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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 specialises 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 | 2010 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 2 x 1500 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Robert Parker | 100 RP - The 2010 Syrah Stockholm Syndrome is a monumental effort that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Syrahs in the world. A 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 an incredible array of sweet dark fruits, cassis, white chocolate, licorice and hints of bacon fat that meld perfectly with its full-bodied, seamless, layered and impeccably put-together palate. Given the wealth of fruit here, it's amazing how this stays light, graceful and elegant, without ever seeming over the top in any way. While there's no shortage of tannin here, they're sweet and integrated, so feel free to enjoy this rock-star effort anytime over the coming two decades or more. 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. |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
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| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 2 x 1500 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 2 x 1500 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Barrels |
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| Style |
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| Owners |
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| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Winemaker |
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| Production |
| Robert Parker Rating | 100 RP - The 2010 Syrah Stockholm Syndrome is a monumental effort that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Syrahs in the world. A 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 an incredible array of sweet dark fruits, cassis, white chocolate, licorice and hints of bacon fat that meld perfectly with its full-bodied, seamless, layered and impeccably put-together palate. Given the wealth of fruit here, it's amazing how this stays light, graceful and elegant, without ever seeming over the top in any way. While there's no shortage of tannin here, they're sweet and integrated, so feel free to enjoy this rock-star effort anytime over the coming two decades or more. 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. |
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| Antonio Galloni Rating |
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| Wine Spectator Rating |
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| Burghound Rating |
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