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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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Red
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2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika
Central Coast
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Way too Nickelodeon to be opening this early but far too difficult for my cracker-barrel psyche to continuously resist, these bottles were ever-leering at me with every pass I'd make by the cellar window. And of course one day, this day, I somehow find myself with a corkscrew in my hand and some dark spiritual force coercing me to plunge its twisted bayonet through the top of the Ziehharmonika's frail little fontanel.
Cork off and left open in the bottle for three hours. Decanted for two additional hours and kept/served at a consistently cool cellar temperature (52 degrees), which in sum ended up being pretty perfect service overall by the time the last sip was taken at the end of the evening. A beautiful perfume of violets and blackberry syrup; some underbrush on the nose as well. On the palate, black and blue fruits, creosote, campfire, anise, cured meats, shrub, and a fantastic floral lift (thanks to the 2.7% Viognier and 1.3% Muscat). Though there is a more linear stretch initially on the front of the attack, the expansion of flavor follows quickly, with a sense of patience and a deliberate, almost quantifiable cadence that smoothly encompasses the mouth and provides a glass-like sheen that coats the entire palate, like a dehydrated blueberry that liquifies and dissipates, leaving just the flavor of its essence behind. Finishes with a constant but whispering wave of fruit followed by garrigue and faint rainbow peppercorn notes.
You want texture? You got texture. Why throw yet another inflated SQN score in the mix so soon in evaluating this infant creature? Where's your sense of objectivity man?! Answer: TEXTURE. The perfectly juicy and tenderly ripe profile does everything to elevate this smooth operator into next-level consumption. Quality all the way through. Less overtly theatrical and Fire Marshall Bill than some of SQN's other young bucks, the Ziehharmonika carries a layer of sophistication that doesn't even pretend to stick its little toe into any loud Hollywood bar scene Courtney Love 90's cocaine-cocktail drama (even though Ventura is closer to Hollywood than Paso...or Rhone for that matter). Anyway, you get the point. Basically it's like this: Some wines talk at you. This wine just makes you feel fortunate to be in its company listening to what it has to say.
98-100 points for now, though I am fairly confident that this will veer more toward the three-digit numeric after 5+ years of cellaring. This Ziehharmonika reminded me of a young version of the 2008 SQN B 20, though it seems the mighty "Z" ultimately possesses an added layer of lurking complexity that stands to come to full fruition (literally and figuratively) as it nears its more optimum drinking window.
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White
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2018 Sine Qua Non Aperta
Central Coast
White Blend more
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An SQN Rhone concoction that Frankensteins a surgical amalgamation of mixed whites, the 2018 Aperta is a provocative fusion of 38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 6% Petit Manseng, and 9% Muscat. The demonstrative brilliance of this wine starts off right away with its beautiful golden hue, at first suggesting a sémillon-stationed creation. It actually smells like a young Sauternes with honey and tangerine aromas that instantly pique the senses. On the palate, strong quince paste and clementine elements surge in advance of the lemon oil, yuzu, satsuma, orange blossom, yellow pear skin, yellow apple flesh, honeydew, fleur de sel, and tangy fresh grated ginger notes (oh, did I mention apricot and pineapple rind, too?!). The initial entry is slightly viscous and weighty, but then the vibrancy skips in and provides an acidic tensity that kicks up the freshness. It does what you want it to do with keen carriage: mouthwatering and saturating layered flavors while also pumping juicy freshness through the heightened purity of fruit. The senses here are all amplified but with that keen Krankl stylishness.
The Aperta volleys back and forth from being full and unctuous to tense and primary at times. It is initially quite spicy, with the ginger note arresting the mélange of citrus flavors. With some swirling and warmer temperature (slightly above cellar temperature), the lemon tangs brawl back and take centerstage. Though there is clearly youthful constriction curtailing a full breadth of flavor expansion at this particular juncture, the strata of complex and pulsating flavors that just can’t wait to detonate are nothing short of exceptional. Take all the things you like about white wine and this little bugger has some semblance of all of them passing through a kaleidoscopic palate prism of delectableness to make for a profile that is almost academically dizzying in terms of trying to identify particular flavor components.
