Sine Qua Non California Cult Rhone Wine Tasting Thursday, February 24th 7:30pm and all the Sine Qua Non in the store on SALE!!

“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.

We just studied some of the top Syrah from the Northern Rhone so I figured it was time to see what the best of California has to offer in the Rhone world and Sine Qua Non is always on the study calendar this time of year.  The new releases are here and although the 2020’s are very young… we are doing scientific research with wine here at Wine Watch!!  When we hit a subject we hit it hard and as many times as we can in a short period of time.

This evening you can taste 10+ different wines from Sine Qua Non going back 10 years old for less than the cost of a single bottle in most cases!  And the price of this event includes dinner!!  The fee for this event is $495 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Sine Qua Non California Cult Rhone Wine Tasting

Friday, February 24th

7:30 PM

2006 Sine Qua Non Raven Series No. 5 Syrah

2013 Sine Qua Non Estate Grenache Jusqu’à l’os Eleven Confessions Vineyard Santa Rita Hills

2013 Sine Qua Non Estate Syrah Le Supplément Eleven Confessions Vineyard Santa Rita Hills

2013 Sine Qua Non Grenache Female California

2013 Sine Qua Non Male Syrah California

2015 Sine Qua Non Grenache Le ChemIn Vers L’hérésIe

2015 Sine Qua Non Syrah Trouver l’arène

2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Grenache California

2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Syrah California

2019 Sine Qua Non Distenta I White California

Menu

Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie

Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Sauteed Wild Mushrooms and Grilled Brioche Toast

Seared Ancho BBQ King Salmon Served over Black Bean Puree with Roasted Pepper Salsa

Mongolian BBQ Kurobuta Pork Loin with and Sweet Potato Au Gratin

Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee with Raspberry Coulis

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $495 + 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 with  the menu 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.

e 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!!

2020 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I GRENACHE CALIFORNIA USA MAGNUM

List Price: $1150.00        Your Price: $1012.00              Quantity in Stock: 1

2020 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I GRENACHE CALIFORNIA USA

Price: $350.00   Your Price: $308.00        Quantity in Stock: 5

77.9% Grenache, 9.4% Mourvedre 7.9% Syrah 4.3% Petite Sirah and 0.5% Viognier

(97-100 points) ... ...It's a ripe, sexy, insanely good barrel sample that has remarkable purity, tons of black raspberry and cassis fruits, perfect balance, full-bodied richness, and an already complex bouquet of violets, spice, and flowers. I continue to be blown away by what this estate seems to achieve with Grenache in just about every vintage. | Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com

2020 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I SYRAH CALIFORNIA USA MAGNUM

List Price: $1150.00        Your Price: $1012.00              Quantity in Stock: 1

2020 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I SYRAH CALIFORNIA USA

Price: $350.00   Your Price: $308.00        Quantity in Stock: 5

82.9% Syrah, 7.5% Grenache, 3.9% Mourvedre 3.4% Petite Sirah 2.3% Whites (Petite Manseng & Muscat)

This royal majesticity is a palace dance group comprised of nothing less than a wild 82.9% Syrah...Here only 16% of the fruit was whole cluster fermented. For some reason, one I don't really fully understand, Syrah is more quickly or more strongly impacted by the stems...I am super happy to report that here too all of the fruit was ESTATE grown. What a pleasure it was to write that. | Manfred Krankl for Sine Qua Non

2019 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I SYRAH CENTRAL COAST MAGNUM

List Price: $1150.00        Your Price: $1012.00              Quantity in Stock: 1

2019 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I SYRAH CENTRAL COAST

Price: $425.00   Your Price: $374.00        Quantity in Stock: 2

(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 and 0.6% Petit Manseng. “I think Muscat is the number-one white grape for me to blend with reds,” Manfred told me last year. “It kinda triples the effect of the wine.” The red winemaking included 33% whole cluster. The vineyard sources for this wine are 35% The Third Twin, 33% Eleven Confessions, 31% Cumulus and 1% Molly Aida—all estate-owned vineyards. Deep garnet-purple colored, it erupts from the glass with a powerfully fragrant nose of red roses, Morello cherries, boysenberries and juicy blueberries, followed by hints of mocha, star anise, cardamom and cassia. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with bright, crunchy black, blue and red fruits. It has a rock-solid structure of firm, finely-grained tannins and seamless freshness lifting the shimmering layers to a long, energetic finish. The complexity and vivacity of this Syrah are simply jaw-dropping!  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2019 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I GRENACHE CALIFORNIA MAGNUM

