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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 | Proprietary Blend |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2001 |
| Rating | RP96 |
| Bottle Size | 3 x 1500ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 3 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | South Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Rating | RP96 - 2001 Sine Qua Non Midnight Oil/Ventriloquist Syrah Magnum Set - 96 pts! The impeccable 2001 Midnight Oil (95.5% Syrah, 3% Grenache, and 1.5% Viognier) is a product of four vineyards, Alban, Stolpman, Bien Nacido, and White Hawk. The good news is there are 950 cases of this compelling effort. With a “midnight†black color, and the viscosity of 10-W-40 oil, its aromas of violet/acacia flowers, melted licorice, camphor, blackberries, creme de cassis, and subtle toasty new oak are accompanied by a wine boasting terrific texture, good underlying acidity, ripe tannin, and a 60-second plus finish. This stunning effort competes with the 2000, and what looks to be Krankl’s greatest Syrah-based wine to date, the 2002. RP (2 Midnight Oil magnums & 1 Ventriloquist magnum in OWC set) The 2001 Ventriloquist is a blend of 82% Grenache and 18% Syrah. Sixty percent of the fruit came from the Alban Vineyard, 32% from the Stolpman Vineyard, and 8% from the Shadow Canyon Vineyard. There are approximately 400 cases of this nectar. While it may not hit the surreal prodigiousness of the 2000 Incognito, it is a spectacular effort from a cooler growing season. It boasts a saturated purple color as well as beautiful aromatics of red and black fruits, with hints of licorice, earth, and spice in the background. There is great purity, more austere tannin in the finish than most Krankl wines, gorgeous depth and texture, and a finish that lasts 45+ seconds. Give it 1-3 years of cellaring, and enjoy it over the following 12-15. RP |
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| Varietal | Proprietary Blend |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2001 |
| Rating | RP96 |
| Bottle Size | 3 x 1500ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 3 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | South Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
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