Precise degustation dorking-out aside, this is a curiously enthralling wine that has so much character and charismatic charm that it is instantaneously mesmerizing. The finish doesn’t stop rolling, especially as the honeyed citrus oil and sweet tangerine notes encourage the back end to keep propelling to a ridiculously savory finale. Though this unquestionably needs air to ferret out more of its broader appeal, the first swig on the first pop is just as stimulating as the vacillating profile a few hours in. It certainly seems the extra barrel-down time here has proven to be an effective strategical success. 98+ points, with the likelihood of a perfect numeric with some short-term cellaring. For those on the conservative or earnest side, hold bottles for a few years. For those who can't wait to tear into a bottle the second UPS pulls into your driveway (like me), go full-on game-on and rock out with your bottle out my friends. Who am I to say wait?!
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Red
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2017 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Hated Hunter
Central Coast
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2 of 2:
Specific tasting note aside, I offer a “short” epilogue sparked from this particular wine (well, short by my standards at least – so those who know me can bank on it being a stretched novella), as the Hated Hunter and some of the other comments here on Cellar Tracker caused me to ponder a bit about the SQN marvel – This is around the time I should just stop typing, but alas, here we go; so, proceed at your own risk:
For those wondering if the touting of all things SQN is worthy of the constant cult applause and if such broad acclaim actually translates into a product worth seeking out, my (emphasis on “my” and not “the”) simple answer is, “Yes.” (Some may stop reading now simply because their answer may be, “No,” or, “It depends,” or, “…But their prices keep going up!” or, “Allocation lists are for chumps.”). I certainly don’t fancy myself some blind cult follower who needs to have every goofy labeled wine from across the globe in my cellar just for the sake of collecting (for me, I drink my wine; so, ideally I only buy wine I actually like, not ones I think will gain me wine geek friends or I can flip for some pocket-lint-full of loose change). There’s nothing wrong with a cool factor or the pride in popping the cork on a rare wine in the company of friends and those who appreciate such things, but in the end, the product better deliver and just plain ‘ol taste good – otherwise, why bother?!
So then, like anything, I think it is important to keep contextual grounding when attempting to equitably gauge one’s personal desire in acquiring and coveting these wines (and you can insert any of the Harlan, Screaming Eagle, DRC, whatevers of the world that you consider some sort of trophy wine that you are willing and able to get your paws on – I get that total “worth” is entirely relative). Having been fortunate enough to sample much of Krankl’s creations since SQN’s inception (initially and primarily because of dear friends who have been gracious enough to share them with me – so full disclosure there), I’ve found that one thing is ever-present in these wines: Quality. There is an attention to detail that always seems to translate in the juice itself. We can debate the “worth” of the wine and question inflated QPR (cuz let’s be honest, prices can get wacky), or if there is an actual emotional response you did or didn’t have from the wine; these are often worthy and necessary discussions. But within the style and milieu of California domestic red Rhone, I’m hard-pressed to find much in competition with SQN, at least consistently. And yes, I know others will disagree and can spout their favorites that they believe are cheaper and deliver better for them personally. I know SQN has had misses in the past, so folks can reference those as well I suppose. And reasonably there are certainly those direct comparisons that make sense at the moment – Alban, Saxum, Andremily, and further north to Kongsgaard, Colgin, and a handful of others. Everyone has their favorites of course. “But wait, you left out Tynan.” “But wait, I like Lewis.” “But wait, you can’t talk about SQN without talking about Lato.” “But wait, haven’t you had XYZ Syrah? That blows the doors off any wine you’ve ever tried you over-extracted SQN fanboy!” Yes, I hear you…
Trends come and go oftentimes as much as one’s palate-preferences, and as quantifiers such as DTC release prices start to level-out with auction and secondary market prices and availability, “cult” interest can sometimes become watered down. But for me it’s like this… If it tastes great to you and you’re willing to cough-up the cash and internally validate your purchase by way of whatever about wine makes you smile, then it’s a win.