List Price: $995.00          Your Price: $875.60              Quantity in Stock: 1

2019 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I GRENACHE CALIFORNIA

Price: $425.00   Your Price: $374.00        Quantity in Stock: 5

(99 points) The 2019 Grenache Distenta I is composed of 76% Grenache, 9.3% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 4.3% Petite Sirah and 2.4% Viognier. It was fermented with 43.5% whole clusters (predominantly Grenache) and matured for 23 months in 26.5% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple in color, it explodes with scents of crushed blackberries and blueberries, tar, coffee beans, cracked pepper and thyme. The full-bodied palate has a frame of grainy tannins, seamless acidity and layer after layer of spicy and floral fruit. It has a latency that suggests it will continue to develop for many years in bottle. 1,536 cases and 600 magnums will be released in the spring of 2022. This 2019 is made almost entirely from estate fruit—just 15% comes from the Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. The rest of the fruit comes from estate vineyards The Third Twin (39%), Eleven Confessions (32%), Cumulus (11%) and Molly Aïda (3%). (EB)  (5/2022)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2019 SINE QUA NON CUMULUS VINEYARD 'NEXT OF KYN' CENTRAL COAST USA

Price: $550.00   Your Price: $484.00        Quantity in Stock: 3

(99 Points) Still in barrel, the 2019 Cumulus Vineyard No. 13 also contains less Syrah than in the past—this iteration is composed of 29% Grenache, 29% Mourvèdre, 24.5% Syrah, 8% Touriga Nacional, 7.5% Petite Sirah and 2% Petit Manseng. It was made using 22% whole clusters and matured for about 32 months in 62% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple in the glass, it has a core of blackberry jam and Morello cherries, unfolding slowly to nuances of violet and loamy earth. Full-bodied and concentrated, its super-fine tannins and juicy acidity balance the expression, and it has a tremendously long finish with loads of floral perfume. It's showing fantastically despite its recent bottling on May 11, 2022—I tasted it on May 24, 2022. 369 cases and 222 magnums will be released in the fall of 2022. It will be sold as part of a four-bottle set that will include one bottle of Next of Kyn Touriga Nacional.-EB Wine Advocate:

2018 SINE QUA NON GRENACHE PROFUGA CALIFORNIA MAGNUM 1.5 L

Price: $975.00   Your Price: $858.00        Quantity in Stock: 2

(97-99 points) The 2018 Grenache Profuga is composed of 77.5% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 8.3% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah and 0.9% Viognier. The vineyard sources are 38% Cumulus Estate, 35% The Third Twin Estate, 23% Eleven Confessions Estate and 4% Bien Nacido Vineyard. Forty-one percent whole cluster was performed, predominately on the Grenache. The small proportion of Viognier was co-fermented with red grapes, but interestingly, because it ripens earlier than the reds, the white berries were frozen and added to the reds at the time of fermentation. As an added bonus, these frozen grapes help to cool and, therefore, slow the fermentation. The wine was aged for around 23 months in 37% new French oak, 57.8% used oak and 5.2% concrete. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine does bedazzling pirouettes out of the glass with the most gorgeous rose oil, kirsch, licorice and fragrant earth scents, leading into a powerful core of black raspberries, redcurrant jelly and powdered cinnamon plus a waft of underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is incredibly fresh, elegant and polished, yet make no mistake—there is a lot of power and energy on the mid-palate. This is all beautifully framed by tightly knit, very finely grained tannins, and the finish holds this provocative, lingering siren’s note, delivering exotic spices and rose-laced accents. Beguiling. 1,350 cases and 600 magnums were made. This wine was tasted as a tank sample to be bottled in two days, so this is pretty much “it.” With regard to name, according to Elaine and Manfred Krankl, Profuga is "the Latin female version of refugee, fugitive, deserter, exiled, eluding one's grasp."  Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # 250 - Aug 2020)

2018 SINE QUA NON ELEVEN CONFESSIONS VINEYARD SYRAH STA RITA HILLS USA

Price: $550.00   Your Price: $484.00        Quantity in Stock: 3

Eleven Confessions 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.

