Sine Qua Non Queen of Spades Syrah (inaugural vintage) 1994

  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
7,599 99
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Sine Qua Non Queen of Spades Syrah (inaugural vintage) 1994  Front Bottle Shot
Sine Qua Non Queen of Spades Syrah (inaugural vintage) 1994  Front Bottle Shot Sine Qua Non Queen of Spades Syrah (inaugural vintage) 1994  Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
1994

Size
750ML

Features
Collectible

Boutique

Your Rating

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Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

Professional Ratings

  • 92
    Dark enough to remind you of a barrel sample, and while you might expect it to be tannic, it's not. It is delicious, though, with tiers of ripe black cherry, currant, anise and spice. Finishes with a complex smoky edge. Drinkable now, but worthy of cellaring short-term. Debut release for this winery. 100 percent Syrah. 100 cases made.
Sine Qua Non

Sine Qua Non

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Sine Qua Non, California
Sine Qua Non Winery Image
Sine Qua Non was created after the 1994 harvest of a Bien Nacido Syrah named “The Queen of Spades”. Winemaker Manfred Krankl feels strongly that each vintage is a completely unique wine and thus he gives each wine a unique name. He also creates the artwork for each new label himself. Previously, Manfred had made wines with Bryan Babcock and John Alban and still sources much of his fruit from Alban’s vineyard. The basic white wines have always been a white blend of Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier and a red wine based on Syrah plus Grenache. Sometimes there are small quantities of Rose and a Grenache-based red.

Sine Qua Non has its own winemaking facility in Ventura, California not far from the Santa Barbara vineyards where the fruit is sourced from. In the last few years Manfred and his wife, Elaine, have begun creating their own vineyards dedicated to Rhone varietals. Their winemaking philosophy is to work in very small batches, gravity flow, natural yeasts (unless a fermentation problem is anticipated), long lees aging for the whites and repeated racking for the reds to open them up. This is a modified explanation of a very dedicated and artistic approach to winemaking. The wines are simultaneously very rich and elegant, superbly balanced and thoroughly harmonious with food, never overwhelming.

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Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”

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Sta. Rita Hills Wine

Santa Barbara, California

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A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.

The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.

DHY865916_1994 Item# 865916

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