Some folks I know are constantly pissed-off about buying certain wines every year just to stay on an allocation list either because of some status symbolism or because they are waiting for some 100 point unicorn to pop that will somehow be better than the 98 point wine they don’t want to buy. That seems to me to be a tiresome effort full of chasing shadows (and relying too much on pro scoring – which is a WHOLE other topic). But I understand the pull to play the allocation game and recognizing that scarcity and pro reviews can conjointly drive the market. And if you’re buying SQN you’re likely not just your soccer mom or dad grocery store connoisseur picking up a bottle on your way home from work. You already know a little something about next-level collecting, or at least about what this all-consuming hobby can do to a person’s wine psyche and his or her pocketbook. So, I’m one person who likes SQN as a whole, not because they are SQN but because the wine is friggin good…to me.
As for the Hated Hunter, it’s exactly what one would expect from this house. If it’s not for you, you’re in luck! There are THOUSANDS of wineries out there to check out. Go forth and conquer! (And this is the moment where you ask yourself, “What in the heck was that rant? I’ll never get that five minutes [ten if you’re a slow reader] of my life back after reading this!”). Yes, my friend, you’re correct. Now let’s hope you at least had a decent stem in your fist while you were enduring the likes of my train wreck thoughts. Cheers! (…cuz “Cheers” is what you’re supposed to say when flipping up your salmon-colored Izod collar, giving the two-pistoled thumb and index finger salute, and sashaying off to the valet to grab your turquoise-striped Mini Cooper)…
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Red
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2012 Sine Qua Non Syrah Touché Eleven Confessions Vineyard
Sta. Rita Hills
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Well...this is exactly as advertised. Opaque in color and impossible to see through at the core with a ruby rim at the meniscus. Honestly I didn't expect this to be the first "perfect" bottle of wine I've had from California. However, it's just that special and deserving of all the praise that others proclaim of these wines. This was opened around 10am and served with ribeye & mushroom risotto for dinner around 5:30pm. Initially it was all bold and powerful when I first pulled the cork this morning. Typical notes of black pepper, violets, and dark fruits on the nose...and the palate seemed to creep in and out of my memory for the better part of five minutes after the first sip in the morning.
7 hours in a wide-bottomed decanter:
The nose of this wine gives off layers and scents that seem inter-woven and between spices, molasses cookies, and a blend of dark fruits that seems to ebb between boysenberry, blueberry, and blackberry. The palate seems to lead from red fruits, blueberries, blackberries, and there's this weird experience I've not yet encountered. The wine seems to almost crawl through the mouth with a crashing of waves as the flavors shift. Think of the ocean tide, washing in and around boulders & rocks at the shore of the ocean. Each turn the tide shifts...and with this wine, so do the flavors. This is...hands down, the best wine I've had from California. It's true to place, varietal, and is a true pleasure to taste. I wish I could get more at the same price...a real "wow" wine.
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Red
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2014 Sine Qua Non Syrah Capo dei Putti Eleven Confessions Vineyard
Central Coast
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DAY 1: A blackberry Manhattan of Fireball whiskey bowling over the palate with overwhelming booze intensity and crunchy dark berry fruit. There's no opportunity for a mid-palate here, as it jams straight to the finish on a wacky wave of hot devil's breath up my now-singed nasal orifice. I was quite surprised at how much of a muscle car hot rod this thing was, especially given the textural accolades I believe SQN regularly typifies across vintages with other wines. This bottle of Capo dei Putti is not having any of that Hallmark love-me effusiveness going on here. This is all about a Kill Bill revenge execution of flavor right now. This isn’t going through an awkward stage; this is having an awkward life, ready to slug the next passerby who gives it even the slightest of crooked looks.
We played around with half the bottle before completely giving up and popping a 2008 SQN B20 instead (because of course, you can't just end the night on a bad SQN experience, right?!). As for the Capo dei Putti, I'll report back in 24 hours on the remainder of the bottle (cork back in and stored at cellar temperature). If nothing else, don't open these bottles right now, like, at all. Dear Lauwrd...!