2018 SINE QUA NON ELEVEN CONFESSIONS VINEYARD GRENACHE STA RITA HILLS USA

Price: $525.00   Your Price: $462.00        Quantity in Stock: 3

(100 Points) This is a single-vineyard Grenache-dominated, barrel-selection blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Elaine Krankl’s initial and a portrait Manfred made of Elaine on the label. The blend is 82% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 5% Petite Syrah and 1% Viognier, and 56% was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 28% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Grenache E slides beguilingly out of the glass with a powerfully evocative, earthy/meaty nose of wood smoke, grilled meats, fragrant soil, truffles and iron ore with a core of kirsch, blackberry pie, Black Forest cake and aniseed plus touches of wild sage, rose hip tea and Indian spices. The palate is full-bodied, surprisingly muscular and built like a brick house with an unbelievable structure of very fine, densely pixilated tannins supporting the generous, multi-faceted layers, finishing with epic length, jaw-dropping texture and tons of cerebral mineral and spice nuances. WOW! 900 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were made. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2018 SINE QUA NON GRENACHE PROFUGA CALIFORNIA

Price: $420.00   Sale Price: $350.00         Quantity in Stock: 8

(99-97 Points)  The 2018 Grenache Profuga is composed of 77.5% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 8.3% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah and 0.9% Viognier. The vineyard sources are 38% Cumulus Estate, 35% The Third Twin Estate, 23% Eleven Confessions Estate and 4% Bien Nacido Vineyard. Forty-one percent whole cluster was performed, predominately on the Grenache. The small proportion of Viognier was co-fermented with red grapes, but interestingly, because it ripens earlier than the reds, the white berries were frozen and added to the reds at the time of fermentation. As an added bonus, these frozen grapes help to cool and, therefore, slow the fermentation. The wine was aged for around 23 months in 37% new French oak, 57.8% used oak and 5.2% concrete. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine does bedazzling pirouettes out of the glass with the most gorgeous rose oil, kirsch, licorice and fragrant earth scents, leading into a powerful core of black raspberries, redcurrant jelly and powdered cinnamon plus a waft of underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is incredibly fresh, elegant and polished, yet make no mistake—there is a lot of power and energy on the mid-palate. This is all beautifully framed by tightly knit, very finely grained tannins, and the finish holds this provocative, lingering siren’s note, delivering exotic spices and rose-laced accents. Beguiling. 1,350 cases and 600 magnums were made. This wine was tasted as a tank sample to be bottled in two days, so this is pretty much “it.” With regard to name, according to Elaine and Manfred Krankl, Profuga is "the Latin female version of refugee, fugitive, deserter, exiled, eluding one's grasp."  Issue 250 End of August 2020, The Wine Advocate

