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All Wines from Sine Qua Non
Inventory updated: Sun, Mar 23, 2025 10:54 AM cst
Our vintages of Sine Qua Non wine currently include: 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Flickinger Fine Wines' inventory of Sine Qua Non wine is listed below. We have an excellent and vast assortment of fine wines to choose from. If you do not see what you are looking for, give us a call and we can suggest another Sine Qua Non vintage or even another producer that we are sure you will enjoy.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Sine Qua Non |
2006 |
A Shot in the Dark Syrah (1.5 L)  |
$1,500 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (8/2010): The soon-to-be-released 2006 A Shot in the Dark is composed of 96.5% Syrah and 3.5% Viognier from the 11 Confessions Vineyard in the cool Santa Rita Hills. Performing better from bottle than it did from barrel, this prodigious red exhibits incredibly velvety tannins, a seamless style, and no noticeable oak (which is remarkable given the fact it spent 32 months in barrel). Dense purple to the rim with an extraordinary perfume of blueberry pie, blackberries, soy, Asian spices, and hints of forest floor and charcoal, this is a complex, rich, seamless, well-balanced tour de force in winemaking. A full-bodied, exuberant, unabashedly California Syrah, it will offer stunning drinking over the next 10-15+ years.
VM 96 (12/2010): (includes 3.5% viognier) Inky violet. Captivating, varietally expressive nose melds cassis, boysenberry, olive tapenade, cracked pepper, licorice and Indian spices. Suave, velvety and deeply concentrated, with restrained sweetness for a wine with this much power and thrust. Firm acids give the lush dark fruit and floral flavors excellent focus. Finishes chewy, suave and very long, with velour-like tannins and strong mineral character. Really compelling wine that is shockingly approachable now. |
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2013 |
And an 8-Track Rose |
$215 |
1 |
|
| |
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2014 |
Capo dei Putti Syrah (3.0 L) |
$2,900 |
1 |
|
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JD 99 (10/2018): Leading off the reds, the extended barrel-aged 2014 Syrah Capo Dei Putti boasts an insane bouquet of cedarwood, white chocolate, caramelized meats, candle way, and assorted red and black fruits. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and an incredible elegance, it changed every time I came back to the glass and is a multi-dimensional, riveting red wine from California. A blend of 90% Syrah and the balance Viognier, Petite Sirah, and Grenache, partially destemmed and aged 38 months in 94% new French oak, give this beauty 2-3 years of bottle age, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 10-15 years.
VM 98 (9/2018): The 2014 Syrah Capo dei Putti, from Eleven Confessions, is another absolutely stunning wine from Elaine and Manfred Krankl. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the 2014 offers tremendous aromatic intensity and freshness to play off the dark Syrah fruit. There is an sense of explosive energy running through the 2014 that adds to the wine's total allure. I would prefer to cellar the Capo dei Putti for at least a few years. I imagine it will always be a wine of gravitas, concentration and power. The 2014 spent 38 months in French oak, 94% new. The blend is 90% Syrah, 3.2% Petite Sirah, 2% Grenache and 4.8% Viognier, done with 43% whole clusters.
WA 96+ (8/2018): 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. |
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2004 |
Covert Fingers Pinot Noir Cracked Wax Capsule |
$400 |
2 |
|
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WA 95 (8/2006): The knockout, deep ruby/purple/plum 2004 Covert Fingers Pinot Noir exhibits a slightly restrained nose revealing sweet cranberry and cassis aromas interwoven with hints of flowers, charcoal, and oak, a savory, broad texture, and an opulent, voluptuous finish. This beauty should drink well for a decade or more.
VM 93 (10/2006): Bright red-ruby. Pure, pungent aromas of raspberry and spices; very pinot! Densely packed, supple and sweet, with pure red berry, spice and earth flavors. Has a thickness of texture while retaining verve. Finishes with fine, supple tannins and lovely subtle length. Not as complex as Krankl's top syrahs, but this is delicious, and as graceful a pinot as I recall tasting from this producer. My sample showed even more intense raspberry and spice flavors the second day, without any loss of freshness. (I must note, however, that my first two bottles were corked.) |
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2019 |
Distenta I Syrah |
$239 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (8/2022): The 2019 Syrah Distenta 1 is brilliant, and certainly one of the Syrahs of the vintage. Sporting a vivid ruby, almost opaque hue, it offers awesome, textbook Syrah notes of assorted red and blackberry fruits, bacon fat, smoked meat, and an incredible floral character that develops with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's a more elegant, restrained Sine Qua Non revealing flawless balance, beautiful freshness and elegance, silky tannins, and one heck of a finish. Still a baby that needs a lengthy decant if drinking any time soon (this bottle showed best on the second day, at which point it was drunk), it will benefit from a solid 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades after that.I’ve been visiting with Sine Qua Non for a decade now, and I never cease to be amazed at the quality consistently coming from this address. In addition, Krankl somehow manages to deliver brilliance with just about any variety out there, and whether it’s Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Touriga Nacional, Roussanne, or even Petit Manseng, you can expect a truly riveting wine, as well as a wine with singular characteristics. Unfortunately, it’s all too common, particularly for those who don’t drink the wines often, to assume all California cult wines are over-ripe or heavy. The reality, however, couldn’t be more different, and great wines deliver intensity and depth while staying light on their feet and elegant. And these latest releases from Sine Qua Non are great wines. |
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2020 |
Distenta II Grenache |
$215 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2023): Tasted out of bottle, the 2020 Grenache Distenta II is total blockbuster stuff that's darker and richer than the 2021. Red and black fruits, white pepper, classy leather, and spicy baking chocolate-like nuances all define the aromatics, and it’s deep, full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, with gorgeous tannins and a great finish. The blend is 78% Grenache, 9% Mourvèdre, 8% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah (with a splash of Viognier), and it's going to knock your socks off any time over the coming 15+ years.
