Sine Qua Non Incognito Grenache 2000
Vineyards
While most of Sine Qua Non’s vineyards are located in Santa Barbara, the home vineyard (and the winery) is 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.
Winemaking and Maturation
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.
Tasting Notes
“The 2000 Incognito (a blend of 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah) is the finest Grenache-based effort the Krankls have yet produced. A black/ruby/purple colour is followed by a lavishly exotic nose of super-rich as well as super-ripe black cherries, black currants, blackberries, liquorice, pepper, and other heavenly delights. It is a wine of extraordinary opulence, texture, and purity with a finish that lasts 65+ seconds.” -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Technical Details
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.