2018 SINE QUA NON SYRAH ZIEHHARMONIKA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA MAGNUM 1.5L

Price: $975.00   Your Price: $858.00        Quantity in Stock: 2

2018 SINE QUA NON SYRAH ZIEHHARMONIKA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA

Price: $420.00   Sale Price: $350.00         Quantity in Stock: 4

(98-100 Points)  Manfred Krankl did point out that the name of this wine is not definitely but probably going to be “Squeezebox.” There are still a bunch of hoops to jump through before the label is signed, sealed and delivered. He shared the artwork for the label with me, again probably final but not yet definite, but which I think fans of are going to love. Who knew Mr. K played the squeezebox? The vineyard sources for this wine are 51% The Third Twin, 43% Eleven Confessions and 6% Cumulus—all estate-owned vineyards. The 2018 Syrah Squeezebox is composed of 82% Syrah, 6.7% Mourvèdre, 5% Petite Sirah, 2.3% Grenache, 2.7% Viognier and 1.3% Muscat. “I think Muscat is the number one white grape for me to blend with reds,” Manfred said. “It kinda triples the effect of the wine.” The wine is due to be bottled in August 2020, very soon after I tasted it, and after 23 months of aging. It was reared in 51% new French oak, 46% in used barrels and 3% in terracotta. (The terracotta is only used for whites.) Very deep garnet-purple colored, the nose kicks off with bright, vivacious scents of freshly cracked black pepper, licorice, baker’s chocolate and menthol before opening out to a core just singing of Black Forest cake, wild blueberries and ripe blackberries with wafts of smoky bacon and garrigue. Full-bodied, firm and beautifully textured with perfectly ripe, velvety tannins, it has invigorating freshness and a very long, multi-layered finish. Its rock-solid structure and intensity suggest this wine will be very long lived indeed. Final name Ziehharmonika instead of Squeezebox.  Issue 250 End of August 2020, The Wine Advocate

2017 SINE QUA NON SYRAH THE HATED HUNTER

Price: $399.00   Sale Price: $340.00         Quantity in Stock: 2

(97-100 points) This wine will be bottled in August this year. Made exclusively from estate-grown fruit, the 2017 Syrah “No Name As Of Yet” is composed of 82.4% Syrah, 5.2% Mourvèdre, 7.8% Petite Sirah, 2% Grenache, 1.2% Petit Manseng and 1.4% Viognier that was fermented with 26% whole cluster. The vineyard sources are 32% Eleven Confessions, 41% The Third Twin, 25% Cumulus and 2% Molly Aida. It is to be aged for around 23 months in French oak, 59% new. Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # 243 - Jun 2019)

2017 SINE QUA NON NEXT OF KYN RED WINE CALIFORNIA

Price: $959.00   Your Price: $843.92        Quantity in Stock: 2

(98+ Points)  Next of Kyn Touriga Nacional 2017: This cuvée comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard—from a small, one-acre 2008 planting. The 2017 Touriga Nacional Numero Tres is a blend of 80% Touriga Nacional, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah and 6% Grenache using 44% whole clusters. It spent around 33 months in French oak barrels, 60% new. Very deep garnet-purple, the nose is a little reticent to begin, offering broody tar, new leather and fertile loam suggestions before giving way to come-hither scents of baked black plums, blackberry pie, dark chocolate, candied violets, pencil lead, menthol and dried roses. The first thing that hits you on the decadent, full-bodied palate is the texture—like stroking a kitten in your mouth. Wonderful freshness electrifies the bright, crunchy black fruits, developing into a long-lingering perfumed finish. Stunning! While it is delicious and certainly approachable right now, I would recommend laying this down for 4-5 years at least, to allow all the tightly wound nuances to emerge. It should continue to give pleasure for the next 20-25+ years. 89 cases and 223 magnums were made. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2016 SINE QUA NON DIRT VERNACULAR GRENACHE

Price: $450.00   Sale Price: $350.00         Quantity in Stock: 1

(96 Points) The 2016 Grenache Dirt Vernacular wafts from the glass with heady aromas of kirsch, plums and Griotte cherries that mingle with nuances of sweet spice, rose petals and pepper. It saw 34% new oak (along with 53% used oak and 9% concrete), but it's hardly noticeable—much less so than in some of Sine Qua Non's debut Grenache bottlings. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and chewy, with tangy acids despite its considerable power and ripeness, with a deep, layered mid-palate and a long, lusty finish. It's an eclectic blend of 78% Grenache, 11.5% Mourvèdre, 7% Touriga Nacional and 2.5% Petite Sirah that was fermented with 43% whole cluster—whole cluster being largely reserved for the Grenache component. The blend is dominated by estate fruit, but some 9% came from the Krankl's blocks at Bien Nacido Vineyard that are farmed to their specifications. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2016 SINE QUA NON SYRAH RATSEL

