Sine Qua Non
About Sine Qua Non
There really is no winery quite like Sine Qua Non (means “something essential”). Manfred and Elaine Krankl followed in that noblest of Californian winery traditions in 1994, building one of the world's greatest estates from the ground up in Ventura County (Central Coast AVA). Founded from passion for the land and a relentless desire to produce simply the best wines that they could, Antonio Galloni (Vinous) declared that "the sheer drive for perfection and attention to detail at Sine Qua Non is something I have rarely witnessed anywhere else in the world".
Today, Sine Qua Non is probably the quintessential tiny production, cult winemaker, producing just 4,000 cases a year across a number of wines made from different vineyards. The huge global demand is based on the critical acclaim for almost the winery produces. It takes years to get onto the mailing list, and the wines almost never come back onto the market once purchased. Older vintages are occasionally sold at auction for stratospheric prices.
Sine Qua Nons' Wines
Manfred Krankl (an Austrian immigrant in California) and his wines break all the rules. There is no standard label, every wine is named differently (every year). There is no marketing. The wines are sold via mailing list and have grown via word of mouth (and critical acclaim). Even the grapes are different – predominantly Rhône Valley varietals like Syrah and Grenache.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 1 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$5,120.78 |
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California | 1 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$2,771.04 |
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The collection case contains: - Sine Qua Non "Ratsel" 2016 (1x150cl) - 100 (JD) | 99 (WA) - Sine Qua Non "Dirt Vernacular" 2016 (1x150cl) - 100 (JD) | 98+ (WA) Sine Que Non "Ratsel" 2016 is, in the words of Dunnuck, "pure perfection in Syrah". A truly majestic grape which is often wrongly overlooked in favour of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Syrah can achieve things the others simply cannot, especially in the hands of those who have completely mastered it - Ratsel is massively concentrated and intense but retains a savoury edge to just season the layers-upon-layers of fruit, keeping this wine almost addictive. Perfectly balanced with ultra-fine tannins, its finish is seemingly endless yet utterly weightless. Whilst "Dirt Vernacular" is technically a blend, close to 80% of this wine is Grenache and it is this slightly more niche grape that really sings throughout the cuvee. Describing it as "straight-up heavenly stuff that tops out on my scale this year", Dunnuck once again found perfection in a 2016 Rhone varietal from Sine Qua Non. Grenache of this caliber is formidably structured yet exquisitely layered. The aromas of kirsch, berries, dark fruits, graphite, granite and fresh herbs never overwhelm, but rather introduce themselves with confidence and authority. The Krankls signature ability to combine power with elegance is yet again felt in this wine - one of the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made in California. |
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California | 2 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$5,500.91 |
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California | 1 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$5,621.75 |
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Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 1 | - |
In Bond
SG$4,635.00 |
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California | 1 | - |
In Bond
SG$2,500.00 |
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The collection case contains: - Sine Qua Non "Ratsel" 2016 (1x150cl) - 100 (JD) | 99 (WA) - Sine Qua Non "Dirt Vernacular" 2016 (1x150cl) - 100 (JD) | 98+ (WA) Sine Que Non "Ratsel" 2016 is, in the words of Dunnuck, "pure perfection in Syrah". A truly majestic grape which is often wrongly overlooked in favour of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Syrah can achieve things the others simply cannot, especially in the hands of those who have completely mastered it - Ratsel is massively concentrated and intense but retains a savoury edge to just season the layers-upon-layers of fruit, keeping this wine almost addictive. Perfectly balanced with ultra-fine tannins, its finish is seemingly endless yet utterly weightless. Whilst "Dirt Vernacular" is technically a blend, close to 80% of this wine is Grenache and it is this slightly more niche grape that really sings throughout the cuvee. Describing it as "straight-up heavenly stuff that tops out on my scale this year", Dunnuck once again found perfection in a 2016 Rhone varietal from Sine Qua Non. Grenache of this caliber is formidably structured yet exquisitely layered. The aromas of kirsch, berries, dark fruits, graphite, granite and fresh herbs never overwhelm, but rather introduce themselves with confidence and authority. The Krankls signature ability to combine power with elegance is yet again felt in this wine - one of the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made in California. |
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|
California | 2 | - |
In Bond
SG$5,005.00 |
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|
California | 1 | - |
In Bond
SG$5,095.00 |
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