DAY 2: Already signs of hope... I can taste actual flavors. Blackberry, black pen ink, black licorice, roast beef, charcuterie, and black olive. This is a monster of a wine needing at least a dozen years from vintage to come together. It’ll likely always be an Indy 500 motor oil kind of Syrah, but there is promise to be had. This was near undrinkable on day one. 95+ points on day two (I may be conservative on day two just cuz I’m still traumatized from the previous day). Hold remaining bottles until North Korea becomes capitalist and Zendaya cures cancer.
DAY 3: Holy Bajeezus this thing is a powerhouse. This has been open in bottle (not gassed or anything) for three days and is still going strong; it's allowing even more flavors to come into play: creosote, licorice, burnt embers, and some blueberry compote notes have taken the stage now. I'm still saving a bit for a fourth and final round with this bad boy tonight. I bumped the score up to 96+ points based on this showing. A fun wine to follow (but still don't recommend opening any fresh bottles any time soon).
DAY 4: The fact this wine could hold up for four days of air and continue to climb in quality performance is pretty impressive. This is the best it has been, with that Krankl texture FINALLY coming to fruition. Dark purple-black in color, with a developed viscosity that drops the dark berry fruit into a determined mid-palate. Finishes with enveloping earthy plum and black raspberry notes. The perception of heat is minimal and doesn’t distract from the core flavors at all. Overall, this wine lands in the 95-97+ point realm for me, with upside in 6-7+ years of cellar time (probably more).
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Red
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2016 Sine Qua Non Grenache Dirt Vernacular
Central Coast
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2016 Chateauneuf du Pape 99/100 point wine taste-off (and a couple of pirate Rhone wines): A couple of domestic pirates made their ways into the mix, specifically two Krankl creations (outside of the Chimere) – the Third Twin Nuestra Senora and the SQN Dirt Vernacular Grenache.
Saturated, viscous, and almost syrupy on the initial sip, the Dirt Vernacular takes a decent dose of air to really get the momentum in gear and the flavors off and running. But once they do, hold on to your tube socks, cuz it doesn’t take long to start pulsating. Deep, dark black cherry, black and red raspberry, cassis, and dark spice notes gush from the front of the attack, slathering the mid-palate and finishing decadently long and lavish.
With a long decant, the Dirt Vernacular possesses the capacities for early consumption. Ideally, I would lay this down for 5+ years just to best temper its current upfront scorching sultriness. 95-97+ points.
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Red
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2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika
Central Coast
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Opened for five hours, then decanted for three. Blueberries, turkey jerky, smoked herbs, lilies, blackberry, chocolate pudding and black pepper. Lecherous, with a full body and gossamer, yet grainy tannins. The finish will not stop, and shows this addicting lift. There’s this smokehouse aspect throughout every phase. With the established history of Sine Qua Non, one who is an admirer looks for the past comparative, regardless of the fruit source(s). I, again, take the bait. In this case she is very individualistic and unique, with transparency and elegance. I cannot find a comparative. This is mostly The Third Twin (51%) and Eleven Confessions (43%), with Cumuls being rather hot in 2018 - and a small addition (6%). The fruit quality is staggering. Drink 2025 - 2040.
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Red
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2009 Sine Qua Non Syrah This is Not An Exit Eleven Confessions Vineyard
Sta. Rita Hills
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So I got to emailing back and forth with Elaine Krankel about SQN drinking windows. She suggested that the estate wines were drinkable either within one year after release or well thereafter. She suggested that the wines were "generous," a term I like, and that they needed at least six hours of air. Since my son was returning to law school, I decided to open this and test the "first year after release" hypothesis. Take one for the team and all that. I decanted at 6 am and left it in the cellar. we drank it at 8 pm. Outstanding wine, great balance, red fruit and light smooth white pepper. Sexy smooth without being sweet. No oakiness. There is a tremendous amount here and a few more years in the bottle will generate an exceptional wine, but I do not regret opening it now.