WA 97 (8/2023): I first tasted the Grenache Distenta II from bottle at the beginning of 2023. It has barely budged in the interim and feels expectant, its youthfully compact character waiting patiently to blossom. It comes from all four estate vineyards: Eleven Confessions (40%), Cumulus (33%), The Third Twin (21%) and Molly Aïda (6%). A blend of 77.9% Grenache, 9.4% Mourvèdre, 7.9% Syrah, 4.3% Petite Sirah and 0.5% Viognier, it was vinified using 29% whole clusters (mainly from Grenache) and matured for around 23 months in 52% new French oak of various sizes. Medium ruby in color, it takes plenty of time to unwind in the glass, segueing from streaks of coffee, peppercorn, garrigue and bresaola to a deep core of berry fruit. The medium-bodied palate sits on a razor's edge of concentration and weight, with floral and citrus-tinged fruit, fireworks of fresh acidity and the characteristic, silky smooth texture that's so impressive in the Sine Qua Non wines. This was bottled in June of 2022 and released in January of 2023. 1,650 cases and 600 magnums were made.
VM 96 (9/2023): The 2020 Grenache Distenta II is a dense, powerful wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, espresso, menthol, licorice and cloves hits the palate. This rich, heady Grenache delivers the goods. In a vintage that was so hard for Grenache, Elaine and Manfred Krankl found the way to craft a memorable wine. All this needs is time. Antonio Galloni. |
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2020 |
Distenta II Grenache |
$235 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2023): Tasted out of bottle, the 2020 Grenache Distenta II is total blockbuster stuff that's darker and richer than the 2021. Red and black fruits, white pepper, classy leather, and spicy baking chocolate-like nuances all define the aromatics, and it’s deep, full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, with gorgeous tannins and a great finish. The blend is 78% Grenache, 9% Mourvèdre, 8% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah (with a splash of Viognier), and it's going to knock your socks off any time over the coming 15+ years.
WA 97 (8/2023): I first tasted the Grenache Distenta II from bottle at the beginning of 2023. It has barely budged in the interim and feels expectant, its youthfully compact character waiting patiently to blossom. It comes from all four estate vineyards: Eleven Confessions (40%), Cumulus (33%), The Third Twin (21%) and Molly Aïda (6%). A blend of 77.9% Grenache, 9.4% Mourvèdre, 7.9% Syrah, 4.3% Petite Sirah and 0.5% Viognier, it was vinified using 29% whole clusters (mainly from Grenache) and matured for around 23 months in 52% new French oak of various sizes. Medium ruby in color, it takes plenty of time to unwind in the glass, segueing from streaks of coffee, peppercorn, garrigue and bresaola to a deep core of berry fruit. The medium-bodied palate sits on a razor's edge of concentration and weight, with floral and citrus-tinged fruit, fireworks of fresh acidity and the characteristic, silky smooth texture that's so impressive in the Sine Qua Non wines. This was bottled in June of 2022 and released in January of 2023. 1,650 cases and 600 magnums were made.
VM 96 (9/2023): The 2020 Grenache Distenta II is a dense, powerful wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, espresso, menthol, licorice and cloves hits the palate. This rich, heady Grenache delivers the goods. In a vintage that was so hard for Grenache, Elaine and Manfred Krankl found the way to craft a memorable wine. All this needs is time. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
Distenta III Grenache |
$215 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2024): Based around the Eleven Confessions Vineyard with inclusions from The Third Twin and Cumulus, the 2021 Grenache Distenta III includes 8.4% Syrah, 7.4% Mourvèdre, and 3.2% Petite Sirah with dollops of Petit Manseng and Muscat. The nose here is on the focused and precise side of the roster, driven by vibrant but ripe, extravagant red fruits and aromas of fennel, black pepper and underbrush with touches of alcoholic heat. The palate echoes this relative elegance with a rich yet energetic texture that leads to an herbal, initially latent and reticent finish that expands with further aeration. Again, as found throughout this roster, the wines are undeniably impressive and even admirable in their singular nature. Still, it is impossible to ignore the wine's intrusive alcoholic payload and how this affects its overall balance.
VM 96-99 (9/2023): The 2021 Grenache Distenta III is one of the most refined wines I have tasted from Sine Qua Non. Floral aromatics make a strong first impression. There's plenty of SQN richness, but also less overt opulence than most vintages. I tasted this from a tank sample just prior to bottling. The 2021 is simply magnificent. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
Distenta III Grenache |
$299 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2024): Based around the Eleven Confessions Vineyard with inclusions from The Third Twin and Cumulus, the 2021 Grenache Distenta III includes 8.4% Syrah, 7.4% Mourvèdre, and 3.2% Petite Sirah with dollops of Petit Manseng and Muscat. The nose here is on the focused and precise side of the roster, driven by vibrant but ripe, extravagant red fruits and aromas of fennel, black pepper and underbrush with touches of alcoholic heat. The palate echoes this relative elegance with a rich yet energetic texture that leads to an herbal, initially latent and reticent finish that expands with further aeration. Again, as found throughout this roster, the wines are undeniably impressive and even admirable in their singular nature. Still, it is impossible to ignore the wine's intrusive alcoholic payload and how this affects its overall balance.
