Sine Qua Non, Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Central Coast, California, 2022

Overview of the Wine
Sine Qua Non was created after the 1994 harvest of a Bien Nacido Syrah named “The Queen of Spades”. Winemaker Manfred Krankl feels strongly that each vintage is a completely unique wine and thus he gives each wine a unique name. He also creates the artwork for each new label himself. Previously, Manfred had made wines with Bryan Babcock and John Alban and still sources much of his fruit from Alban’s vineyard. The basic white wines have always been a white blend of Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier and a red wine based on Syrah plus Grenache. Sometimes there are small quantities of Rose and a Grenache-based red.

Sine Qua Non has its own winemaking facility in Ventura, California not far from the Santa Barbara vineyards where the fruit is sourced from. In the last few years Manfred and his wife, Elaine, have begun creating their own vineyards dedicated to Rhone varietals. Their winemaking philosophy is to work in very small batches, gravity flow, natural yeasts (unless a fermentation problem is anticipated), long lees aging for the whites and repeated racking for the reds to open them up. This is a modified explanation of a very dedicated and artistic approach to winemaking. The wines are simultaneously very rich and elegant, superbly balanced and thoroughly harmonious with food, never overwhelming.

Winemaker
Manfred Krakl

Grape / Blend (2021 Vintage)
86.1% Grenache, 8.5% Syrah, 4.4% Petite Sirah and 1% Viognier

Origin
Central Coast, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Quite dark for Grenache, but brilliant...even sparkly. Right away it is forward, sprite and lively. There is a singing nose with a dark backdrop. I get tones of pomegranate and a nuance of sap from the under-the-bark limb of a tree. Fresh spring herbs too. The mouth is fanned out and broad with quiet notes of chopped olives. The wine is very soft and gentle, but has amazing persistence. A mild and caressing finish sticks with you until the cows come home. The longer it sits in the glass, the better it gets. It is sneaky, very supple and mind-blowingly determined.

98 Points - Vinous (2021 Vintage)
The 2021 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is a showstopper, a stunning wine of unimpeachable pedigree and finesse. For all its intensity, it remains cool-toned and remarkably graceful, with layers of red fruit, spice and lavender unfurling in a finish that fans out like a peacock's tail. Iron-tinged minerality lends striking complexity and underlines the wine's stature. The cool growing season endowed this Grenache with a sense of weightlessness and transparency. The 2021 is remarkably fresh and joyful after 38 months in barrel. The blend is 86.1 Grenache, 8.5% Syrah, 4.4% Petite Sirah and 1% Viognier, with 55% whole clusters. 

Product size: 750ml