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White
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2018 Sine Qua Non Aperta
Central Coast
White Blend more
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Halloween in the Vice Versa Cave: Round number two with the Aperta. I wrote a novella on this a couple of weeks ago on Cellar Tracker, so if you’re bored on the couch waiting for your mom to warm up your leftover Mac & Cheese, feel free to indulge on my TN from October 20th. Otherwise, suffice to say it’s a citrus, ginger, and fruit cup type of concoction that, even in its primary stage, is irresistibly arresting in its flavor profile. Air in the glass turns this bouncing Border Collie into a lively phantasmagoria of dreamy orange and yellow rollercoaster fruit. The undercurrent of tangerine and marmalade flavors are most compelling right now to me. Hold a few years to really flesh-out this soon-to-be triple digit kinetic kid. 98+ points.
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Red
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2013 Sine Qua Non Syrah ♂
Central Coast
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Rich, luscious, opulent boatloads of fruit hit the spot. Delicate? Perhaps not. But pleasing to the palate, absolutely! The fruit is perfectly ripe, black, juicy and with smoke, licorice, jam, vanilla, and black cherries. Mouth-fill and teeth staining, but also not hot, over-done or out of proportion. This is drinking really well today.
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Red
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2018 Sine Qua Non Grenache Profuga
Central Coast
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With an instant outpouring of savory and succulent black and red raspberry, cassis, purple plum, licorice, Christmas spices, soft soppressata, and hints of white pepper notes, the Profuga is a launchpad of ripe berry fruit slathering the palate with a textural superiority that pumps undulating waves of instant flavor expansion from front to back. This sneaks in a faint puff of alcohol on the tail, but the tons of fruit push past any perception of would-be distracting booze. The chewiness morphs into a melting finish that provides the perfect textural crescendo. Ah yes, the texture. It must be SQN...
This is like drinking a puffy cumulus cloud covered in berry syrup. I’m 6 years old at Swensen’s and am stopped short of burying my entire face in a colossal marshmallow and raspberry ice cream sundae topped with maraschino cherries as my cross-armed mother leers at me to behave.
These 2018s from SQN are quite compelling. Hard to believe an awkward phase is looming here, but sometimes these babies dip into a pause where they need 8-10 years from vintage to truly come into form. Well, like many-a-CdP, enjoy this now for the fun and flavor, or hold for a few years and hope to skip past any potential bumps of adolescence (if they even rise up at all).
Nevertheless, if ya wanna live for the moment, bust the cork on this and see what’s cookin’. Sure it’s young and all that, but it’s just so crazy good right now. Everyone’s got an opinion, so here’s mine: I’m a fan. This was a straight PnP that I didn’t have to baby at all. Surprisingly accessible. 97-98+ points.
Helpful hint: keep this at a cooler temperature. I was loving it best at around 50°.
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Red
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2012 Sine Qua Non Grenache Stein
Central Coast
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Napa Cabernets + SQN + others (Home): Served side-by-side with the ’12 SQN Touché. Decanted over the course of 5 hours, and followed throughout the night. PnP displayed a dark red and black core fruit profile. A little higher-toned black cherry, plum, dark cassis, red/purple plum, black rock, and some spice. Somewhat thinner and linear on the front end, with a medium-bodied mid-palate weight that pushed its flavors casually through the back end. Coated the mouth with furry tannins that ended with a bit of an abrupt finish initially. After a few hours in the decanter, this wine developed some additional weight and length. More unctuous than the first cork-pull, but still a little shy, especially on the tail.
To no one’s surprise, the Stein had trouble keeping up with the Touché. Once the Touché entered the equation for a side-by-side, any flaws existing in the Stein were only more emphasized. It’s one of those situations where the Stein is a very good wine, but the Touché just obliterated anything in its path with heightened everything. Flavor, drive, texture, weight/concentration, scaffolding…all were elevated with the Touché. It always sucks a little when the beautiful girl next door becomes instantly forgettable as soon as the rock-climbing fitness model with a Ph.D. enters the room. Ah, such is life…
Hold the Stein for another couple of years. The best sips of this wine were after at least three hours in the decanter. 94+ points, with possible upside after 2020+.
