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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 | 2005 |
| Rating | 95 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | White |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Rating | 95 RP - The 2005 The Petition a blend of 37% Viognier 33% Roussanne and 30% Chardonnay 62% from John Alban's vineyard and 38% from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard is more restrained than the 2006. 2005 was a cooler year but you wouldn't know that from the glorious opulence in both the aromatics and flavors of this light golden-colored wine. Litchi nut buttered tropical fruits flower and subtle wood notes soar from the glass. Rich dry full-bodied flavors coat the palate but supporting underlying acidity provides superb definition to the wine's mass and intensity. This cuvee along with its younger sibling are among the most profound dry whites being made in California. Hopefully they will encourage more wineries to move away from varietal labeling and create blends such as these. I believe that is the future for Central Coast whites. 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. RP |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
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| Varietal | Proprietary Blend |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2005 |
| Rating | 95 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | White |
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