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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 | 2004 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 3000 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Rating | 100 RP - The recently released 2004 Poker Face (96% Syrah 2.5% Mourvedre and 1.5% Viognier) comes from the Eleven Confessions White Hawk Alban Bien Nacido and Alta Mesa vineyards. Boasting classic blackberry creme de cassis charcoal acacia flower and subtle background toasty oak notes it possesses a fabulous texture beautiful richness and purity and a finish that lasts nearly a minute. It is a wine of enormous richness multiple dimensions and unreal purity. Although approachable it benefits from several hours of decanting and should evolve for 15 or more years. To reiterate it is a challenge to analyze these wines. I know they are distinctive and I think I am beginning to understand why they are so much greater than just about every other Syrah or Grenache-based wine in California. In short it is talent and incredibly meticulous hard work. No one works as hard or is as maniacal about a vineyard's viticulture and winemaking as Manfred Krankl. Take that add in exceptional talent humility top-notch vineyards and I believe I understand the fundamentals of why these wines are so special. 2004 Into the Dark: This absolutely magnificent wine is a blend of 84% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre, 7% Syrah and 1% Viognier, with most of it emerging from the estate’s 11 Confessions Vineyard. It still has a very opaque ruby/purple color, along with a sweet nose of graphite, wood smoke, spice box, white chocolate, kirsch and creme de cassis. Still quite infantile in terms of its development, the wine is full-bodied, with a 45- to 50-second finish. Another 2-3 years of cellaring will be beneficial, and it is certainly capable of lasting 10 or more years. RP |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
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| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2004 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 3000 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2004 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 3000 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 2 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2004 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Barrels |
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| Style |
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| Owners |
|
| Region | California |
| Location | |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Winemaker |
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| Production |
| Robert Parker Rating | 100 RP - The recently released 2004 Poker Face (96% Syrah 2.5% Mourvedre and 1.5% Viognier) comes from the Eleven Confessions White Hawk Alban Bien Nacido and Alta Mesa vineyards. Boasting classic blackberry creme de cassis charcoal acacia flower and subtle background toasty oak notes it possesses a fabulous texture beautiful richness and purity and a finish that lasts nearly a minute. It is a wine of enormous richness multiple dimensions and unreal purity. Although approachable it benefits from several hours of decanting and should evolve for 15 or more years. To reiterate it is a challenge to analyze these wines. I know they are distinctive and I think I am beginning to understand why they are so much greater than just about every other Syrah or Grenache-based wine in California. In short it is talent and incredibly meticulous hard work. No one works as hard or is as maniacal about a vineyard's viticulture and winemaking as Manfred Krankl. Take that add in exceptional talent humility top-notch vineyards and I believe I understand the fundamentals of why these wines are so special. 2004 Into the Dark: This absolutely magnificent wine is a blend of 84% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre, 7% Syrah and 1% Viognier, with most of it emerging from the estate’s 11 Confessions Vineyard. It still has a very opaque ruby/purple color, along with a sweet nose of graphite, wood smoke, spice box, white chocolate, kirsch and creme de cassis. Still quite infantile in terms of its development, the wine is full-bodied, with a 45- to 50-second finish. Another 2-3 years of cellaring will be beneficial, and it is certainly capable of lasting 10 or more years. 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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