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Red
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2019 Sine Qua Non Grenache Distenta I
Central Coast
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Saturday get-together: Similar notes to my last recent sampling. I’ll just add that this displayed a cocktail cassis element that I was hoping would blow off a little faster than it did. This took some time to get into a glide and was advertising that it truly needs time to fully come together. All that said, the purity of fruit, and the ripe, delicious presentation of flavor is certainly on the right track. As mentioned in my previous note earlier this month, it is surging with flavor, but they haven’t found a way to integrate in full harmony just yet (to no surprise; it’s a 2019 SQN!). I’ll wait another 7+ years for the more savory and meatier notes to emerge. Right now, it’s kinda brawny and slightly angular on the finish. I like the wildness of the red berry fruit, but I’m gonna hold off for the dance party to settle down a bit… I am getting older these days, ya know…
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Red
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2011 Sine Qua Non Syrah Dark Blossom
Central Coast
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Nose is spice and a hint of cinnamon
First sip, slides by, all the usual taste bud road signs are passed, good, nice, smooth, special, holy shit, than rings the bell.
Not so easy I think, can't give a wine a hundred points just because I like it, lets get analytical.
Very rich, but also very light, humm, concentrated fruit, but again, more like a scent than a flavor.
I'm unsure, must take another sip, I'm in the leather store, my nose is enjoying the Italian loafers, only $800, that's the smell, I mean taste.
Must take another sip, Wow, tannins like leather stilettos, there, than removed.
So your reading this and thinking, should I or shouldn't I, go for it, you know you want it, glad I did.
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Red
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2011 Sine Qua Non Grenache Patine Eleven Confessions Vineyard
Sta. Rita Hills
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Really nice wine once it opened up - which was only into the second glass, quite unexpected. I tasted this third, with the 1985 Mouton first, followed by the 2001 Araujo Eisele - it seems that was the perfect serving order, this being, not surprisingly, the big boy of that flight. And while I didn't really care for the first glass - some sweet torrefaction was/is a pretty big turn off for me - by the second glass this had really whipped into shape, offering precision, detail and very good purity. IIRC, this saw extended time on oak, yet there's really no sign of it; it's a balanced wine with a good future ahead of it. Not in the epic category for me, but very good > excellent, to be sure. recommended
PnP, served non-blind; suggest an hour of aeration prior to service.
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Red
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2012 Sine Qua Non Grenache Stein
Central Coast
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My first SQN and it did not disappoint. The dark, exotic aromatics are intensified I think by the high alcohol… It was like a science experiment that kept releasing perfume. This bottle was decanted for about an hour before we tried it. Easily the best American Grenache i’ve ever had – everything in check, this wine had no trace of confection. If presented itself as ripe without being cloying and pure without being monochromatic. Very good length and not a trace of heat. Special bottle
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Red
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2017 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Hated Hunter
Central Coast
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Wowow! Yet another homerun from SQN! Sooo rich, so full, so highly enjoyable and balanced at the same time! Huge amounts of tannins, which are so perfectly ripe, that the wine just comes across as soft, luxurious, caressing! How is it possible with these dimensions and 15.9% alcohol? It even retains a sense of vibrancy and energy that is just defying what should be possible for this super ripe style of wine! Lot's of syrah smoke, pata negra, espresso roast, chocolate and an incredible length. In a way, this is perfect, so I could see it being rated a 100p eventually, when it reaches the complex plateau of maturity with the perfect balance of primary and secondary notes, which it already posseses in spades, and then when the tertiary development shows without overtaking the wine. When will this be? Probably at least 15 years from now. Great great incredible wine!
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White
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2019 Sine Qua Non Distenta White I
Central Coast
White Blend more
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A Little Havana disco-pulse ultra-club kaleidoscopic fruit bowl bonanza of butterscotch schnapps, honey hot toddy, fresh pineapple, unripe mango, dry hay, fresh corn, and limoncello mojito, the Distenta I rolls on to the Miami red (or perhaps tangy tangerine?) carpet with anything but an "unlabeled" or anonymous posture. With more upfront power and boom-boom energy than its 2018 Aperta sibling, the Distenta I is the first to arrive and last to leave the party.