Price: $395.00   Sale Price: $320.00         Quantity in Stock: 5

(96+ points) Produced entirely from estate fruit, the 2016 Syrah Rätsel 16 offers up a brooding bouquet of smoky blackberries, French roast, cassis liqueur and subtle grilled meat, with only hints of all the savory complexity it will show down the line. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and chewy, with a rich chassis of velvety structuring tannins, a deep, super concentrated core of fruit and a long, sapid finish. Like the Grenache Dirt Vernacular, it's quite expressive and giving in profile by comparison with the firmer, more structural 2015s from Sine Qua Non, but its more brooding profile makes me suspect it has more potential upside with some time in bottle. It's a blend of 81% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 5% Petite Sirah, 2.5% Grenache and 4.5% Viognier that was fermented with 47% whole cluster. 1791 cases and 600 magnums were produced.   William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Issue # Interim - Aug 2018)

2015 SINE QUA NON SYRAH TROUVER L’ARÈNE

Price: $495.00   Sale Price: $410.00         Quantity in Stock: 4

The 2015 Syrah Trouver l’arène states “finding the arena.” If you re-read the burgundy portion of T.R.’s manifesto you’ll quickly see the connection. This supermodel of a wine, if nothing else, is an orgy of the palate. The partners in that orgy are 80.5% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Mourvedre, 2% Grenache and an aroma lifting, sexy, co-fermented 3.5% Viognier. All of the fruit was tenderly grown at three of our Estate vineyards.?36% at Eleven Confessions, 37% at The Third Twin... some +/- 15 miles northeast of there and 27% at the home vineyard Cumulus. Here only 34% whole clusters (of course meaning the stems also) were employed in the fermentation. For 22 months we taught this black beauty manners in barrels, 48% of which were new and all French. Like it’s Grenache sibling, this temptress was never fined or filtered, but rather left to it’s gorgeous own devices. My tasting notes from right before the bottling read – impossibly SQN dark with an almost lacquer sheen to it. There is a slightly peppery, savory, saddle leather nose that is quite pronounced.

2015 SINE QUA NON GRENACHE LE CHEMIN VERS L’HÉRÉSIE

Price: $450.00   Sale Price: $375.00         Quantity in Stock: 3

The 2015 Grenache Le chemIn vers l’hérésIe means “the path to heresy.” As you surely know heresy is a belief contrary to orthodox doctrine, strongly at variance with established beliefs – it is a term usually used relative to religious teachings, but it is also used of views strongly opposed to any generally accepted ideas; a dissention, nonconformity, unorthodoxy and even blasphemy. I am sure not much has to be added to “explain” more. The cuvee is a paganistic marriage of 75% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 8% Touriga Nacional (The Man made a mistake here – this should have been a Rhone variety) and 4% Petite Sirah. We used 44% whole clusters to ferment this beauty. This mama is surprisingly dark for Grenache. There are terrific aromas and flavors of lots of blueberries, black cherries, garrigue (wild herbs, thyme, rosemary, fennel), spice and even some fountain pen ink. It has a full, voluptuous texture that covers every crevice of your mouth. There are lots of tannins, but they are lush and satiny. Although the wine starts out with a punch, it is really quite lovely and like liquid velvet. There is not only a path to “heresy” but also a path to cellaring as this will clearly reward further patience and time, although I am sure you will find it tantalizing right off the delivery truck.

2015 SINE QUA NON ELEVEN CONFESSIONS GRENACHE "E ELEVEN CONFESSIONS VINEYARD SANTA RITA HILLS

Price: $595.00   Sale Price: $500.00         Quantity in Stock: 2

(100 Points) This is a single-vineyard Grenache-dominated, barrel-selection blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Elaine Krankl’s initial and a portrait Manfred made of Elaine on the label. The blend is 82% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 5% Petite Syrah and 1% Viognier, and 56% was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 28% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Grenache E slides beguilingly out of the glass with a powerfully evocative, earthy/meaty nose of wood smoke, grilled meats, fragrant soil, truffles and iron ore with a core of kirsch, blackberry pie, Black Forest cake and aniseed plus touches of wild sage, rose hip tea and Indian spices. The palate is full-bodied, surprisingly muscular and built like a brick house with an unbelievable structure of very fine, densely pixilated tannins supporting the generous, multi-faceted layers, finishing with epic length, jaw-dropping texture and tons of cerebral mineral and spice nuances. WOW! 900 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were made. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2015 SINE QUA NON ELEVEN CONFESSIONS SYRAH "M” ELEVEN CONFESSIONS VINEYARD SANTA RITA HILLS

