Sine Qua Non 2020: Distenta II Grenache
Sine Qua Non 2020: Distenta II Grenache – alternate view 2
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Sine Qua Non 2020: Distenta II Grenache

Sine Qua Non
$240.00

Grape: Grenache
Vintage: 2020
Type: Red

This low-intervention red wine is a pure estate expression of grenache produced under the Distenta II label in California. Winemaker Manfred Krankl utilizes hand-harvested fruit from regeneratively farmed vineyards including Eleven Confessions, Third Twin, and Cumulus. The grapes undergo a spontaneous native yeast fermentation with a high proportion of whole clusters inside traditional open-top wood vats, avoiding modern additions. It undergoes a natural maturation process, aging for nearly two years in French oak casks before being bottled unfiltered.

It pours a dark ruby color with purple edges, opening with expressive aromatics of wild raspberry, dark plum, and dried violet petals. On the palate, the full-bodied, structured frame balances a concentrated fruit core with a firm line of fine-grained tannins. Savory layers of cracked black pepper, tobacco leaf, and underbrush add depth across the fluid mouthfeel. A clean line of natural acidity cuts through the volume, maintaining great focus and freshness.

Winery

Manfred Krankl was born in Austria. Following an education capped by a degree from the Hotel School in Gmunden, Austria, in 1980, Manfred Krankl moved and settled in Los Angeles, California where he met his future wife and partner Elaine. In Los Angeles, Manfred Krankl worked a myriad of jobs before starting his tenure as the director of wines at Campanile in 1989. At the same time, Manfred Krankl began conducting his first experiments as a wine maker. His initial efforts were produced in partnership with other, younger, but already established efforts. The first two releases were from the 1990 vintage.

Sine Qua Non was officially founded in 1994, by Manfred and Elaine Krankl, within a few years, Sine Qua Non began making the benchmark wines for Rhone wine varietals produced in California. The first official release from Sine Qua Non, “1994 Queen of Spades” is one of the most collectible and expensive wines made in the history of California. Produced from 100% Syrah, a whopping 100 cases were produced.There is no winery on earth that competes with what Manfred and Elaine Krankl have done at Sine Qua Non for creativity. Since 1990, Manfred Krankl has produced unique wines in every vintage he has produced before and after creating Sine Qua Non.

Not only do all of the wines have different blends year after year, but each wine has a unique name, label and bottle shape. The wine and the bottles are hand crafted works of art. Each label created and designed by Manfred Krankl.

Sine Qua Non is a wine many Rhone wine fans claim is an essential element in their cellar. Some collectors say the wines are indispensable. This makes sense when you consider that Sine Qua Non is an archaic, Latin legal term which is loosely translated into an essential action, condition, or ingredient, that without which, something cannot be. This is clearly the case because Sine Qua Non holds the record for the highest price paid for a single bottle of a contemporary wine as well as for the most expensive bottle of California wine.