...Into the decanter you go Mr. MJ Madman Moonwalk Shi'mownah Circle Slide Guy...
With about three hours of crunching on open O2, the Distenta's boozy bearing becomes sufficiently bushed, permitting its other partygoer parts to make their ways to the dance floor. Still, the vigor stays a bit ballooned and unbridled, flailing like a husky hysteric air tube dancer at times. It's kinda like an all-neck Gold's Gym pectoralis major type guy trying to bust out some kind of handspring acro dance. The Distenta pulls it off, but one does wonder at first if John Cena was the right casting selection for Cirque du Soleil.
While the 2018 Aperta is a concoction of 38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 6% Petit Manseng, and 9% Muscat, the Distenta I is a blend of 41% Roussanne, 26% Chardonnay, 14% Petit Manseng, 12% Viognier, and 7% Gelber Muskateller (whatever the heck that last grape is). The heavier Roussanne component in the Distenta may account in part for its pompous potency on the initial pull of the cork... Or perhaps its that 3 Muscat-teer grape causing the extra sass.
Hold this for a couple of years, or give it a healthy decant so it doesn't initially hit you in the face with its flailing firewater fists on the finish. The Krankl texture is in the shadows a bit right now. Some welcomed oiliness offers dabs of polish, but it needs to crash on the couch for a few years before it becomes more Gene Kelly. 95-97 point potential.
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Red
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2017 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Hated Hunter
Central Coast
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1 of 2:
Black cherry syrup, muddled blackberry, vanillin-laced bruised strawberry, and hints of leather and olive lead the initial charge on this broad-shouldered and athletic Syrah. With air, purple plum, black olive, and warm saddle leather develop further into the overall profile, though the berry fruits are at the tip of the sword throughout most of the main execution. The finish, which was initially clipped by fleeting passings of heat, quickly rounded-out the back end and permitted its flavor-legs to stretch further, with the black cherry note dominating. Purity of fruit is evident here, as are the pulsating flavor waves that are just waiting to expand and cascade once some further integration from short-term cellaring is achieved.
As is typically the case with any Krankl concoction, the Hated Hunter may show archetypal youthful unresolve, but there is a lurking sophistication and undulating push of complex flavors interwoven with the wood and berry elements. Decanting is an absolute must at this stage (such is the case with any SQN to which one is scientifically willing to sacrifice at such a spritely age). With a few hours of decanted air at cool cellar temperature, distinguished depth and layered flavorings can be markedly achieved, making for signs of real promise here. A wine best after 2025+. 97+ points.
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White
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2013 Sine Qua Non Résisté
Central Coast
White Rhone Blend more
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Already fun to drink, deep yellow in color, with a nose of white peach, flowers, honeysuckle, spice, lemon peel and candied grapefruit, with a touch of vanilla bean to round things out, the wine is rich, lush and concentrated, but not over the top. Lively, sweet, unctuous citrus fruits create the finish. The wine was made from a blend of 45% Roussanne, 26% Chardonnay, 14% Petite Manseng, 10% Viognier and 5% Marsanne and was aged in a combination of 46% new, French oak barrels, concrete egg shaped vats and used French oak barrels for 19 months before bottling.
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Red
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2019 Sine Qua Non Syrah Distenta I
Central Coast
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A Wine Fueled Goodbye to 2023; 12/29/2023-12/31/2023 (College Station, TX): This might have been my best ever SQN to date. Hard to believe given my penchant for a little age and a 3 day decant.
In this case a 1 hour double decant and consumed over dinner with AGELVIS and our spouses. This wine just exploded with flavor, so much fruit but also ever changing complexity. See Ag’s review for all the crazy descriptors but I have to say I concur.
The other amazing thing was we were drinking from crappy restaurant glasses and the aromas were still jumping out of the glass.
