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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 specialises 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 | 2010 |
| Rating | |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Rating | The 2010 Syrah No Name as of Yet is laced with blackberries, blueberries, spices, mint and graphite. It shows the medium-bodied personality of the vintage in its energetic, nuanced fruit and notable persistence. Layers of fruit build to a refined finish laced with blueberries, blackberries, violets and crushed rocks. All the registers – from low to high – are filled out. The 2010 is 85% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 3% Petite Syrah, 5% Roussanne and 2% Viognier, mostly from estate vineyards. RP |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
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| Varietal | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Rating | |
| 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 | 2010 |
| Rating | 98+ 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 | 2010 |
| Rating | 98+ RP |
| Barrels |
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| Style |
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| Owners |
Manfred Krankl |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Winemaker |
Manfred Krankl |
| Production |
| Robert Parker Rating | 98+ RP - The 2010 Syrah Five Shooter is straight up gorgeous. A massive wine that somehow holds everything together, it offers a wild array of cassis, blackberry, white chocolate, underbrush and pepper that flows to a full-bodied, layered Syrah that has masses of fine tannin and enough substance to evolve for decades. A blend of 85% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 3% Petite Sirah, 5% Roussanne and 2% Viognier that was fermented with 20% whole cluster and aged 22 months in 59% new French oak, it opens up beautifully in the glass and should be decanted if drinking anytime soon. |
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| Antonio Galloni Rating |
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| Wine Spectator Rating |
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| Burghound Rating |
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