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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 | Roussanne |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2001 |
| Rating | 98 RP |
| Bottle Size | 2 x 375ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | White |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Rating | 98 RP - 2001 Sine Qua Non Vin de Paille Inamorata Rousanne - 98 pts! 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. The world's most profound wines are always made by the same kind of people ... artists craftspeople revolutionaries and traditionalists who have one overwhelming trait in common ... they are irrefutably dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and their hearts souls and enormous talents are reflected in wines of singular personality and achievement. There are never any compromises so it is no surprise that what takes place in these cellars is the transformation of a commonplace beverage into a form of drinkable art! Manfred Krankl and his charming wife Elaine referred to by Krankl as "E" are on a roll given what has emerged from their funky warehouse/garage winery located in what looks like a discarded Hollywood set from the movie Mad Max. Finding a bottle or two of Sine Qua Non is no easy task since virtually all these wines are sold to longtime mailing list clients as well as the country's finest upscale restaurants. However some relief is in sight as Krankl is beginning to get fruit from his own Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. Moreover he planted another vineyard in Ventura County on a bald outcropping that should produce some fascinating Rhone varietals. The upcoming releases all reveal Krankl's magic touch and like some of the finest wineries working with Rhone varietals Manfred Krankl is a creative blender recognizing that blends generally result in more nuances and flavor complexity than a single varietal cuvee. RP |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
|---|
| Varietal | Roussanne |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2001 |
| Rating | 98 RP |
| Bottle Size | 2 x 375ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | White |
| Production |
1 barrel |
| Varietal | Roussanne |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2001 |
| Rating | 98 RP |
| Bottle Size | 2 x 375ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | White |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Roussanne |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2001 |
| Rating | 98 RP |
| Barrels |
|
| Style |
|
| Owners |
|
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Winemaker |
|
| Production |
1 barrel |
| Robert Parker Rating | 98 RP - 2001 Sine Qua Non Vin de Paille Inamorata Rousanne - 98 pts! 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. The world's most profound wines are always made by the same kind of people ... artists craftspeople revolutionaries and traditionalists who have one overwhelming trait in common ... they are irrefutably dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and their hearts souls and enormous talents are reflected in wines of singular personality and achievement. There are never any compromises so it is no surprise that what takes place in these cellars is the transformation of a commonplace beverage into a form of drinkable art! Manfred Krankl and his charming wife Elaine referred to by Krankl as "E" are on a roll given what has emerged from their funky warehouse/garage winery located in what looks like a discarded Hollywood set from the movie Mad Max. Finding a bottle or two of Sine Qua Non is no easy task since virtually all these wines are sold to longtime mailing list clients as well as the country's finest upscale restaurants. However some relief is in sight as Krankl is beginning to get fruit from his own Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. Moreover he planted another vineyard in Ventura County on a bald outcropping that should produce some fascinating Rhone varietals. The upcoming releases all reveal Krankl's magic touch and like some of the finest wineries working with Rhone varietals Manfred Krankl is a creative blender recognizing that blends generally result in more nuances and flavor complexity than a single varietal cuvee. 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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