VM 96-99 (9/2023): The 2021 Grenache Distenta III is one of the most refined wines I have tasted from Sine Qua Non. Floral aromatics make a strong first impression. There's plenty of SQN richness, but also less overt opulence than most vintages. I tasted this from a tank sample just prior to bottling. The 2021 is simply magnificent. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. Antonio Galloni. |
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2021 |
Distenta III Syrah |
$224 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 98 (8/2024): The 2021 Syrah Distenta III is another magnificent offering in this great vintage. A wine of penetrating depth and vibrancy, the 2021 explodes onto the palate with copious dark fruit, new leather, licorice and spice. It possesses statuesque energy and pedigree to burn. The Distenta III is one of my favorite recent SQN wines. The blend is 81.7% Syrah, 11.3% Grenache, 3.3% Mourvèdre, 2.1% Petite Sirah and 1.6% Muscat and Petit Manseng. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (8/2024): Just over half of the 2021 Syrah Distenta III was sourced from The Third Twin Vineyard, with roughly equal parts Cumulus and Eleven Confessions making up the balance. It includes 11.3% Grenache, 3.3% Mourvèdre, 2.1% Petite Sirah and small portions of Muscat and Petit Manseng. The nose is meaty and savory, showing aromas of cured meats, pepperoncini and barbecue smoke aromas melded with rich, creamy, toasty new oak aromas. The palate is extraordinarily extracted and powerful, filled to the brim with sumptuously sweet concentration, which cascades into the decadent, staining finish. Despite the immense power and flashiness here, it leaves something to be discovered, continuously unfurling in the glass while remaining generally balanced. Integrating its alcohol more effortlessly than its Grenache-based counterparts, this is a highlight of the Sine Qua Non lineup. |
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2019 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2023): The 2019 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is made up of 89.4% Grenache, 5.5% Syrah, 4.1% Petite Sirah and 1% Gelber Muskateller (a.k.a. Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains). It was crafted using 35% whole clusters, matured for around 39 months in 50% new French oak barrels and demi-muids and was bottled in January 2022. Deep ruby-purple in color, it takes significant time to open and is mostly coiled and shy on day one. On day two, its aromas unfurl: cherry pie and wild berry jam scents are layered with tones of cured meat, peppercorn, bergamot and wildflowers. The full-bodied palate is seamless and ultra powdery in texture, with balancing bursts of juicy acidity that highlight pretty spice and floral tones that fan across the long finish. It deserves generous cellar time and will be long lived. 922 cases and 240 magnums were made. |
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2020 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache |
$375 |
1 |
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| |
VM 98 (8/2024): Another stellar wine in this range, the 2020 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is every bit as compelling as it was from barrel. A wine of exquisite aromatic presence and nuance, the 2020 is all class. It shows all the natural richness that is such a signature here while retaining gorgeous, open-knit aromatics that resonate off a rich core of fruit. Raspberry and pomegranate open first, followed by exotic, tropical fruit accents that build in the glass. This is such a distinctive wine shaped by a touch of Gelber Muskateller in the blend that adds flair. The blend is 82% Grenache, 12.1% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah and 1.6% Gelber Muskateller, all from Eleven Confessions. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (8/2024): Supported by 13.1% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah, and 1.6% Gelber Muskateller, the 2020 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a barrel selection featuring the site's most concentrated blocks. It was fermented with 27% whole clusters and spent 38 months in 41% new French demi-muids. The nose is an opaque mixture of black fruits with aromas of tar, asphalt, espresso beans, touches of dried herbs and a slight menthol-tinged ethanol astringency. The texture is polished and perfectly composed around a decadent, concentrated core of juicy fruit-dominated flavors. The finish takes time to hit its stride, starting on a blocky, stunted note and gaining more dimension and length with time in the glass. With extended aeration, however, the ethanol notes of the nose become more prominent, revealing themselves on an increasingly spiritous finish, the presence of which diminishes my score. |
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2020 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache |
$395 |
3 |
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VM 98 (8/2024): Another stellar wine in this range, the 2020 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is every bit as compelling as it was from barrel. A wine of exquisite aromatic presence and nuance, the 2020 is all class. It shows all the natural richness that is such a signature here while retaining gorgeous, open-knit aromatics that resonate off a rich core of fruit. Raspberry and pomegranate open first, followed by exotic, tropical fruit accents that build in the glass. This is such a distinctive wine shaped by a touch of Gelber Muskateller in the blend that adds flair. The blend is 82% Grenache, 12.1% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah and 1.6% Gelber Muskateller, all from Eleven Confessions. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (8/2024): Supported by 13.1% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah, and 1.6% Gelber Muskateller, the 2020 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a barrel selection featuring the site's most concentrated blocks. It was fermented with 27% whole clusters and spent 38 months in 41% new French demi-muids. The nose is an opaque mixture of black fruits with aromas of tar, asphalt, espresso beans, touches of dried herbs and a slight menthol-tinged ethanol astringency. The texture is polished and perfectly composed around a decadent, concentrated core of juicy fruit-dominated flavors. The finish takes time to hit its stride, starting on a blocky, stunted note and gaining more dimension and length with time in the glass. With extended aeration, however, the ethanol notes of the nose become more prominent, revealing themselves on an increasingly spiritous finish, the presence of which diminishes my score. |
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2018 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$359 |
1 |
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| JD 100 (8/2022): The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is pure gold and Syrah doesn't get any better, no matter what region you're talking about. Incredible notes of ripe cherries, currants, ground black and white pepper, cured meats, and saddle leather all soar from the glass, and it's full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate. Opening up with time in the glass, it certainly offers pleasure today yet warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the Krankl family for another utterly magical wine. |
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2018 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$395 |
1 |
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| |
| JD 100 (8/2022): The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is pure gold and Syrah doesn't get any better, no matter what region you're talking about. Incredible notes of ripe cherries, currants, ground black and white pepper, cured meats, and saddle leather all soar from the glass, and it's full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate. Opening up with time in the glass, it certainly offers pleasure today yet warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the Krankl family for another utterly magical wine. |
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2018 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$435 |
2 |
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| JD 100 (8/2022): The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is pure gold and Syrah doesn't get any better, no matter what region you're talking about. Incredible notes of ripe cherries, currants, ground black and white pepper, cured meats, and saddle leather all soar from the glass, and it's full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate. Opening up with time in the glass, it certainly offers pleasure today yet warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the Krankl family for another utterly magical wine. |
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2019 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$299 |
2 |
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| |
