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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 | 2005 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Rating | 100 RP - 2005 Sine Qua Non Atlantis Fe Syrah - 100 Pts! Surprise Surprise Surprise another Perfect 100pt Wine from the Krankls The perfect 2005 Syrah Atlantis Fe 203-1abc is a blend of 93% Syrah 5% Grenache and 2% Viognier with 25% whole clusters. Whereas the Ode to E is all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard this cuvee is a combination of 43% from the estate vineyard 28% from the White Hawk Vineyard 21% from the Alban Vineyard and 8% from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The good news is there are nearly 1500 cases of this recently released offering. An extraordinarily flowery nose interwoven with scents of blueberries blackberries incense and graphite soars from the glass. Although not the biggest or most concentrated Syrah Krankl has made it is one of the most nuanced elegant and complex. It remains full-bodied but builds incrementally on the palate and comes across as elegant and delicate especially when compared to many California Syrahs. Nevertheless the intensity is mind-boggling and the finish lasts for nearly a minute. Drink this amazing effort over the next 10-15+ years. |
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