Sine Qua Non, 'Ratsel' Syrah, California, 2016

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 Krankl

Grape / Blend
81% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 5% Petite Sirah, 2.5% Grenache and 4.5% Viognier

Origin
Central Coast, California

Tasting Notes 
Deep garnet-purple in color, this Syrah from the relatively effortless, beautifully harmonious 2016 vintage comes blasting from the glass with notions of baked plums, black cherries, blackberry compote, licorice, spice cake and mocha plus sparks of cedar chest, lilacs, menthol and pencil lead. 

100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Syrah Rätsel 16 showed incredibly from barrel and it certainly doesn’t disappoint from bottle. Pure perfection in Syrah, this beauty boasts a deep purple hue as well as a stacked bouquet of ripe blackberries, cured meats, scorched earth, white pepper, white chocolate, and bacon fat. Deep, full-bodied, and massively concentrated, it builds incrementally on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won’t quit. I struggle to think of another wine that delivers this level of intensity without any sensation of weight or heaviness.

99 Points - Wine Advocate
Made exclusively from estate-grown fruit, the 2016 Syrah Rätsel 16 is composed of 81% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 5% Petite Sirah, 2.5% Grenache and 4.5% Viognier that was fermented with 47% whole cluster. The vineyard sources are 47% Eleven Confessions, 38% The Third Twin, 13% Cumulus and 2% Molly Aida. It was aged for around 23 months in French oak, 47% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, this Syrah from the relatively effortless, beautifully harmonious 2016 vintage comes blasting from the glass with notions of baked plums, black cherries, blackberry compote, licorice, spice cake and mocha plus sparks of cedar chest, lilacs, menthol and pencil lead. Big, full-bodied and opulently fruited, the mouth is completely coated with firm, unabashedly super plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with bags of bright fruit and fantastic energy. If a wine can be electric, this is off the charts high-voltage! 1,791 cases and 600 magnums were produced. 

98 Points - Vinous
A dark, beguiling beauty, the 2016 Syrah Rätsel 16 is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Layers of flavor build effortlessly as this rich, layered Syrah shows off its considerable allure. Blackberry jam, lavender, spice, menthol, chocolate and licorice build into the sumptuous finish. This is another wine in the range that is bursting at the seams with energy and vibrancy, as if expressing the purest essence of life. I loved it.

Product size: 750ml