Sine Qua Non California Cult Rhone Tasting Saturday, March 21st 7:30 PM and all the Sine Qua Non in the store on SALE!!

"I think it is a great error to consider a heavy tax on wines as a tax on luxury.  On the contrary, it is a tax on the health of our citizens." - Thomas Jefferson

If only a modern-day politician could contribute as much to the quality of our life as the late great Thomas Jefferson.  He was one of the first advocates of wine in the United States and he is one of the reasons why we have the greatest selection of wines from all around the world in the U.S. today.  So, remember...no matter how bad it gets, we still have great wines here in the U.S. of A.

In a few weeks we will be continuing the party with some GREAT wines from the U.S.A…. I need a few good men or women to help me drink some really fine wine on this occasion- our annual Sine Qua Non California Cult Rhone wine tasting.

What makes a "cult wine"? Do the producers pick the grapes at night under the full moon? Do they make it under a secret oath or while sacrificing a small farm animal? These ultra expensive, hard to find wines from California, Oregon and Washington State just have more customers than they do bottles to go around.  The simplest factor in the economy kicks in with these wines, good old supply and demand.  

This evening you can taste 10 different wines from Sine Qua Non for less than the cost of a single bottle in most cases!  And the price of this event includes dinner and gratuity!!  The fee for this tasting is $395 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Sine Qua Non California Cult Rhone Tasting

Saturday, March 21st

7:30 PM

2022 Sine Qua Non Distenta IV White California

2017 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Grenache

2017 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Syrah

2018 Sine Qua Non Grenache Profuga California

2019 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Grenache California

2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Grenache California USA

2021 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Sta Rita Hills

2021 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah, Sta Rita Hills

2022 Sine Qua Non Distenta IV Grenache California

2023 Sine Qua Non Distenta V Syrah, 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

Colorado Rack of Lamb with Mongolian BBQ and Sweet Potato Au Gratin

Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee with Raspberry Coulis

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $395 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.  Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have issues and chefs Toni and Dani will be happy to accommodate you.

A bit about Sine Qua Non from their web page:

"an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary."

Our wines were born of pure passion and a wishful dream – to make something that is so distinctive and so delicious as to make it indispensable to wine lovers the world over. Clearly a rather lofty, even unrealistic notion, but one we decided to pursue anyway. And so with the 1994 vintage  started Sine Qua Non, made a whopping four and a half barrels of Syrah that we called “Queen of Spades.”

That first wine was a much greater hit than we could have ever imagined and it literally changed our life. What started as a hobby, more or less on a whim, has become not only our full time occupation, but indeed our life. It is now a part of just about everything we do.

These first four and a half barrels have grown into four different vineyard sites (see our Vineyards section please), a good number of wonderfully dedicated and hard working employees, a new winery building and a simply amazing number of loyal wine lovers the world over. In fact there are so very many lovely folks interested in our wines that we don’t have enough to go around and instead had to create something as annoying as a waiting list.

We are humbled by all the positive feedback we continuously receive by people like you as well as critics and journalists from all corners of the earth. We take that as our mandate to forever strive to get better, to never compromise and to stay true to ourselves and by extension to all those who have supported us and believed in us since those first 100+ cases of wine left our cellar…now so many years ago.

Although at heart we are a Rhone (Ranger) house where Syrah and Grenache play top fiddle… supported by Mourvedre, Rousanne and Viognier, we have an aversion to labels and dogmas or mindless ritual that are sometimes called tradition. And so we also grow non-Rhone-origin grapes such as Petite Manseng, Touriga Nacional, Graciano and Petite Sirah. Varieties we believe can work well on a Rhone canvas.

We are not working on a grape growing or winemaking THESIS. Instead we want all of our efforts to be reflected in every glass of SQN. And so our goal has been and always will be to understand Mother Nature’s often oblique ways and (re)act accordingly so that we may create wines that express all that Nature has so generously given us. And all that this beautifully warm and sunny place called California has to offer. Wines that speak to the heart and the mind both. Wines that are ripe and flavorful, but also graceful and balanced. Wines  that are perfectly enjoyable and delicious young, but  that will age and show a new and interesting personality with each passing year. Wines that surprise with each sip and where the last drop – not the first sip – was the best one. Wines that make you smile and happy and appreciate all that is lovely.