Originally, I was just killing a baby for Ag’s benefit. But now I am in a quandry, should I drink them all this young?
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Red
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2019 Sine Qua Non Syrah Distenta I
Central Coast
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Decanted for five hours. Ever since Papa in 2003, I have experienced every vintage of the Syrah from Sine Qua Non at a very young age. With that stated, this is without a doubt my favorite yet. Absolutely empyrean, the balance and depth are legendary, with this extra fathom that just draws you in. Crushed velvet tannins that end with a grainy presence. Blueberries, barbecue pit, fresh red fruit medley, smoked bacon, Kona coffee, freesia and crushed granite. Full and so lithe, this has the ability to age exceptionally well. There are not enough superlatives. Perfection with an illustrious texture. Drink 2025 -.
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Red
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2013 Sine Qua Non Syrah ♂
Central Coast
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Want something, sometimes you have to do it yourself.
Truck dropped the load today.
Opened hours ago.
At first, it was sound asleep.
Now, the glass is two feet away and its perfume is filling the room.
First sip, Drumroll Please...... (Rat-a-tat-tat)
Tart leather, my palate is drooling from the taste.
Second sip, smoother, taste buds have shook off the initial shock and awe and are calibrating to the massive burst of flavors.
Sour cherry, leather, and pepper.
Time for some dinner, will sip more latter
Dinner was some lump crab cakes, home made of course, and angel hair pasta, I'm stuffed.
Back to the wine
Nose is hinting at morning bacon.
Has that thin watery palate feel, you know, not heavy.
The sour cherry has faded into dark black unsweetened currants, faint vanilla on the close.
Does not have the silky panty remover quality of some prior vintages
The style reminds me of Northern Rhône, call it M's, Ode to Hermitage.
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Red
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2012 Sine Qua Non Syrah Touché Eleven Confessions Vineyard
Sta. Rita Hills
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Napa Cabernets + SQN + others (Home): Served side-by-side with the ’12 SQN Stein. Not surprisingly, the Touché was one of the wines of the night, and especially unfortunate for the 2012 SQN Stein, which received a serving up of a good ‘ol fashioned can of whoop-whoop from the Touché. Like the Stein, the Touché took a few hours in the decanter to fully come to life. But it was on a quick ascent of awesomeness from the word go.
Amazing levels of balanced concentration, texture, and complexity, with a meatier quality about it that elevated the core blackberry and black raspberry fruit flavors. Railroad tie, purple licorice, campfire, pulverized black river rock, and faint incense and floral notes all danced across the palate with total seamlessness. Everything was in check. The best sips were after a couple of hours in the decanter.
In a year or two, this will likely be a 100 point wine. Hold until 2020. The best SQN I’ve had to date.
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Red
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2016 Sine Qua Non Grenache Dirt Vernacular
Central Coast
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OMFG !! This is quite possibly the greatest grenache I have tried from SQN! And it has been quite a few through the years! Deep, dark and brooding colour, with only the ruby stints revealing this is grenache. Had it been syrah it would have been opaque purple. Incredibly pronounced intensity nose bursting with all sorts of goodness from both variety, climate and winemaking. The red and dark raspberry/blackberry notes mixed with notions of candied/liquored berries are very much grenache and the ripe elements and body speak to the climate. To boot, there are notes of woodsmoke and creosote mixed with some malo-toffee and coffee. The mixed in varities play beautiful second violin and makes me think I might probably guess syrah on this one if it had been served blind to me. There are notes of pine roast, clove spice, nutmeg, olive tapenade, black and white pepper and an overall very savoury profile to this behemoth of a wine bomb. So much so that this otherwise Burgundy Lover kept finding myself longing for the next sip and coming back for more. I guess I would have rated this 100 ten years ago, but the warmth creeping in into the finish keeps me from doing that today. It is 16% abv after all and I have grown to realize that no wine can hide that from me. But wow oh wow, what a glorious wine! So happy I opened it. I guess I managed to peek in before it closed down or got hit by travel sickness. Yeehaw!!
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