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Sine Qua Non is one of California's most famous wine producers. Based just north of Los Angeles in Ventura County, and with most of its vineyards in Santa Barbara, it eschews the usual image of top California wine as being only from Napa Valley. That is not the only thing eschewed at Sine Qua Non – the same wine is rarely made more than once, turning the idea of the American icon wine on its head.
The cult winery specializes in Rhône grape varieties, with most of the red wines based on Syrah and Grenache. White wines are typically based on Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier and are also modelled after Rhône wines. While most of Sine Qua Non's vineyards are located in Santa Barbara, the home vineyard (and the winery) is located in Oak View. Many of the wines are labeled under the more generic California and Central Coast AVAs, rather than the specific AVAs the vineyards are located in, giving more freedom when it comes to blending.
Sine Qua Non's first vintage was 1994, as Austrian-born winemaker Manfred Krankl released three barrels of Syrah as "Queen of Spades" with a label he had designed himself. Previously, Krankl had made wines with other winemakers – including the "Black and Blue" wine with Havens Cellars and several wines with John Alban of Alban Vineyards. After releasing Queen of Spades, Krankl sent a bottle to Robert Parker, who promptly gave the wine 95 points – then the highest he'd given any American wine based on a Rhône variety
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1995 |
| Rating | NR |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Rating | 1995 Sine Qua Non The Other Hand - RARE! Readers who love Rhone-styled wines must get on Sine Qua Non's mailing list in order to have a chance of latching onto a few bottles of the following vinous treasure. The 1995 The Other Hand is made from 100% Syrah grown in the Alban Bien Nacido and Stolpman vineyards situated respectively in Edna Valley Santa Maria and Los Olivos. Aged 18 months in oak of which 70% is new this blockbuster opaque purple-colored wine offers glorious notes of black fruits (primarily blackberry and cassis) subtle smoke toast and licorice and a whiff of plant material and spice. Full-bodied yet gorgeously layered and nearly seamless in its flamboyant display of fruit glycerin and extract this large-scaled yet drinkable Syrah will benefit from another 5-6 years in the bottle but it is already accessible. It is another example of why I think wineries in this region should be ripping out their Pinot Noir vines and re-planting with Syrah! Look for this super Syrah to age effortlessly for 15 or more years. Oh how I wish there were more small producers such as Elaine and Manfred Krankel. Take my advice - get on their mailing list! RP |
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| Wine Spectator |
|---|
| Burghound |
|---|
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1995 |
| Rating | NR |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1995 |
| Rating | NR |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1995 |
| Rating | NR |
| Barrels |
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| Style |
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| Owners |
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| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Winemaker |
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| Production |
| Robert Parker Rating | 1995 Sine Qua Non The Other Hand - RARE! Readers who love Rhone-styled wines must get on Sine Qua Non's mailing list in order to have a chance of latching onto a few bottles of the following vinous treasure. The 1995 The Other Hand is made from 100% Syrah grown in the Alban Bien Nacido and Stolpman vineyards situated respectively in Edna Valley Santa Maria and Los Olivos. Aged 18 months in oak of which 70% is new this blockbuster opaque purple-colored wine offers glorious notes of black fruits (primarily blackberry and cassis) subtle smoke toast and licorice and a whiff of plant material and spice. Full-bodied yet gorgeously layered and nearly seamless in its flamboyant display of fruit glycerin and extract this large-scaled yet drinkable Syrah will benefit from another 5-6 years in the bottle but it is already accessible. It is another example of why I think wineries in this region should be ripping out their Pinot Noir vines and re-planting with Syrah! Look for this super Syrah to age effortlessly for 15 or more years. Oh how I wish there were more small producers such as Elaine and Manfred Krankel. Take my advice - get on their mailing list! RP |
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| Antonio Galloni Rating |
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| Wine Spectator Rating |
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| Burghound Rating |
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