Wines that make you sense they were crafted by people who loved making them.

With that we hope you’ll join our vinous family and thanks again for looking us up.

In vino veritas,

Elaine & Manfred Krankl

All the Sine Qua Non in the store on SALE!!

2022 Sine Qua Non Distenta IV White California

Price: $250.00                              Quantity in Stock: 2

(98 Points) The 2022 White Wine Distenta IV is a blend of 32% Roussanne, 30% Gelber Muskateller, 15% Chardonnay, 13% Petit Manseng, and the rest Viognier, aged 22.5 months in 75% new French oak. Medium gold in color, it offers blockbuster aromas of honeyed pineapple, orange marmalade, flower oil, and blanched almond. Full-bodied, deep, and opulent on the palate, it has a layered, powerful mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It comes closest in style to a great Hermitage from Le Méal yet carries an exotic quality that makes it truly singular. Drink 2025-2035.  -Jeb Dunnuck (Sep 2025)

2022 Sine Qua Non Distenta IV Grenache California

Price: $285.00                              Your Price: $250.80                           Quantity in Stock: 2

(98 Points)  "Because my visit was scheduled for July 6, just two weeks after bottling on June 22, I tasted the Sine Qua Non Grenache Distenta III as a precise blend from barrel. It comes mostly from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard (71%) and The Third Twin (23%) with the balance from the Cumulus Vineyard. It is a blend of 79% Grenache, 8.4% Syrah, 7.4% Mourvèdre, 3.2% Petite Sirah, 1.6% Petit Manseng and 0.4% Muscat. The Distenta III was vinified using about 35% whole Grenache clusters, and it matured in 42% new French oak of various sizes for around 23 months. It has a medium to deep ruby color and is incredibly fragrant at this stage. Wild berry jam aromas are accented by tones of wildflower, tar, tangerine and coffee beans. The full-bodied palate is concentrated yet lively, bursting with crunchy, floral fruit and surprisingly energetic acidity. It has detailed, grainy tannins and a long, lifted finish that wears its alcohol well. 1,459 cases and 600 magnums are projected, to be released in the spring of 2024." -Robert Parker

2021 Sine Qua Non Distenta Grenache, California Magnum

Price: $1050.00                          Your Price: $924.00                           Quantity in Stock: 1

2021 Sine Qua Non Distenta Grenache, California

Price: $350.00                             Your Price: $308.00                           Quantity in Stock: 1

(98 Points) "Because my visit was scheduled for July 6, just two weeks after bottling on June 22, I tasted the 2021 Grenache Distenta III as a precise blend from barrel. It comes mostly from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard (71%) and The Third Twin (23%) with the balance from the Cumulus Vineyard. It is a blend of 79% Grenache, 8.4% Syrah, 7.4% Mourvèdre, 3.2% Petite Sirah, 1.6% Petit Manseng and 0.4% Muscat. The Distenta III was vinified using about 35% whole Grenache clusters, and it matured in 42% new French oak of various sizes for around 23 months. It has a medium to deep ruby color and is incredibly fragrant at this stage. Wild berry jam aromas are accented by tones of wildflower, tar, tangerine and coffee beans. The full-bodied palate is concentrated yet lively, bursting with crunchy, floral fruit and surprisingly energetic acidity. It has detailed, grainy tannins and a long, lifted finish that wears its alcohol well. 1,459 cases and 600 magnums are projected, to be released in the spring of 2024."

 "There are few greater success stories in wine than that of Sine Qua Non’s Manfred Krankl. Austrian-born and showing up penniless in Los Angeles in 1980, he went on to create one of the greatest wine estates in the world today by sheer talent and work ethic."  The Wine Advocate

2021 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Sta Rita Hills

Price: $487.50                             Your Price: $429.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

The measurements on this model are:  86.1% Grenache, 8.5% Syrah, 4.4% Petite Sirah and a bit of high notes from 1.0% WHITE (Viognier). Here only 45% of the fruit was destemmed and a whopping 55% was fermented with the stems. The longer I’m in this profession the better I like “ripe” stems on Grenache. 29% of the barrels here were brand new, but ALL of them were larger Demi-Muids (that’s what the French call them). They are 600 Liter vessels versus the 225 or 228 Liter Bordeaux/Burgundy ones. This too spent nearly 39 months in barrel, meditating and self-improving until it was ready to leave the cocoon.