| WA 99 (6/2023): The 2019 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is elegant and perfumed and includes 13.1% Grenache, 3.3% Petite Sirah and just a splash—0.8%—each of Viognier and Muskateller (a.k.a Muscat). It was crafted with 13% whole clusters, matured in 66% new French oak for around 39 months and was bottled in January 2022. This gorgeous Syrah opens over several days and never seems to diminish. It offers pure aromas of crème de cassis, tar, salami and ringing tones of violet. The full-bodied palate is incredibly velvety in texture, and despite its concentration and powerful style, it manages noticeable freshness and detail, with that magical violet perfume echoing across the long finish. This will develop gracefully in the cellar over the next two decades or more. 968 cases and 240 magnums were made. |
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2019 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah (1.5 L) |
$749 |
1 |
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| WA 99 (6/2023): The 2019 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is elegant and perfumed and includes 13.1% Grenache, 3.3% Petite Sirah and just a splash—0.8%—each of Viognier and Muskateller (a.k.a Muscat). It was crafted with 13% whole clusters, matured in 66% new French oak for around 39 months and was bottled in January 2022. This gorgeous Syrah opens over several days and never seems to diminish. It offers pure aromas of crème de cassis, tar, salami and ringing tones of violet. The full-bodied palate is incredibly velvety in texture, and despite its concentration and powerful style, it manages noticeable freshness and detail, with that magical violet perfume echoing across the long finish. This will develop gracefully in the cellar over the next two decades or more. 968 cases and 240 magnums were made. |
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2020 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$350 |
5 |
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VM 98 (8/2024): The 2020 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a dark, exotic beauty. Rich, sumptuous and layered in the glass, the 2020 is classic Sine Qua Non from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint, building into a stunning crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures. What a wine. The blend is 84% Syrah, 11.5% Grenache, 2.3% Petite Sirah and 2.2% Viognier and Golden Muskateller. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (8/2024): Fermented with 25% whole clusters and aged for 38 months in 58% new French oak, the 2020 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard contains 11.5% Grenache, 2.3% Petite Sirah and a combined 2.2% of Gelber Muskateller and Viognier. The nose is a deep, nearly impenetrable mixture of opaque fruits, chocolate cake, tar and subtle hints of savory, meaty complexity. The palate is luxurious and highly polished, with seemingly endless concentration that somehow escalates with time in the glass. The finish is expectedly thunderous, laden with gigantic dark fruit flavors flanked with exotic spice accents, vitamin-tinged acidity and rich, swelling tannins. This wine is impressive in its scope, and I have no doubt that fans of this style will find more than enough to love, but it is ultimately so sumptuous as to appear monotonous. |
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2020 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$385 |
3 |
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VM 98 (8/2024): The 2020 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a dark, exotic beauty. Rich, sumptuous and layered in the glass, the 2020 is classic Sine Qua Non from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint, building into a stunning crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures. What a wine. The blend is 84% Syrah, 11.5% Grenache, 2.3% Petite Sirah and 2.2% Viognier and Golden Muskateller. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (8/2024): Fermented with 25% whole clusters and aged for 38 months in 58% new French oak, the 2020 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard contains 11.5% Grenache, 2.3% Petite Sirah and a combined 2.2% of Gelber Muskateller and Viognier. The nose is a deep, nearly impenetrable mixture of opaque fruits, chocolate cake, tar and subtle hints of savory, meaty complexity. The palate is luxurious and highly polished, with seemingly endless concentration that somehow escalates with time in the glass. The finish is expectedly thunderous, laden with gigantic dark fruit flavors flanked with exotic spice accents, vitamin-tinged acidity and rich, swelling tannins. This wine is impressive in its scope, and I have no doubt that fans of this style will find more than enough to love, but it is ultimately so sumptuous as to appear monotonous. |
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2006 |
In the Crosshairs Grenache (1.5 L) |
$1,700 |
1 |
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WA 99 (8/2010): The extended barrel aged Grenache, the 2006 In the Crosshairs, will be released in a few months. A blend of 84% Grenache, 12% Syrah, and 4% Viognier from the estate's 11 Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills, this cuvee was aged completely in French oak, many of the barrels being demi-muids. It spent 32 months in wood, which goes against nearly every conventional rule about how Grenache reacts to wood. This contrarian notion is the genius of Krankl. An extraordinary wine, it may turn out to be his greatest Grenache since the 2000 Incognito (a wine that is currently at a magical maturity point). No shy wine at 16.3% alcohol (similar to a top-notch Chateauneuf du Pape), it exhibits a deep plum/ruby/purple color as well as a luxurious bouquet of raspberry jam, kirsch liqueur, lavender, licorice, and spice box. Full-bodied and sumptuously textured with stunning power as well as elegance, this hedonistic and intellectual turn-on should rock and roll (or is it Rock and Rhone?) for another 10-15 years.
VM 96 (12/2010): (includes 12% syrah and 4% viognier) Opaque ruby. A wild bouquet exudes scents of candied red and dark berries, incense, smoked meat and black olive. I'd have guessed that there was a lot more syrah in here. Lush and palate-coating black raspberry and boysenberry flavors are lifted by zesty acidity and complemented by exotic floral pastille and spice flavors. Strikes an impressive balance of richness and vivacity and finishes with Outstanding clarity and smoky, spicy persistence. With air some fine-grained tannins peeked out, but this is really a wall of seductive fruit, floral and spice qualities. |
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2004 |
Ode to E Grenache |
$675 |
1 |
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WA 100 (6/2014): Leading off with the Grenache-driven efforts, and easily the greatest expression of the variety I’ve ever tasted from California, the 2004 Ode to E (Grenache) is mind-blowing stuff that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made. Coming from Manfred’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and comprised of 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, it sports a still vibrant purple color to go with off-the-hook aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoked herbs and assorted meaty nuances. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with incredible purity and a perfect texture, it can be consumed anytime over the coming decade.
VM 97 (8/2015): The 2004 Grenache Ode to E is absolutely stellar. There's not too much more to say. Still young, fresh and vibrant, the 2004 is incredibly impressive. Exotic spice, rose petals, raspberry jam all open up in an effortless, nuanced wine bursting at the seams with personality. Exquisitely nuanced and balanced, the 2004 is a gem. Readers who own the 2004 should be thrilled; as it is a magnificent wine by any measure. My favorite age to drink Sine Qua Non wines is around ten years. The Ode to E Grenache delivers the goods, and then some. The blend is 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, all from Eleven Confessions. Antonio Galloni. |
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2004 |
Ode to E Grenache (1.5 L) |
$1,500 |
1 |
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WA 100 (6/2014): Leading off with the Grenache-driven efforts, and easily the greatest expression of the variety I’ve ever tasted from California, the 2004 Ode to E (Grenache) is mind-blowing stuff that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made. Coming from Manfred’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and comprised of 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, it sports a still vibrant purple color to go with off-the-hook aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoked herbs and assorted meaty nuances. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with incredible purity and a perfect texture, it can be consumed anytime over the coming decade.
