75cl
Syrah Distenta I 2019 Sine Qua Non
Vendor code : 208
Sine Qua Non is a top сalifornian producer, specializing in Rhone grapes and a handful of others. Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne and Viognier play the title role. The brand has become a cult since the beginning. Small volumes mean that demand constantly exceeds supply. Signing a contract with Sine Qua Non means earning a lot of trust. Style: rich, bright, aromatic wines.
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Don't let the name fool you, because this vintage also contains small proportions of Grenache, Petit Syrah, Mourvedre and even white varieties - Muscat, Petit Manseng. The wine is aged 23 months in 43% new French oak. In a bright, expressive, sexy aroma, hints of lavender, blackcurrant, coffee, wild herbs and juicy fruits. Intense taste, beautifully detailed, complemented by floral accents. Delicious!
We'd like to describe Sine Qua Non in a not quite standard way, or rather not quite using the kind of wine vocabulary you might often expect. For those familiar with Sine Qua Non wines, you already know they are created by the exceptional couple, Elaine and Manfred. Elaine once shared the story of how her connection with Manfred began with a copy of Charles Bukowski's novel "The Post Office," which he gave her when they first started dating. It's a book that presents Bukowski as a pessimistic, bar-loving, overly intellectual underdog who oscillates between working at the post office, gambling, and, perhaps most importantly to, embracing a vagabond lifestyle with a penchant for alcohol. It's not exactly a romantic sonnet, but to appreciate the wines of Sine Qua Non, you don't necessarily need to be a fan of Bukowski, but we like to believe that this literary reference offers a glimpse into the winery's essence. There's unquestionable skill, artistry, genius, and craftsmanship in everything they create. However, at the core of each wine lies something primal and unrefined, providing instant satisfaction and hedonistic pleasure. So, if you're a Sine Qua Non enthusiast, you can rest assured that these latest releases will not disappoint.
Reviews from critics
100/100
4 points
95-100
4
90-94
0
85-89
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80-84
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75-79
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0-74
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Vinous
The 2019 Syrah Distenta I is gorgeous. Dark, seamless and layered, the 2019 boasts phenomenal balance and intensity. Plush black fruit, plum, licorice, chocolate and incense build as the 2019 gently unfurls in the glass. There's real depth and texture here. Touches of Grenache, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Muscat and Petite Manseng round out the blend. I am not sure what else is left to say about Elaine and Manfred Krankl. I see the same enthusiasm and child-like wonder today that I saw a dozen years ago when I first started tasting here, something that is made all the more remarkable by the passage of time and the natural highs and lows of life that ran through those years. The biggest development at Sine Qua Non is the increasing use, almost exclusively now, of estate fruit. ...The wines are pretty much as they have always been: bold, luscious and imbued with the personality of two of California’s most inspired winemakers. Published: 8/2022
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Syrah Distenta I is brilliant, and certainly one of the Syrahs of the vintage. Sporting a vivid ruby, almost opaque hue, it offers awesome, textbook Syrah notes of assorted red and blackberry fruits, bacon fat, smoked meat, and an incredible floral character that develops with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's a more elegant, restrained Sine Qua Non revealing flawless balance, beautiful freshness and elegance, silky tannins, and one heck of a finish. Still a baby that needs a lengthy decant if drinking any time soon (this bottle showed best on the second day, at which point it was drunk), it will benefit from a solid 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades after that. Published: 8/2022
Wine Advocate
Lisa Perrotti-Brown: “The 2019 Syrah Distenta I is composed of 83.6% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre, 5.2% Petite Sirah, 6.2% Grenache, 1.4% Muscat and 0.6% Petit Manseng. “I think Muscat is the number-one white grape for me to blend with reds,” Manfred told me last year. “It kinda triples the effect of the wine.” The red winemaking included 33% whole cluster. The vineyard sources for this wine are 35% The Third Twin, 33% Eleven Confessions, 31% Cumulus and 1% Molly Aida—all estate-owned vineyards. This wine was bottled at the end of July 2021, after 23 months in French oak, 43% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it erupts from the glass with a powerfully fragrant nose of red roses, Morello cherries, boysenberries and juicy blueberries, followed by hints of mocha, star anise, cardamom and cassia. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with bright, crunchy black, blue and red fruits. It has a rock-solid structure of firm, finely-grained tannins and seamless freshness lifting the shimmering layers to a long, energetic finish. The complexity and vivacity of this Syrah are simply jaw-dropping! 1,999 cases and 600 magnums were made. This wine is due to be released in spring 2022.” Published: Aug 19, 2021
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