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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 | 2002 |
| Rating | 99 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 | 99 RP - SQN's Syrahs are dynamite. In 2001 Krankl began to experiment with a limited production Syrah aged over 40 months in new oak a la Marcel Guigal's famous Cote Roties - La Mouline La Landonne and La Turque. The second rendition of this cuvee the 2002 Heart Chorea is a Cote Rotie-like blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. Most of the fruit comes from the Alban and White Hawk vineyards. The opaque purple-colored 2002 Heart Chorea possesses extraordinary levels of concentration intensity and subtle nuances a fabulous nose of charcoal acacia flowers creme de cassis blackberries pain grille and espresso roast. Opulent full-bodied and super-intense but neither heavy nor out of balance it is unfortunate that production of this unreal Syrah is less than 100 cases. Vineyard sources are gradually changing at Sine Qua Non as a movement to 100% estate fruit from vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills and sites near the winery in Ventura County come into full production. However at present some grapes emanate from other sources particularly white grapes from the Alban Vineyard and Grenache and Syrah from Alban Alta Mesa Bien Nacido Shadow Canyon and White Hawk vineyards. Yields were unbelievably small in 2003 white varietals yielded .9 tons of fruit per acre Pinot Noir 1.64 tons per acre Grenache .32 tons per acre and Syrah 1.20 tons per acre. In 2004 white varietal yields were 1.49 tons per acre Pinot Noir 1.19 tons per acre Grenache 1.04 tons per acre and Syrah a whopping 1.48 tons per acre. Yields rose by 20-40% in 2005. Longtime readers know that I consider these offerings to be about as remarkable as New World wines can be. They possess extraordinary richness and nuances as well as superb balance purity and aging potential. The whites are whole cluster pressed and go straight to barrel without any stabilization or settling and everything is fermented with indigenous yeasts. No racking takes place until bottling which is usually more than a year after the harvest. The reds are 100% destemmed although Grenache stems have been utilized on occasion. One to two ton open top fermenters are used and following a cold soak that can last up to seven days the wines are fermented with 2-3 daily punch downs. They are kept on their skins for a maximum of 2 plus weeks. All malolactic takes place in barrel and the wines are bottled 18-24 months after the harvest with minimal clarification. Manfred Krankl a true believer in radical viticulture practices extensive crop-thinning shoot positioning etc. The meticulous attention to detail is evident in both the vineyard and the winery. RP There was only one barrel of this produced! This is only 24 cases!! So rare and so good!! RP |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
|---|
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2002 |
| Rating | 99 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Production |
1 barrel |
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2002 |
| Rating | 99 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2002 |
| Rating | 99 RP |
| Barrels |
|
| Style |
|
| Owners |
|
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Winemaker |
|
| Production |
1 barrel |
| Robert Parker Rating | 99 RP - SQN's Syrahs are dynamite. In 2001 Krankl began to experiment with a limited production Syrah aged over 40 months in new oak a la Marcel Guigal's famous Cote Roties - La Mouline La Landonne and La Turque. The second rendition of this cuvee the 2002 Heart Chorea is a Cote Rotie-like blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. Most of the fruit comes from the Alban and White Hawk vineyards. The opaque purple-colored 2002 Heart Chorea possesses extraordinary levels of concentration intensity and subtle nuances a fabulous nose of charcoal acacia flowers creme de cassis blackberries pain grille and espresso roast. Opulent full-bodied and super-intense but neither heavy nor out of balance it is unfortunate that production of this unreal Syrah is less than 100 cases. Vineyard sources are gradually changing at Sine Qua Non as a movement to 100% estate fruit from vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills and sites near the winery in Ventura County come into full production. However at present some grapes emanate from other sources particularly white grapes from the Alban Vineyard and Grenache and Syrah from Alban Alta Mesa Bien Nacido Shadow Canyon and White Hawk vineyards. Yields were unbelievably small in 2003 white varietals yielded .9 tons of fruit per acre Pinot Noir 1.64 tons per acre Grenache .32 tons per acre and Syrah 1.20 tons per acre. In 2004 white varietal yields were 1.49 tons per acre Pinot Noir 1.19 tons per acre Grenache 1.04 tons per acre and Syrah a whopping 1.48 tons per acre. Yields rose by 20-40% in 2005. Longtime readers know that I consider these offerings to be about as remarkable as New World wines can be. They possess extraordinary richness and nuances as well as superb balance purity and aging potential. The whites are whole cluster pressed and go straight to barrel without any stabilization or settling and everything is fermented with indigenous yeasts. No racking takes place until bottling which is usually more than a year after the harvest. The reds are 100% destemmed although Grenache stems have been utilized on occasion. One to two ton open top fermenters are used and following a cold soak that can last up to seven days the wines are fermented with 2-3 daily punch downs. They are kept on their skins for a maximum of 2 plus weeks. All malolactic takes place in barrel and the wines are bottled 18-24 months after the harvest with minimal clarification. Manfred Krankl a true believer in radical viticulture practices extensive crop-thinning shoot positioning etc. The meticulous attention to detail is evident in both the vineyard and the winery. RP There was only one barrel of this produced! This is only 24 cases!! So rare and so good!! 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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