Price: $595.00   Sale Price: $500.00         Quantity in Stock: 2

(99 Points) This is a single-vineyard Syrah-dominant blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Manfred Krankl’s initial and a provocative self-portrait on the label. The blend is 90.6% Syrah, 4.4% Petite Syrah, 2.6% Grenache and 2.4% Viognier. Forty-three percent was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 66% new. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2014 SINE QUA NON CAPO DEI PUTTI SYRAH ELEVEN CONFESSIONS VINEYARD SANTA RITA HILLS

Price: $550.00   Sale Price: $450.00         Quantity in Stock: 2

(96 Points) The 2014 Syrah Capo dei Putti saw an amazing 38 months in fully 94% new oak, and it was showing superbly when I tasted it, unfurling in the glass with brooding aromas of blackberry preserve, cherries, bay leaf and a remarkably integrated framing of smoky new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, hyper-concentrated and deep, with an incredibly dense core of fruit that's definitely ripe but avoids overt sucrosity—and is complemented by an impressive degree of savory nuance. It's a blocky, dense Syrah that will merit some time in bottle, but it is sure to make a considerable impact whenever it's opened. 896 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were produced.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2014 SINE QUA NON TESTA DEI CHERUBINI GRENACHE ELEVEN CONFESSIONS VINEYARD SANTA RITA HILLS

Price: $595.00   Sale Price: $475.00         Quantity in Stock: 2

(98 Points) The 2014 Grenache Testa dei Cherubini saw fully 37.5 months in wood, some 25% new, but its influence is imperceptible; the wine is strikingly pure and vibrant. Krankl commented that the longer the wines spend in barrel, the more slowly they seem to evolve in bottle. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of juicy red cherries, peonies and plums, it's initially quite reserved, becoming more expressive with air. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, layered and very concentrated, with strikingly fine-grained, revolved tannins, juicy acids and impressive length and depth. Like the 2015 Le Chemin Vers l'Hérésie also reviewed in this report, it's remarkably pure and integrated and ranks as one of the finest Grenache bottlings I've tasted from Sine Qua Non. It's also one wine that will clearly benefit from bottle age, no matter how tempting it may be when it's released in November of this year. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2013 SINE QUA NON ESTATE SYRAH LE SUPPLÉMENT ELEVEN CONFESSIONS VINEYARD SANTA RITA HILLS

Price: $795.00   Sale Price: $650.00         Quantity in Stock: 1

The 2013 Estate Syrah Le Supplément is a model SQN wine if there ever was one. Its orchestra consists of 89% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, 3% Grenache and 2% Viognier. Most of that fruit was destemmed and only 28% was whole cluster. It too is all Eleven Confessions. Here 83% new French oak was splurged on, the rest was used barrels. Don’t know if calling it a beauty is fair because it is more masculine, but it IS something to savor...no doubt about it. I could go on and on and on describing a peacock’s tail of aromas and the almost regal cloak this toned Majesty is wearing, but so as to not bore you to death and exhaust / expose my embarrassing vocabulary satchel, I’ll just say this “extra” just bursts and sings and draws from everywhere imaginable in the wilderness to express its impressive power and sophisticated stance. It is supple and refined with a nearly intimidating body, but the dainty personality of a humming bird with a Stephen Hawking mind. Don’t miss it. I have to implore - don’t miss it!!

2000 SINE QUA NON IN FLAGRANTE CENTRAL COAST

Price: $860.00   Sale Price: $725.00         Quantity in Stock: 1

(96 points)  The 2000 In Flagrante (a 725-case blend of 86% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 4% Viognier) is a world-class, provocative effort. It reveals many of the same aromatic and flavor components found in the 2001 Midnight Oil and 2002 Syrah-dominated, unnamed offering. A black color is followed by a seamless effort loaded with blackberry, honey, and flower aromas, and an extraordinarily long, concentrated finish. As with all great wines, tasting notes/descriptors just can’t do it justice. Among the recent SQN Syrahs, it is a strikingly elegant and powerful wine that has a decidedly French flair to it.  Wine Advocate #148, Aug 2003

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