VM 97 (8/2015): The 2004 Grenache Ode to E is absolutely stellar. There's not too much more to say. Still young, fresh and vibrant, the 2004 is incredibly impressive. Exotic spice, rose petals, raspberry jam all open up in an effortless, nuanced wine bursting at the seams with personality. Exquisitely nuanced and balanced, the 2004 is a gem. Readers who own the 2004 should be thrilled; as it is a magnificent wine by any measure. My favorite age to drink Sine Qua Non wines is around ten years. The Ode to E Grenache delivers the goods, and then some. The blend is 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, all from Eleven Confessions. Antonio Galloni. |
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2011 |
Patine Grenache |
$275 |
1 |
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WA 97 (8/2015): Coming all from Manfred's Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and a blend of 77% Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier (fermented with 25% whole clusters), the 2011 Grenache Patine spent a full 33 months in almost all neutral oak, with just 11% being new. It offers perfumed and spice-laced notes of white pepper, black raspberry, blackberry and ground herbs that flow to a full-bodied, elegant, nicely concentrated 2011 that has nicely integrated acidity, no hard edges and a terrific finish. It's certainly one of the fresher, more elegant Grenaches from Manfred, yet it still has rocking levels of fruit. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy bottles over the following decade.
VM 97 (8/2015): The 2011 Grenache Patine has turned out beautifully. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, spice and leather meld together in the glass as this savory, beautifully layered wine opens up. Herb, graphite, smoke, sage and tobacco add shades of nuance in a delineated Grenache that captures the best of this cool, late-ripening year. Patine is 77% Grenache, 22% Syra and 1% Viognier, all from Eleven Confessions, done with 25% whole clusters and aged for 33 months in French oak barrels, 11% new. |
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2007 |
Pictures Grenache (1.5 L) |
$650 |
1 |
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WA 97 (8/2011): A blend of 87% Grenache, 11.5% Syrah, and 1.5% Viognier, this wine has wonderful floral notes intermixed with black raspberries, black cherries, licorice, graphite and some camphor. In the mouth, more white chocolate notes appear, along with meatiness and some silky tannins. Its great purity, density and richness make me think this wine could even improve a few points and flirt with perfection. This stunning wine should drink nicely for another 10-15 years.
VM 95 (11/2010): (87% grenache, 11.5% syrah and 1.5% viognier) Deep, bright ruby. Wild aromas of black raspberry compote, mocha, Asian spices and incense. Expansive and deeply concentrated, with obvious sweetness to its very intense red fruit, floral and spicecake flavors. Shows real spine and Outstanding finesse for a rich wine. Finishes vibrant and extremely long, with great spicy perfume. Josh Raynolds.
WS 91 (6/2010): Intense, vibrant and full-bodied, with tightly wound wild berry, black cherry, pepper, spice and cedar flavors that are pure and focused, long and persistent. Drink now through 2016. 764 cases made. |
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2014 |
Piranha Waterdance Syrah |
$329 |
7 |
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WA 100 (9/2017): Blended of 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1% Graciano, sourced from 34% The Third Twin, 35% Eleven Confessions and 31% Cumulus (all estate vineyards), the provocative, inky purple colored 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance was made using 26% whole cluster and hits the scent scene with exuberant, pure crème de cassis, blackberry cordial and blueberry coulis notes with hints of espresso, licorice, garrigue and menthol, plus a gorgeous underlying perfume of red roses. The full-bodied palate is oh-so-elegant and pretty, revealing very finely pixelated tannins that beautifully frame the almost electric intensity, culminating in an epically long, licorice and chocolate-laced finish. Too stunning for mere words and rude to even try-just drink it. 1,839 cases and 600 magnums were produced.
VM 95-97 (9/2016): A striking, vibrant wine, the 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance is beautifully focused and energetic from start to finish. Plum, blueberry, lavender, mint, violet and sweet spices all take shape in the glass. This is an especially nuanced, sculpted Syrah long on class and personality. There is so much to like here. The 2014 is 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and % Graciano, done with 26% whole clusters, all from Sine Qua Non's estate vineyards: 35% Eleven Confessions, 34% Third Twin and 31% Cumulus. Antonio Galloni.
WS 94 (9/2017): Rich, ripe and powerfully built, with deep and expressive smoky beef, cracked pepper and currant flavors that charge like a bull toward big but polished tannins. Best from 2019 through 2025. 1,800 cases made. |
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2014 |
Piranha Waterdance Syrah (1.5 L) |
$695 |
1 |
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WA 100 (9/2017): Blended of 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1% Graciano, sourced from 34% The Third Twin, 35% Eleven Confessions and 31% Cumulus (all estate vineyards), the provocative, inky purple colored 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance was made using 26% whole cluster and hits the scent scene with exuberant, pure crème de cassis, blackberry cordial and blueberry coulis notes with hints of espresso, licorice, garrigue and menthol, plus a gorgeous underlying perfume of red roses. The full-bodied palate is oh-so-elegant and pretty, revealing very finely pixelated tannins that beautifully frame the almost electric intensity, culminating in an epically long, licorice and chocolate-laced finish. Too stunning for mere words and rude to even try-just drink it. 1,839 cases and 600 magnums were produced.
VM 95-97 (9/2016): A striking, vibrant wine, the 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance is beautifully focused and energetic from start to finish. Plum, blueberry, lavender, mint, violet and sweet spices all take shape in the glass. This is an especially nuanced, sculpted Syrah long on class and personality. There is so much to like here. The 2014 is 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and % Graciano, done with 26% whole clusters, all from Sine Qua Non's estate vineyards: 35% Eleven Confessions, 34% Third Twin and 31% Cumulus. Antonio Galloni.
WS 94 (9/2017): Rich, ripe and powerfully built, with deep and expressive smoky beef, cracked pepper and currant flavors that charge like a bull toward big but polished tannins. Best from 2019 through 2025. 1,800 cases made. |
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2018 |
Profuga Grenache |
$229 |
6 |
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JD 98 (8/2021): Tasted out of bottle, the 2018 Grenache Profuga is firmer and more focused than the 2019 and has deep, layered, full-bodied style as well as ample pepper, iron, and herbes de Provence like nuances all grounded by a massive core of cassis, kirsch, and assorted berry fruits. The 2018s from this estate are brilliant across the board and shine for their purity, focus, and precision, and this beauty is going to benefit from a few years of bottle age and keep for 15+. The blend is 77.5% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 8.3% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah and Viognier that saw 41% stems and 23 months in 37% new French oak.