No highfalutin critic has tasted this either, but the toughest one…whom I call E has, and the first words out of her mouth were…“Mmm…that is delicious!!!” And she is no easy push-over, I can promise you that. The color is impressively dark too. Not as black as the Syrah, but fairly remarkable for a Grenache. There is a bright nose that is faintly spicy with red peppercorn, orange peel and even some chamomile tea. In the mouth the wine is VERY soft and supple. There is a certain lifted density and flavors of pure red berry potpourri. It feels very pure and unblemished, like fresh fallen snow that hasn’t had someone trample through it yet. There are some luxurious leather flavors too. E loves it and so do I. It has an extravagantly long finish. Happiness in a bottle, pure succulence.

2021 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA SYRAH, CALIFORNIA, USA MAGNUM

Price: $1050.00                          Your Price: $924.00                           Quantity in Stock: 1

(98-100 Points) "I tasted the 2021 Syrah Distenta III as a precise blend from barrel on July 6—it's due to be bottled in August. It comes from three estate vineyards: The Third Twin (51%), Cumulus (26%) and 23% Eleven Confessions (23%). The Syrah is blended with 11.3% Grenache, 3.3% Mourvèdre, 2.1% Petite Sirah, 0.9% Petit Manseng and 0.7% Muscat and was vinified using 21% whole clusters. It matured around 23 months in 53% new French oak, 43% one- to three-year-old barrels and 4% concrete. Opaque ruby-purple in the glass, the Distenta III's aromatic complexity requires plenty of patience, as a singular truffle, earth and coffee bean character gives way to electric streaks of crème de violette, blueberry liqueur and peppermint patty. The palate is medium to full-bodied and exceptionally light on its feet. It glides silkily through the mouth with fireworks of freshness, and its floral fruit is tempered by graphite tones. Around 1,880 cases and 600 magnums are projected to be released in January of 2024."  The Wine Advocate

2021 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah, Sta Rita Hills

Price: $487.50                             Your Price: $429.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

The assemblage is 85.0% Syrah, 9.7% Grenache, 1.3% Petite Sirah and 4.0% WHITES (Muskat and Viognier). 77% of the fruit was destemmed and 23% was left to ferment whole cluster (WITH the stems). That wine aggregation was left in barrels for +/- 38.5 months, with 52% of those barrels being brand new, and the rest between 1 to 4 years old, ALL in French oak. I am sure this is of no surprise to you when I write that this wine is no wimp, but one could say it is surprising how mellow, how well behaved, how elegant this is... No critic has tasted it yet, but E and I have had it several times…just a few days ago most recently. My notes state:

Great, SUPER dark, but brilliant color. There is a very deep nose of graphite, tree sap, stewed ripe red cherries, wet stone, myrrh and exotic flower pedals. It is a lively nose, but not obscene. The palate is super lush and velvety and rather pleasantly giving. There is a delightful, almost playful, vivaciousness here and an alluring, satiny feel. It is very friendly and pleasing, unpretentious and its elegance sneaks up on you. The wine is tightly woven, so that no piece, no fancy description sticks out, but rather makes for a harmonious whole. You don’t want to stop drinking it.

2020 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I GRENACHE CALIFORNIA USA MAGNUM

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

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 Eleven Confessions grenache California

Price: $487.50                             Your Price: $429.00                           Quantity in Stock: 3

(100 Points) The 2020 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is another absolutely heavenly wine from this estate, and it's easily one of the top wines from California in 2020. Darker berries, tapenade, roasted herbs, and a bloody, iron-like character define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, stacked mid-palate, velvety tannins, and a great, great finish. It reminds me of a Châteauneuf du Pape from the likes of Jean-Paul Daumen and is a tour de force in Grenache that I wish every reader could taste. Coming from a hot growing season, this beauty is powerful and full throttle, yet like all of Manfred's wines, it holds onto a sense of purity, balance, and elegance that's something to behold. Drink bottles any time over the coming two decades. The blend is 82% Grenache, 13% Syrah, 3% Petite Sirah, and the rest Gelber Muskateller, fermented with 27% whole clusters, and aged 38 months in 41% new French oak.  Review Date: 08/2024, Jeb Dunnuck

