2015 | Sine Qua Non | Next of Kyn IX

Deep garnet-purple, the nose unabashedly struts its stuff, giving up flamboyant plum preserves, blackberry compote.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: Deep garnet-purple, the nose unabashedly struts its stuff, giving up flamboyant plum preserves, blackberry compote, Black Forest cake and star anise notes with hints of Sichuan pepper, forest floor, lavender, lilacs, Ceylon tea and smoked meats. Big, concentrated and full-bodied, this rockstar is a powerhouse of energy, supported by a rock solid, firm and super plush tannins and finely knit freshness, finishing very long. Tantalizingly delicious now, patience will be rewarded here.

• Vinous: The 2015 No. 9 Cumulus Vineyard is off the charts gorgeous, just as it was from barrel last year. Tasted from bottle, the 2009 is a bit closed, but all the aromatic depth, soaring intensity and energy that it showed from barrel is there. Time in the glass brings out the wine’s sensational pedigree. Dark cherry jam, mocha, grilled herbs and leather are some of the many notes that develop with time, but it is the wine’s overall structure that truly elevates into the realm of the divine.

Producer Information

Sine Qua Non is one of California's most famous wine producers. Based just north of Los Angeles in Ventura County, and with most of its vineyards in Santa Barbara, it eschews the usual image of top California wine as being only from Napa Valley. That is not the only thing eschewed at Sine Qua Non – the same wine is rarely made more than once, turning the idea of the American icon wine on its head. The cult winery specialises in Rhône grape varieties, with most of the red wines based on Syrah and Grenache. White wines are typically based on Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier and are also modelled after Rhône wines. While most of Sine Qua Non's vineyards are located in Santa Barbara, the home vineyard (and the winery) is located in Oak View. Many of the wines are labeled under the more generic California and Central Coast AVAs, rather than the specific AVAs the vineyards are located in, giving more freedom when it comes to blending. Sine Qua Non's first vintage was 1994, as Austrian-born winemaker Manfred Krankl released three barrels of Syrah as "Queen of Spades" with a label he had designed himself. Previously, Krankl had made wines with other winemakers – including the "Black and Blue" wine with Havens Cellars and several wines with John Alban of Alban Vineyards. After releasing Queen of Spades, Krankl sent a bottle to Robert Parker, who promptly gave the wine 95 points – then the highest he'd given any American wine based on a Rhône variety. The brand has become a cult favorite since its beginnings. Small volumes mean that demand has consistently outstripped supply and, like many top Californian producers, Sine Qua Non has employed a mailing list to sell wines directly to customers. The wines fetch top prices on the secondary market, often reaching more than $1000, and occasionally much higher: in 2014, a single bottle of Sine Qua Non rosé from the 1995 vintage fetched $42,780 at auction.

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