WA 98 (8/2021): The 2018 Grenache Profuga is composed of 77.5% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 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, the white berries are 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. It was bottled on July 29, 2020.
VM 95-97 (8/2020): The 2018 Grenache Profuga is glorious. Sweet, nuanced and exquisitely perfumed, the 2018 possesses terrific energy and plenty of verve. A rush of ripe red/purplish berry fruit, mint, blood orange, pomegranate and cinnamon races out of the glass, with silky, polished tannins that give the wine so much pure immediacy. Readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. The blend is 77.5% Grenache, 10.0% Mourvèdre, 8.3% Syrah, 3.3% Petite Sirah and 0.9% Viognier taken from Cumulus, The Third Twin Estate Vineyard, Eleven Confessions and Bien Nacido which makes it nearly a pure estate wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Ratsel Syrah |
$249 |
1 |
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WA 96+ (8/2018): 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.
JD 96-99 (10/2018): A not yet bottled blend of 81% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 5% Petite Sirah, and the rest Viognier and Grenache, fermented with 47% whole clusters, the 2016 Syrah Rätsel 16 is an inky colored beauty that has another level of depth and richness over the 2015. Black raspberries, cassis, white pepper, white chocolate, and hints of bacon fat give way to a full-bodied, seamless, elegant wine that has terrific freshness and purity, ultra-fine tannin, and a huge finish. Not too dissimilar from the 2014s, which have the same supple, sexy, and approachable style, it should drink reasonably well right out of the gate and cruise for 15-20 years in cool cellars.
VM 95-97 (9/2018): The 2016 Syrah No Name Yet is another wine that shows just how fabulous the 2016 vintage is. Powerful, dense and resonant, the 2016 is a wonderfully complete wine. Hints of smoke, tobacco and grilled herbs are woven throughout a core of inky dark fruit, but it is the wine's total sense of balance and harmony that I keep coming back to. The 2016 is going to need at least a few years to come into its own, but it is a stunningly beautiful wine. Dollops of Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Viognier round out the blend. The 2016 was done with 47% whole clusters and will see about 47% new French, but none of that really matters when sitting in front of this gorgeous and moving Syrah from Elaine and Manfred Krankl. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Shakti Grenache (1.5 L) |
$725 |
1 |
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JD 97 (8/2017): One of the more elegant, ethereal releases from this incredible address, the 2014 Grenache Shakti checks in as blend of 88% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Petite Sirah and the rest Touriga Nacional that was fermented with 42% whole clusters and aged 21 months in just 6% new French oak, with the balance in neutral barrels. Its ruby/purple semi-opaque color is followed by a thrilling bouquet of black raspberries, black olive tapenade, leafy herbs, pepper and spring flowers. It’s not a small wine by any measure, yet it’s graceful, lively and elegant on the palate, with a full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet, polished tannin, no hard edges and a gorgeous finish. Drink this beautiful Grenache anytime over the coming 15+ years. I loved the 2013s from Manfred Krankl, and these are reminiscent of the 2010s (as are the 2015s). The 2014s are more plush and sexy, with a forward style that’s already impossible to resist. The 2015 reds were all tasted as barrel samples, and these show the firm, structured style of the vintage and I suspect are going to require bottle age to show at their best. I’ve also included the “The Third Twin” releases here, and it, like the Next Of Kyn releases, are released under a separate label and focus on the estate The Third Twin vineyard located outside of Los Alamos.
VM 95-96 (9/2016): The 2014 Grenache Shakti wraps around the palate with sumptuous fruit. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, spice and new leather flesh out as this totally seductive Grenache from Sine Qua Non. Striking aromatics, super-expressive, bright fruit and silky tannins are some of the signatures in a delicious, delicate Grenache that is totally alluring. I suppose the 2014 is not the most structured or complex Grenache ever from Sine Qua Non, but it is a total pleasure bomb. The blend is 88% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Touriga Nacional, done with 42% whole clusters. Vineyard sites are 51% Cumulus, 21.5% Eleven Confessions, 18% Third Twin and 9.5% Bien Nacido. I tasted the 2014 from tank just prior to bottling. Antonio Galloni.
WS 90 (7/2017): Dark and brooding, this showcases ripeness and intensity, offering notes of licorice, smoky pepper, beef and dried currant. Tannins frame the finish. Drink now through 2023. 1,150 cases made. |
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2010 |
Stockholm Syndrome Grenache |
$850 |
1 |
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WA 100 (8/2014): The current release of the estate vineyard (a.k.a. the extended barrel-aged cuvee), the 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome is an incredible effort that I couldn’t find a fault with. A blend of 75% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 2% Roussanne and 1% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confession Vineyard, it spent just under 30 months in 22% new and 78% used French oak prior to bottling. Locked and loaded, it knocks it out of the park with its cassis, licorice, smoked duck, spice-box and exotic herb-styled bouquet. The palate follows suit and while it has the expected depth and richness of the estate, it’s seamless, elegant and lively, with perfect balance, ultra-fine tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. It doesn’t get any better and count yourself lucky if you can latch onto a couple of these. It will thrill for 15-20 years.
VM 96 (7/2014): The 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome has an explosive energy to it that takes hold of the senses and never lets up. A distinctly dark side of Grenache comes through in an intense, opulent, full-throttle wine endowed with superb intensity and tons of fruit. Hints of over ripeness appear, especially on the finish, but that isn't enough to detract from the pure pleasure the 2010 delivers.
VM 94 (12/2013): (made from fruit grown in the Krankl's Eleven Confessions vineyard; 75% grenache, 22% syrah, 2% viognier and 1% roussanne; 15.7% alcohol): Brilliant ruby. Vibrant aromas of fresh blueberry, smoky Indian spices and minerals, with a sexy floral overtone. Then rich and pliant in the mouth, with sappy blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that come off surprisingly lithe for the wine's power. Finishes spicy and very long, with fine-grained tannins fading into the wine's plush fruit. |
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2005 |
Strapless Rose |
$1,450 |
1 |
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2014 |
Testa dei Cherubini Grenache (3.0 L) |
$2,900 |
1 |
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JD 99 (10/2018): As with the extended aged Syrah release, the 2014 Grenache Testa Dei Cherubini (80% Grenache, 15.5% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah and Viognier) comes all from the estate Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and spent just under 38 months in 25% new French oak, with the balance in neutral barrels (varying sizes). Layers of black raspberry, cassis, white chocolate, white flowers, and Asian spices flow to a full-bodied, supple, powerful Grenache that has silky, silky tannins, a seamless texture, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s already approachable, yet in my experience, this extended elevage results in a very stable wine, and I suspect this beauty will have another two decades of longevity.