2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Syrah California Magnum

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

2020 Sine Qua Non Distenta I Syrah California

Price: $350.00                             Your Price: $308.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

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

2020 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah

Price: $487.50                             Your Price: $429.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

(99 Points)  One of those singular, powerhouse wines that will stop anyone in their tracks (well, its stopped me anyways), the 2020 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard offers an insane nose of bloody red and blue fruits, ground pepper, graphite, cured meats, and baking spices, with some classic Sta. Rita Hills marine/salty sea breeze-like nuances. With a dense, powerful mouthfeel, full-bodied aromas and flavors, massive fruit, and building tannins, this beauty is going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and blow you away over the following two decades. It reminds me of the 2005 Nail in my Cranium with its massive, powerful, yet flawlessly balanced style, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this evolve along the same trajectory as that wine. The 2020 is 84% Syrah, 12% Grenache, and the rest Petite Sirah and white varieties, fermented with one quarter whole clusters and aged 38 months in 58% new oak.  Review Date: 08/2024 Jeb Dunnuck

2019 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Sta Rita Hills, USA

Price: $495.00                             Your Price: $435.60                           Quantity in Stock: 3

(100 points) The late bottled 2019 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is another undeniably great wine from this incredible estate and it tops out my scale. Based on 89% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah, and the balance Gelber Muskateller (Muscat Blanc), all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, it spent 39 months in 50% new French oak, with the balance in 2- to 5-year-old barrels. It's a powerful, full-bodied, opulent Grenache that brings to mind a great vintage of Domaine de Marcoux's Vieilles Vignes with its gorgeous red and black fruits, smoked herbs, leather, and assorted spicy, sandalwood, and peppery nuances. Full-bodied on the palate, it has flawless balance, a deep, layered mid-palate, and velvety tannins. It brings that rare mix of richness and elegance that only Grenache can.  (8/2023)  Jeb Dunnuck

2019 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I SYRAH CENTRAL COAST Magnum

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

(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 Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah Sta Rita Hills Usa

Price: $495.00                             Your Price: $435.60                           Quantity in Stock: 3

(99 points) 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. (EB)  (6/2023)  Wine Advocate

2019 SINE QUA NON DISTENTA I GRENACHE CALIFORNIA Magnum

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: 3

(98 Points) The 2019 Grenache Distenta I is composed of 76% Grenache, 8% Mourvèdre, 9.3% Syrah, 4.3% Petite Sirah and 2.4% Viognier. The vineyard sources are 11% Cumulus Estate, 39% The Third Twin Estate, 32% Eleven Confessions Estate, 3% Molly Aida and 15% Bien Nacido vineyard. Around 43% 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 26.5% new French oak, 66.7% used oak and 6.8% concrete. It was bottled June 21, 2021. Medium to deep garnet-purple it bursts with profound perfume of black raspberries, boysenberries and cherry preserves, leading to an undercurrent of charcuterie, charcoal, bouquet garni and aniseed. Notions of red roses and garrigue reward patient swirling and coaxing. The full-on full-bodied palate is wonderfully opulent, its intensity offset by fantastic freshness, finishing long with a savory dried herb-laced lift.  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: 2

(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

2018 Sine Qua Non Grenache Profuga California

Price: $420.00                             Sale Price: $350.00                           Quantity in Stock: 3

(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 Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache Sta Rita Hills USA

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

(99 points)  The 2018 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a barrel selection and is composed of 83.7% Grenache, 9.1% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah and 1.2% Viognier. It was fermented with 45% whole clusters and matured for about 38 months in 52% new French oak barrels and demi-muids. It has a deep ruby-purple color and slowly opening scents of Morello cherries, coffee beans, licorice, thyme, tea leaves and forest floor. The full-bodied palate is powerful yet energetic, offering bursts of juicy acidity and grainy tannins to counter its concentrated fruits. After spending some time in the glass, the long finish blossoms to a kaleidoscope of spicy, floral accents, suggesting this may require more bottle time than some of the other wines in this lineup before reaching its peak. (EB)  (5/2022)  Wine Advocate

