Sine Qua Non Winery

Full deep ruby. Superripe, nuanced aromas of cassis, blackberry, raspberry, hickory smoke, smoked meat and milk chocolate; rather Hermitage-like. Creamy and seamless in the mouth, but firm acids and underlying minerality give... Read More

I wasn’t able to taste this wine last year, because the Krankl’s didn’t believe it was ready. “I held this white back longer in barrel,” Manfred said. “The more I saw it in barrel on the lees,... Read More

The 2014 Syrah Capo dei Putti saw an amazing 38 months in fully 94% new oak, and it was showing superbly when I tasted it, unfurling in the glass with brooding aromas of blackberry preserve, cherries, bay leaf and a remarkably... Read More

The 2014 Syrah Capo dei Putti saw an amazing 38 months in fully 94% new oak, and it was showing superbly when I tasted it, unfurling in the glass with brooding aromas of blackberry preserve, cherries, bay leaf and a remarkably... Read More

(no tasting note available)

The 2007 Grenache Dangerous Birds, from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, is a big, huge wine loaded with dark cherries, plums, licorice and smoke, all of which come together in a sensual, captivating wine of the highest level.... Read More

The 2007 Syrah Dangerous Birds, from Eleven Confessions, includes 4.5% Grenache and 2.5% Viognier, all fully destemmed. It is a seamless, show stopper of the highest level. The fruit is decidedly opulent in the 2007, while the... Read More

The 2011 Grenache Dark Blossom emerges from the glass with darker tonalities of fruit and firmer tannin compared to the 2012. Vivid, complex and nuanced, the 2011 is flat-out stunning today. Grilled herbs, smoke, sage, mint and... Read More

The 2016 Grenache No Name Yet is fabulous. Rich and voluptuous in the glass, with immense fruit intensity, the 2016 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. The 43% whole clusters (mostly from the Grenache) are nearly buried by... Read More

The 2019 Grenache Distenta I is composed of 76% Grenache, 9.3% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 4.3% Petite Sirah and 2.4% Viognier. It was fermented with 43.5% whole clusters (predominantly Grenache) and matured for 23 months in 26.5%... Read More

The 2019 White Wine Distenta 1 is a stunning—and unique—blend of 41% Roussanne, 26% Chardonnay, 14% Petit Manseng, 12% Viognier and 7% Gelber Muskateller. Fruit comes mostly from estate vineyards, with 46% from Eleven... Read More

Still in barrel, the 2020 Grenache Distenta 11 is a blend of 77.9% Grenache, 9.4% Mourvèdre, 7.9% Syrah, 4.3% Petite Sirah and 0.5% Viognier. Fruit comes entirely from the Krankls' estate vineyards: Eleven Confessions... Read More

Still in barrel, the 2020 Syrah Distenta 11 is a blend of 82.9% Syrah, 7.5% Grenache, 3.9% Mourvèdre, 3.4% Petite Sirah and 2.3% white (1.5% Muskat and 0.8% Petit Manseng, to be precise). It comes entirely from estate vineyards:... Read More

The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is slow to unfold but stunning once it opens, featuring layered aromas of cassis, coffee beans, garrigue and cracked pepper before segueing to soaring floral perfume. A blend of 82% Syrah,... Read More

Huge tannins wrap around a core of voluptuous fruit in the 2013 Grenache Female. Dark-fleshed fruit, graphite, spices, savory herbs and lavender are some of the signatures. Today, the 2013 is quite imposing and shut down, so readers... Read More

The 2010 Grenache Five Shooter has turned out even better than I had expected. An utterly vivid, compelling wine, the 2010 is supported by persistent notes of graphite-infused minerality that give the wine much of its energy.... Read More

I have tasted the 2010 Syrah Five Shooter on numerous occasions, and it has never been anything less than stellar. A stunning, expressive bouquet melds into layers of dark fruit, black pepper, sage, menthol, minerals and spices,... Read More

(includes 12% syrah and 4% viognier) Opaque ruby. A wild bouquet exudes scents of candied red and dark berries, incense, smoked meat and black olive. I'd have guessed that there was a lot more syrah in here. Lush and palate-coating... Read More

A darker, more potent side of Grenache comes through in the 2013 Grenache Jusqu'à l'Os. This powerhouse wine is nowhere near ready to drink. Swaths of tannin enshroud a core of plum, dark fruit in this muscular, brooding... Read More

The 2015 Grenache Le Chemin Vers L'Heresie is a blend of 75% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre, 8% Touriga Nacional and 4% Petite Sirah, coming 35% from The Third Twin (Estate) Vineyard, 9% from Bien Nacido Vineyard, 28% from the Cumulus... Read More