WA 98+ (8/2018): 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'Heresie 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. The blend includes 15.5% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah and a tiny 0.5% of Viognier, and 895 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were produced.
VM 98 (9/2018): The 2014 Grenache Testa dei Cherubini, from Sine Qua Non's Eleven Confessions vineyard, is positively explosive on the palate. Even so, the 2014 is precise and beautifully delineated, with striking nuance and terrific freshness to balance things out. The blend is 80% Grenache, 15.5% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah and 0.5% Viognier that spent 38 months in 600-liter French oak barrels. Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
The Working Man Syrah |
$399 |
4 |
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2012 |
The Writing on the Wall Petite Sirah (1.5 L) |
$4,495 |
1 |
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VM 98 (8/2015): The 2012 Petite Sirah The Writing on the Wall is beyond beautiful. Wonderfully delineated and nuanced, with none of the edginess or rusticity Petite often shows, The Writing on the Wall is a real stunner. Bold red cherry, pomegranate, spice and sweet floral notes are all underpinned by veins of acidity and tannin that give the wine its freshness and polish. The 2012 is 94% Petite Sirah and 6% Viognier, done with fully destemmed fruit and aged for 23 months in French oak, 20% new. Vineyard sources are 80% Third Twin, 14% Cumulus and 6% Eleven Confessions. Manfred and Elaine Krankl take Petite Sirah into a whole new realm. Unfortunately, The Writing on the Wall is also one of the rarest wines Sine Qua Non has ever made. Just 350 magnums were sold, all of them in the Sine Qua Non art label book box set. That is a real shame, as most readers will never have a chance to experience just how moving the 2012s is. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97-100 (8/2014): The 2012 Petite Sirah The Writing on the Wall should be the greatest Petite Sirah to ever come out of California (or the world?). Made from 94% Petite Sirah and 6% Viognier and aged in 80% old hogsheads and 20% in new French oak, it’s bottled only in magnum and will be sold along with the new Sine Qua Non label art book. A massive, full-bodied effort that offers incredible depth and richness without ever seeming heavy or cumbersome, it offers up blockbuster-styled aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, crushed rocks, beef blood and licorice. It should age for decades. |
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| | USA White |
| Sine Qua Non |
2021 |
Distenta III White Wine |
$209 |
2 |
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WA 93 (8/2024): The 2021 White Wine Distenta III blends 33% Chardonnay, 27% Viognier, 24% Gelber Muskateller, 12% Roussanne and 4% Petit Manseng, the latter pair co-fermented. It hails mainly from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, with inclusions from The Third Twin and Cumulus. It spent 23 months in 52% new French puncheon and demi-muids. The nose is extremely floral and exuberant, with honeyed, exotic aromas of stone fruit, citrus oil, pine needles, mint and noticeable alcohol after increased aeration. The palate is weighty and oily, centered around a decedent core of polished stone fruit flavors underpinned by tangy acidity. The finish is texturally clean and focused but gradually develops to reveal distracting, spirituous sensations.
VM 94 (8/2024): The 2021 White Wine Distenta III is a wild, exotic white. Ginger, passion fruit, spice and lemon confit are all woven together in the glass. Extended lees-stirring of 8-12 months really builds texture. The 2021 is rich and creamy but not at all heavy. Intensely perfumed overtones extend the finish. The Distenta III is a gorgeous wine in every way. The blend is 33% Chardonnay, 27% Viognier, 24% Gelber Muskateller, 12% Roussanne and 4% Petit Manseng. This is the first vintage with a high percentage of Muscat, an approach that is so successful here. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Entre Chien et Loup White Wine |
$225 |
4 |
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WA 97+ (9/2017): The 2015 Entre Chien et Loup is a blend of 44% Chardonnay, 40% Roussanne, 8% Petit Manseng and 8% Viognier coming 44% from Bien Nacido Vineyard, 30% from the Cumulus (Estate) Vineyard and 26% from the Eleven Confessions (Estate) Vineyard. No settling was done to the juices—they were fermented as “dirty” as possible and, as usual, they were not racked. This wine was matured for around 19 months (bottled April 12, 2017), in: 19% concrete eggs, 20% stainless steel, 20% used barrels and 41% new French oak. It opens with a positively electric nose of ripe apricots, pink grapefruit and green mango with notions of candied ginger, honeycomb, allspice and baking bread. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a wonderfully satiny texture and incredible freshness, cutting through the dense tropical and stone fruit layers, finishing with epic length and many layers of savory and spice notions. By the way, I love the name of this wine and just wait until you see the label which, I’m happy to report, has already (somehow) been given the all-clear by the TTB. 811 cases were made. Drinking deliciously right now, it is built like a brick house and should cellar gracefully for 10-12 years+.
JD 97 (8/2017): As good, if not better than the 2014 white, the 2015 White Wine Entre Chien et Loup (which translates to between a dog and wolf, but is a French saying referring to dusk/twilight) checks in as a blend of 44% Chardonnay, 40% Roussanne, 8% Petite Manseng and 8% Viognier, raised in a combination of concrete eggs, stainless steel, used barrels and new French oak (varying sizes). The Chardonnay dominates on the nose which shows terrific buttered citrus, stone fruits, marzipan and brioche nuances. These carry over to the palate where the wine is full-bodied, thrillingly concentrated and textured, with bright, even racy acidity. Give this beauty a few years, and it’s going to keep for two decades or more.