2018 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah Sta Rita Hills USA

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

(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 Syrah Ziehharmonika California California

Price: $420.00                             Sale Price: $350.00                           Quantity in Stock: 3

(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

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 Next of Kyn Red Wine California

Price: $525.00                             Your Price: $462.00                            Quantity in Stock: 4

(100 Points) Manfred Krankl notes that the 2018 Cumulus Vineyard No. 12 represents a shift away from earlier cuvées that were dominated by the Syrah grape. This iteration is composed of 47.7% Syrah, 23.4% Grenache, 21.3% Petite Sirah, 5.6% Mourvèdre and 2 % Petit Manseng. The 2018 also comes entirely from the Next of Kyn estate vineyard Cumulus. It was made using 41% whole clusters and matured around 32 months in 34% new French oak (the remaining barrels were one to three years old). Deep ruby-purple in color, it blossoms slowly to aromas of cassis, lilac, coffee beans, dried mint and bouquet garni. The full-bodied palate is powerful yet elegant, its concentrated fruits balanced by grainy tannins and fresh acidity that highlights its floral perfume on the long finish. (EB)  Wine Advocate, Review Date: 06/2022

2017 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache Sta Rita Hills

Price: $407.00                             Sale Price: $325.00                           Quantity in Stock: 4

(98 Points) The 2017 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is composed of 88.7% Grenache, 10.6% Syrah and 0.7% Viognier. The winemaking includes 47% whole cluster, and it was aged for 38 months in 62% new French oak (83% were large demi-muids) and 38% in used vessels of various ages and sizes (two to five years old). Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the nose starts off a little closed, offering glimpses at stewed plums, blackberry preserves, and chocolate-covered cherries, giving way to fragrant notions of licorice, violets and cinnamon stick. While there’s no question that this is a big, concentrated, full-bodied wine, it is also incredibly elegant, well-poised and nuanced, featuring many floral and baking spice layers within the decadent black fruits and sporting firm, very finely grained tannins, finishing with incredible length and depth. I would recommend a good 3-5 years of cellaring, then drink it over the next 20 years+. (LPB) 98+   Review Date: 08/2021  Wine Advocate

2017 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Gorgeous Victim California

Price: $370.00                             Sale Price: $295.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

(98-100 points)  The 2017 Grenache “No Name As Of Yet” is a finished blend, set to be bottled in August. Composed of 76% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 9% Syrah, 3.8% Petit Sirah and 1.2% Viognier, and the vineyard sources are: 46% Cumulus Estate, 29% Eleven Confessions Estate, 6% Molly Aida Estate, 17% The Third Twin Estate and 2% Bien Nacido Vineyard. It was aged for around 23 months in 23% new French oak, 48% used oak (various sizes) and 29% concrete, and 46% (mainly Grenache) was fermented using whole clusters. Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # 243 - Jun 2019)  (Wine Advocate)

2017 Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah Sta Rita Hills

Price: $450.00                             Sale Price: $355.00                           Quantity in Stock: 4

(97 Points)  Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Syrah Eleven Confessions bursts with notions of baked plums, stewed blackberries and black cherry preserves, with an undercurrent of Sichuan pepper, violets, chocolate mint and charcuterie, plus a lifted suggestion of black raspberries. Rich, full-bodied and decadently opulent, the palate explodes with pepper-spiked black and red berry preserves, framed by fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing epically long and spicy. Very impressive. (LPB) 97+   Review Date: 08/2021 Wine Advocate

2017 Sine Qua Non The Hated Hunter Syrah California

Price: $350.00                             Sale Price: $279.00                           Quantity in Stock: 1

(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) (Wine Advocate)

2017 Sine Qua Non Next of Kyn Red Wine California

Price: $959.00                             Your Price: $843.92                           Quantity in Stock: 1

(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 'Pajarito del Amor' Grenache California

Price: $540.00                             Sale Price: $429.00                           Quantity in Stock: 1