Blackberry jam, mocha, chocolate and dark spices give the 2013 Syrah Male much of its deep, powerful personality. This is an especially large-scaled, ample Syrah. Today, though, the 2013 is a bit monolithic. Time in the glass... Read More

The 2011 Grenache Patine has turned out beautifully. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, spice and leather meld together in the glass as this savory, beautifully layered wine opens up. Herb, graphite, smoke, sage and tobacco add shades... Read More

(87% grenache, 11.5% syrah and 1.5% viognier) Deep, bright ruby. Wild aromas of black raspberry compote, mocha, Asian spices and incense. Expansive and deeply concentrated, with obvious sweetness to its very intense red fruit,... Read More

A wild, exotic wine, the 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance hits the palate with serious richness, power and voluptuousness. This is in a decidedly lush, exotic style. A rush of super-ripe, intense fruit builds into a flamboyant finish... Read More

The 2018 Grenache Profuga is glorious. Sweet, nuanced and exquisitely perfumed, the 2018 possesses terrific energy and plenty of verve. A rush of ripe red/purplish berry fruit, mint, blood orange, pomegranate and cinnamon races... Read More

The 2016 Syrah No Name Yet is another wine that shows just how fabulous the 2016 vintage is. Powerful, dense and resonant, the 2016 is a wonderfully complete wine. Hints of smoke, tobacco and grilled herbs are woven throughout... Read More

The 2012 Grenache Rattrapante, from Eleven Confessions, is deep, powerful and voluptuous, with a striking interplay of fruit, structure and overall intensity. Thus is another wine that is going to need time to fully come together.... Read More

A wine of precision and nuance, the 2014 Grenache Shakti has turned out beautifully since I last tasted it. Dark red and plum fruit, herbs, spices and rose petal jump from the glass. The flavors are beautifully delineated in this... Read More

(includes 3.5% viognier) Inky violet. Captivating, varietally expressive nose melds cassis, boysenberry, olive tapenade, cracked pepper, licorice and Indian spices. Suave, velvety and deeply concentrated, with restrained sweetness... Read More

The 2012 Grenache Stein is incredibly refined, silky and pure, with bright red and blue-hued fruits. Today, the flavors are primary, so readers will have to be patient get the full breadth of aromas, flavors and textures. The... Read More

The 2012 Syrah Stock has come together beautifully since I last tasted it a year ago. In particular, the Stock seems to have gained a measure of focus and precision I did not see back then. The inclusion of 32% whole clusters... Read More

Tectumque means "shelter" in Latin. This wine was initially going to be called "Inconnue" ("unknown" in French), but that name had already been trademarked. "Naming wines is becoming impossible," mentioned Manfred. "Everything... Read More

The 2014 Grenache Testa dei Cherubini saw fully 37.5 months in wood, some 25% new, but its influence is imperceptible; the wine is strikingly pure and vibrant. Krankl commented that the longer the wines spend in barrel, the more... Read More

The 2014 Grenache Testa dei Cherubini saw fully 37.5 months in wood, some 25% new, but its influence is imperceptible; the wine is strikingly pure and vibrant. Krankl commented that the longer the wines spend in barrel, the more... Read More

The 2008 Grenache The Duel, from the estate's Eleven Confessions Vineyard, bursts from the glass with dark cherries, mint and crushed flowers. Initially quite powerful, The Duel turns increasingly elegant on the mid-palate.... Read More

The 2018 Nuestra Señora del Tercer Gemelo is based on Petite Sirah this year. Rich and ample and explosive, the 2018 is wonderfully exotic, dense and full-throttle. Blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, menthol and licorice are some... Read More

The 2019 Nuestra Senora Del Tercer Gemelo, entirely from The Third Twin estate vineyard, is composed of 33% Grenache, 23.5% Syrah, 19% Mourvèdre, 19% Petite Sirah, 4% Graciano and 1.5% Muskat. I love Muskat in red wines,... Read More

The 2009 Syrah This is Not an Exit seems to still be showing some of the effects of its recent bottling, about a month and a half before this tasting. Like the 2009 Grenache This is Not an Exit, the Syrah is rich, powerful and... Read More

A quintessential Sine Qua Non wine, the 2012 Syrah Touché is off the charts. Rich, seamless and voluptuous, the 2012 exudes concentration and flamboyance. Red cherry jam, plum, spice, licorice, pomegranate and new leather flesh... Read More

The 2009 Grenache Upside Down emerges from the glass with layers of dark red fruit as it sweeps across the palate. There is an inner sweetness and sheer depth that make the 2009 compelling. The 11% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre make... Read More

The 2018 Syrah Squeezebox is another absolutely exquisite wine from Elaine and Manfred Krankl. Rich, deep and potent to the core, the 2018 captures a striking mix of lush fruit as well as the energy of the year. All the elements... Read More