Highly Allocated Gems

  • Sine Qua Non 2017 Syrah The Hated Hunter

    Sine Qua Non 2017 Syrah The Hated Hunter

    $399.99

    California
    Jeb Dunnuck 100 Rating
    Named after Manfred’s grandfather, the 2017 Syrah The Hated Hunter is 82.4% Syrah, 7.8% Petite Sirah, 5.2% Mourvèdre, 2% Grenache, and the rest a mix of white varieties that spent just over 23 months in 59% new French oak. A classic 2017, it has an incredible nose of spice red and black fruits, ground pepper, dried flowers, and sandalwood. With full-bodied richness, no hard edges, gorgeous purity of fruit, and a finish that won't quit, it has everything you could want from a bottle of wine. This cuvée comes from a mix of the The Twin, Eleven Confession, Cumulus, and Molly Aida vineyards, and was bottled in August of 2019, with 1821 cases produced. R23-2 SP15-6

  • Sine Qua Non 2018 Grenache Profuga

    Sine Qua Non 2018 Grenache Profuga

    $399.99

    Central Coast California
    Jeb Dunnuck 98-100 Rating
    Scheduled to be bottled in August, the 2018 Grenache Profuga is based on 77.5% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 8.3% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah and a tiny splash of Viognier. Mostly destemmed (there was 41% stems from the Grenache) and aging in just 37% new French oak, this heavenly beauty has a rare mix of elegance and richness that just begs to be drunk already. Loads of kirsch liqueur, spiced meats, charcuterie, herbes de Provence, and peppery notes define the bouquet, and this full-bodied Grenache is flawlessly balanced, has silky, polished tannins, and a monster of a finish. SP24-6

  • Sine Qua Non 2018 Syrah Ziehharmonika

    Sine Qua Non 2018 Syrah Ziehharmonika

    $399.99

    Central Coast California
    Wine Advocate 100 Rating
    Manfred Krankl did point out that the name of this wine is not definitely but probably going to be “Squeezebox.” There are still a bunch of hoops to jump through before the label is signed, sealed and delivered. He shared the artwork for the label with me, again probably final but not yet definite, but which I think fans of are going to love. Who knew Mr. K played the squeezebox?
    The vineyard sources for this wine are 51% The Third Twin, 43% Eleven Confessions and 6% Cumulus—all estate-owned vineyards. The 2018 Syrah Squeezebox is composed of 82% Syrah, 6.7% Mourvèdre, 5% Petite Sirah, 2.3% Grenache, 2.7% Viognier and 1.3% Muscat. “I think Muscat is the number one white grape for me to blend with reds,” Manfred said. “It kinda triples the effect of the wine.” SP40-12

  • Sine Qua Non 2020 Distenta Grenache II

    Sine Qua Non 2020 Distenta Grenache II

    $349.99

    California
    Jeb Dunnuck 100 Rating
    The 2020 Grenache Distenta II is a blend of mostly 78% Grenache and the rest Mourvèdre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and a tiny splash of Viognier. It's a ripe, sexy, insanely good barrel sample that has remarkable purity, tons of black raspberry and cassis fruits, perfect balance, full-bodied richness, and an already complex bouquet of violets, spice, and flowers. I continue to be blown away by what this estate seems to achieve with Grenache in just about every vintage. R6-1 SP19-2

  • Sine Qua Non 2020 Distenta Syrah

    Sine Qua Non 2020 Distenta Syrah

    $269.99

    California
    Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 Rating
    Tons of red, blue, and black fruits as well as peppery herbs and liquid violet-like nuances emerge from the 2020 Syrah Distenta II, a full-bodied, concentrated, remarkably balanced barrel sample that's based on 83% Syrah, 7.5% Grenache, and the rest Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Muscat, and Petit Manseng. I love its mid-palate, it has ripe, sweet tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It's unquestionably a brilliant wine in the making. R9-3 SP19-3

  • Sine Qua Non 2022 Grenache Distenta IV

    Sine Qua Non 2022 Grenache Distenta IV

    $299.99

    Central Coast California
    Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating
    Moving to the reds from barrels, the 2022 Grenache Distenta IV is another ripe, opulent, sexy wine in the vintage that’s going to check in near the top of the scale. Black raspberries, ground pepper, herbes de Provence, and sandalwood are just some of its nuances, and it’s full-bodied, rich, concentrated, and velvety textured on the palate. It’s a stunner of a wine based on 78% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 7.3% Mourvedre, and the rest Petite Sirah and white varieties. R42-3
    Must be ordered.
    Valid while supplies are available

  • Sine Qua Non 2022 Syrah Distenta IV

    Sine Qua Non 2022 Syrah Distenta IV

    $299.99

    Central Coast California
    Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating
    Incorporating 6% Grenache, 5% Petite Sirah, 3% Mourvèdre, and 3% white varieties, the 2022 Syrah Distenta IV is another ripe, layered, full-bodied 2022 that’s going to deliver the goods. Ample blue fruits, kirsch liqueur, pepper, and tons of spicy notes all shine here, and this puppy has a layered, velvety mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, no hard edges, and awesome length. It’s going to shine right out of the gate and is a good counterpoint to the more focused, cooler styled 2021s. R38-4
    Must be ordered.
    Valid while supplies are available

  • Sojourn Cellars 2018 Gaps Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir

    Sojourn Cellars 2018 Gaps Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir

    $79.99

    Sonoma Coast California
    Jeb Dunnuck 97 Rating
    A gem of a wine, the 2018 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard comes from one of the great sites on the Sonoma Coast and saw a touch of stems (10%) and 50% new French oak. Tasting like a mix of a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir with its richness and depth and a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir with its elegance and finesse, this brilliant wine is loaded with wild strawberry and darker berry fruits intermixed with lots violets, spice, pine cone, and forest floor aromas and flavors. It packs plenty of richness and depth on the palate, has awesome tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and no shortage of length on the finish. Don't miss it! R23-1

  • Spottswoode 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

    Spottswoode 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

    $299.99

    Napa Valley California
    Wine Advocate 100 Rating
    Share
    The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 89.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc and 4.0% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs of lot of swirling to unlock the most gorgeous perfume of bright black and red cherries, fresh blueberries and blackcurrant pastilles with hints of roses, cinnamon stick and orange peel. Medium-bodied, elegant and tightly wound, the palate shimmers with SO MUCH energy, featuring layer upon layer of floral, savory and crunchy black fruit notes, finishing long and minerally. This is a remarkably poised, seemingly effortless beauty that cannot fail to make your jaw drop. Forget it in the cellar for a good 3-5 years, at least, to allow all those nuances to fully emerge and then savor it over the next 30 years+. R22-4 SP30-2