VM 94 (9/2017): The 2015 White Wine Lightmotif opens with a huge nose of apricot, peach pit, honey, chamomile and herbs. Ample and luscious on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2015 is terrific today, even though it is still recovering from its recent bottling. I would give it a few years to settle down. The Sine Qua Non whites always need time in bottle, and that is very much the case here as well. In 2015, the low yields produced a white that is quite intense, even by Sine Qua Non standards. The blend is 40% Chardonnay, 40% Roussanne, 8% Petite Manseng and 8% Viognier. Antonio Galloni. |
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1999 |
Mr. K The Ice Man Gewurztraminer (375 ML) |
$299 |
2 |
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2001 |
Mr. K The Ice Man Gewurztraminer (375 ML) |
$299 |
1 |
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2001 |
Mr. K The Noble Man Chardonnay (375 ML) |
$159 |
1 |
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WA 97 (8/2004): While richer, sweeter, and more unctuous than the Iceman, 2001 Mr. K The Noble Man (Chardonnay), a Trockenbeerenauslese look-alike, possesses nervy, vibrant acidity that is hard to imagine in a wine of this mass and richness. The residual sugar is 255 grams per liter, with an amazing 11.1 grams per liter of acidity, and 11.7% finished alcohol.
VM 94-95 (8/2005): (for 375 ml.; made from air-dried grapes from Alban Vineyard; 350 grams per liter of r.s., 12.8 grams of acidity and 7.8% alcohol) Deep orange-gold. Aromas of orange peel, clove, menthol and white raisin, with a whiff of Benedictine. Thick and spicy but less glyceral than the chardonnay owing to its huge acidity. And yet I find this less bright than the chardonnay. flavors dominated by the cherry/almond/marzipan family, with hints of honey, raisin, caramel and nuts. Finishes extremely long, with saline and white raisin hints. |
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2005 |
Mr. K The Noble Man Chardonnay (375 ML) |
$175 |
1 |
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| WA 98 (6/2008): Made from 100% Chardonnay from the Alban Vineyard, the 2005 Mr. K. The Nobleman possesses 235 grams of residual sugar per liter as well as exceptional acid levels. This incredibly rich, sweet white is almost like the Quintessence bottlings from Alsace’s Domaine Weinbach. Its mind-boggling purity, balance, intensity, and sweetness are balanced by the wine’s zesty acidity. An amazing achievement fashioned from 100% botrytised fruit, it will keep for 20 or more years. |
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2006 |
Mr. K The Noble Man Chardonnay (375 ML) |
$179 |
1 |
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WA 95 (8/2009): The 2006 Mr. K. The Nobleman Chardonnay (200 grams of residual sugar per liter) reveals phenomenal fresh, lively acidity as well as wonderful honeyed peach, marmalade, tropical fruit, and creme brulee characteristics. It is a Trockenbeerenauslese-styled wine that is a fitting tribute to the effusive and much revered Alois Kracher.
VM 94 (12/2009): (200 grams per liter residual sugar with 10.2 g/l (!) acidity) Bronze-gold color. Smoky pit fruit and orange marmalade aromas are complemented by spicecake and white pepper. Deep, sweet and creamy in texture, offering weighty pit fruit liqueur flavors and mounting spiciness. Clings to the palate with impressive sweetness but the overall impression is of spice and energy. |
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2006 |
Mr. K The Noble Man Chardonnay (375 ML) Cracked Wax Capsule |
$179 |
1 |
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WA 95 (8/2009): The 2006 Mr. K. The Nobleman Chardonnay (200 grams of residual sugar per liter) reveals phenomenal fresh, lively acidity as well as wonderful honeyed peach, marmalade, tropical fruit, and creme brulee characteristics. It is a Trockenbeerenauslese-styled wine that is a fitting tribute to the effusive and much revered Alois Kracher.
VM 94 (12/2009): (200 grams per liter residual sugar with 10.2 g/l (!) acidity) Bronze-gold color. Smoky pit fruit and orange marmalade aromas are complemented by spicecake and white pepper. Deep, sweet and creamy in texture, offering weighty pit fruit liqueur flavors and mounting spiciness. Clings to the palate with impressive sweetness but the overall impression is of spice and energy. |
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1999 |
Tarantella Proprietary Blend White Wax Capsule |
$487.50 |
1 |
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WA 95 (2/2002): Krankl's 1999 Tarantella is one of the finest white wines he has made. It possesses Outstanding underlying acidity, a terrific, citrusy, honeyed perfume (flower, mango, and tangerine aromas dominate) that roars from the glass, full body, and brilliant balance. Given past examples of this blend of Roussanne, Viognier, and Chardonnay, the 1999 should age nicely for 7-8 years.
VM 92 (12/2001): Slightly hazy pale gold color. Captivating, soil-inflected, but rather restrained nose combines gunflint, nuts, smoke and stone. Then wonderfully aromatic, rich and vibrant in the mouth, with intense yellow fruits and musky, leesy and mineral nuances. Thick but utterly succulent thanks to lively, perfectly integrated acids. Long, palate-saturating finish. Potentially Manfred Krankl's best dry white wine since his 1995 The Bride. |
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2001 |
Vin de Paille Inamorata (375 ML) |
$415 |
1 |
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WA 98 (6/2005): There is one barrel of the Sine Qua Non cuvee, the 2001 Vin de Paille Inamorata, which spent 42 months in oak, resulting in 350 grams per liter of residual sugar, and a whopping 12.8 grams per liter of acidity. Tasting notes are inadequate to describe this profound sweet 100% Roussanne. A medium amber color is accompanied by a honeyed perfume revealing scents of marmalade, espresso, maple syrup, and flowers. Unctuously-textured yet incredibly fresh and lively (because of high acidity), this phenomenal wine should age effortlessly. Amazingly, the alcohol is only 7.8%. The fruit was air-dried on straw mats for over a month prior to pressing.
VM 94-95 (7/2005): (for 375 ml.; made from air-dried grapes from Alban Vineyard; 350 grams per liter of r.s., 12.8 grams of acidity and 7.8% alcohol) Deep orange-gold. Aromas of orange peel, clove, menthol and white raisin, with a whiff of Benedictine. Thick and spicy but less glyceral than the chardonnay owing to its huge acidity. And yet I find this less bright than the chardonnay. flavors dominated by the cherry/almond/marzipan family, with hints of honey, raisin, caramel and nuts. Finishes extremely long, with saline and white raisin hints. Stephen Tanzer. |
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