(100 Points) Composed of 85.4% Grenache, 7.1% Petite Sirah, 6.9% Syrah and 0.6% Viognier, employing 56% whole cluster, the nose of this opaque, garnet-purple colored uber-Grenache completely explodes with a candied violets, mandarin peel and Indian spices perfume, giving way to a core of bursting-ripe red berries—redcurrants, Morello cherries and raspberries—with an undercurrent of earth, earth and more sweet, fragrant earth. The numbers are telling me this is a full-bodied wine (16.9% alcohol), but the palate is deceptively ethereal, possessing more of a medium to full-bodied feel, thanks in part to bags of well-integrated freshness and fantastic harmony, with soft, silt-like tannins, finishing with loads of savory layers and a fragrant, floral breeze. Yowza, that's good. (LPB)   Review Date: 08/2020  (Wine Advocate)

2015 Sine Qua Non Syrah Trouver l’arène

Price: $475.00                             Your Price: $418.00                           Quantity in Stock: 1

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.

2014 Sine Qua Non Grenache Shakti

Price: $450.00                             Your Price: $396.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

(100 points) The 2014 Grenache Shakti is blended of 88% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Touriga Nacional, coming 51% from the Cumulus (Estate) Vineyard, 18% from The Third Twin (Estate) Vineyard, 9.5% from Bien Nacido Vineyard and 21.5% for the Eleven Confessions (Estate) Vineyard. It was produced using 42% whole cluster and aged for around 21 months in French oak, 6% new (bottled June 21, 2017). It offers up a deep garnet-purple color and notes of dried Mediterranean herbs, dusty earth, Chinese five spice and rose petals over a core of red currants, mulberries, red plums and black raspberries, plus a waft of chocolate covered cherries. Full-bodied, decadently concentrated and yet very, very pretty in the mouth, it delivers incredibly fine-grained, ripe tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing on a persistent--totally disarming--perfumed red fruit note. (LPB) (9/2017)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2014 Sine Qua Non Syrah Piranha Waterdance

Price: $450.00                             Your Price: $396.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

(100 points) 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. (LPB) (9/2017)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2013 Sine Qua Non Grenache Female California

Price: $375.00                             Your Price: $330.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

(98 points)  Manfred's 2013 Grenache Female checks in as a blend of 78% Grenache, 19% Syrah and 3% Mourvèdre that is mostly from his Eleven Confessions estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, yet has smaller portions from his Cumulus, The Third Twin and Bien Nacido vineyards. Seeing just over 24 months in a mix of demi-muids, 300-liter Hog Heads and barrique, it has a sensational bouquet of spring flowers, black raspberries, black cherries, violets, licorice and camphor. Reminding me of a great vintage of Raymond Usseglio's Cuvée Imperiale, this full-bodied, elegant Grenache is impeccably balanced, has a full and layered mid-palate (which is missing from just about every other Grenache made in California), and sweet tannin on the finish. It's almost impervious to air and didn't budge an inch over the three days I followed this bottle. It will cruise for over two decades.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 5/2016

2013 Sine Qua Non Male Syrah California

Price: $375.00                             Your Price: $330.00                           Quantity in Stock: 2

(98 points) The 2013 Syrah Male is an elegant, seamless Syrah that exudes class in its creme de cassis, black raspberry, smoked meats, graphite and asphalt-laced bouquet. This is a blend of 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga National and 3.5% Viognier, fermented with 28% whole clusters and aged 25 months in 65% new French oak. It's full-bodied, beautifully layered, silky and seamless, with no hard edges and wonderful freshness in both the aromatics and palate. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 10-15. (JD) (5/2016) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2010 Sine Qua Non Stockholm Syndrome Syrah California

Price: $975.00                             Sale Price: $779.00                           Quantity in Stock: 1

(100 Points)  The 2010 Syrah Stockholm Syndrome is an incredible blend of 96% Syrah, 3% Roussanne and 1% Viognier, it was fermented with 16% whole cluster before spending just under 42 months in 100% new French oak. It offers a brilliant, soaring bouquet of kirsch liqueur and crème de cassis characteristics intermixed with notes of Peking duck, exotic spices, pepper, and dried flowers. Deep, full-bodied, and powerful, yet also graceful, perfectly balanced, and light on its feet, it’s still youthful and vibrant, with present tannin, and has another two-plus decades of longevity ahead of it. I’ve been lucky enough to have numerous bottles of this elixir since release and it’s never failed to reaffirm my belief that it’s one of the all-time Great Syrahs of the world.   Review Date: 02/2018  (Jeb Dunnuck)