES
Price: $215.00 Your Price: $193.50 Quantity in Stock: 1
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