Sine Qua Non is a California cult winery known for its sought-after Rhône style wine blends, produced in very limited quantites. The winery is located in Ventura County within the Central Coast AVA.
Manfred Krankl and his wife Elaine established the winery in 1994. Sine Qua Non’s winery has been described by Robert Parker as “a Mad Max- junkyard dog sort of winery in one of the ugliest sections of Ventura.”, while according to Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate Aug 2011) “the wines that emerge from this site are often profound. The sheer drive for perfection and attention to detail at Sine Qua Non is something I have rarely witnessed anywhere else in the world.”
Sourcing fruit from a wide variety of growers from year to year as Krankl follows his preferences, results in the winery to make different wines in each vintage.
In collaboration with Austrian winemaker Alois Kracher Manfred and Elaine Krankl have also produced sweet wines under the label “Mr. K”
The red wines are based on the grape varieties of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and a whites made from Roussanne, Viognier and Chardonnay. Sine Qua Non used to produced a Pinot Noir until the 2005 vintage. In certain vintages, the winery has released a sweet white wine or a rosé wine.
97 points Wine Advocate
Starting off the Syrah-based wines, the 2004 Poker Face (Syrah) is aging beautifully. A blend of 96% Syrah, 2.5% Mourvedre and 1.5% Viognier (from the Eleven Confessions, White Hawk, Alban, Bien Nacido, and Alta Mesa vineyards) that was aged in 80% new French oak, it offers up a perfumed, fresh bouquet of sweet blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, spring flowers and licorice that gives way to a full-bodied, seamless, gorgeously textured feel on the palate. Rich and decadent, it has notable, yet beautifully integrated acidity and stays remarkably fresh, detailed and even elegant. It still needs a lengthy decant to shine, and will continue to thrill over the coming decade or so.
96 Points Vinous
The 2004 Syrah Poker Face remains deep, inky and powerful, even at eleven years of age. A host of black cherry, chocolate, licorice and smoke meld together in this dark, voluptuous Syrah. As good as the 2004 is, it’s also quite clear just how far Sine Qua Non has come since the Poker Face was made. The blend is 96% Syrah, with drops of Mourvèdre and Viognier. Vineyard sources are 33% Eleven Confessions, 27% White Hawk, 22% Alban, 16% Bien Nacido and 3% Alta Mesa.