Sine Qua Non, Distenta V Syrah, California 2022

Sine Qua Non, Manfred and Elaine Krankl's Ventura County winery, makes about 3,500 cases of Rhône-variety wines: Syrah-, Grenache- and Mourvèdre-based reds, whites from Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne. Since 2020 every grape is estate-grown: Eleven Confessions in the Sta. Rita Hills (33 acres, Alban-clone Grenache), Cumulus at Oak View, which supplies the sister label Next of Kyn, 1.5-acre Molly Aida in Tepusquet Canyon for blending, and the Los Alamos vineyard behind The Third Twin. Krankl often keeps whole clusters, sometimes co-ferments a little white, and ages in French oak, mostly demi-muids. Young wines are rich, perfumed and often above 15% alcohol; after a dozen or so years in bottle they turn savoury and floral.

Region

Ventura County (Oak View) and California's Central Coast

Owner

Manfred and Elaine Krankl

Vineyards

Eleven Confessions (Sta. Rita Hills, 33 acres), Cumulus (Oak View), Molly Aida (Tepusquet Canyon, 1.5 acres), The Third Twin (Los Alamos)

Grapes

Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre; Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne

Wines

Syrah- and Grenache-based blends; Eleven Confessions and The Third Twin single-vineyard wines; sister label Next of Kyn

Style

Concentrated, perfumed, often over 15% alcohol; whole clusters, French demi-muids

Sources: Wikipedia, thewineindependent.com