Wines from Sine Qua Non

Sine Qua Non

Sine Qua Non is yet another cult winery from California, USA. Manfred Krankl and his wife Elaine began starting their own winery after first working at several other estates and enhancing their skills.

The name “Sine Qua Non” means “without which there is nothing”. Their first vintage was 1994 (three barrels of the Syrah “Queen of Spades”). A specialist in Rhône varietals, most of their red wines are made from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre grapes, while Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier grapes are used for the white wines.

They also produced some sweet wines, with the help of famous Austrian winemaker Alois Kracher. However, when Alois Kracher suddenly passed away in 2006, Sine Qua Non stopped producing those rare wines.

Every year, Manfred Krankl uses his own artwork to create labels for the various wines they produce. Furthermore: Each vintage they bring out wines under a new (sometimes funny) name. Both the label and the wine’s name has to be approved by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. A long and sometimes frustrating process, because of the numerous rejections.

The philosophy of Sine Qua Non is to make perfectly ripe, full bodied and full-flavored wines, that express the uniqueness of each vintage. In general, they use 40-60% new oak for the white wines and 60-100% new oak for the red wines and there is hardly any fining or filtration.

Sometimes Sine Qua Non also releases a rosé, made from Grenache grapes. The average annual production for all the wines is about 3500 cases, but since there is a waiting list for new consumers, it might take up to 10 years to get hold of some bottles. Multiple wines received the full 100 points by Robert Parker.


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Sine Qua Non


Robert Parker 93
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - On the Lam 2009

On the Lam

2009
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - On your Toes Syrah 2001

On your Toes Syrah

2001
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Robert Parker 94
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Over and Out Arrita Hills Vineyard (Pinot Noir) 2005

Over and Out Arrita Hills Vineyard (Pinot Noir)

2005
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Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Ox Pinot Noir 1999

Ox Pinot Noir

1999
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Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Packin' Rosy Rose 2009

Packin' Rosy Rose

2009
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Pajarito Del Amor Grenache 2016

Pajarito Del Amor Grenache

2016
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Papa Syrah 2003

Papa Syrah

2003
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Patine Grenache 2011

Patine Grenache

2011
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Patine Grenache 2011

Patine Grenache

2011
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Patine Syrah 2011

Patine Syrah

2011
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Patine Syrah 2011

Patine Syrah

2011
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Pearl Clutcher Chardonnay 2012

Pearl Clutcher Chardonnay

2012
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Petite Sirah The Writing On The Wall 2012

Petite Sirah The Writing On The Wall

2012
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Pictures Grenache 2007

Pictures Grenache

2007
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Piranha Waterdance Syrah 2014

Piranha Waterdance Syrah

2014
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Poker Face Syrah 2004

Poker Face Syrah

2004
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Ratsel 2016

Ratsel

2016
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Ratsel 2016

Ratsel

2016
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Rattrapante Grenache 2012

Rattrapante Grenache

2012
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Raven Series Grenache No. 8 2006

Raven Series Grenache No. 8

2006
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Raven Series Syrah No 1 Grenache 2006

Raven Series Syrah No 1 Grenache

2006
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Winespectator 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Raven Series Syrah No 10 (magnum) 2006

Raven Series Syrah No 10 (magnum)

2006
(Magnum)
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Winespectator 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Raven Series Syrah No 3 2006

Raven Series Syrah No 3

2006
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Winespectator 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Raven Series Syrah No 4 2006

Raven Series Syrah No 4

2006
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Winespectator 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Raven Series Syrah No 5 2006

Raven Series Syrah No 5

2006
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Winespectator 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Raven Series Syrah No 6+7 2006

Raven Series Syrah No 6+7

2006
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Raven Series Syrah No 9 2006

Raven Series Syrah No 9

2006
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Rien Ne Va Plus 2001

Rien Ne Va Plus

2001
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Shakti Grenache 2014

Shakti Grenache

2014
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Stein Grenache 2012

Stein Grenache

2012
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Stein Grenache 2012

Stein Grenache

2012
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Stock Syrah 2012

Stock Syrah

2012
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Stockholm Syndrome Grenache 2010

Stockholm Syndrome Grenache

2010
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Stockholm Syndrome Syrah 2010

Stockholm Syndrome Syrah

2010
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - SUBIR Syrah 2016

SUBIR Syrah

2016
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Robert Parker 93
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Sublime Isolation 2003

Sublime Isolation

2003
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Robert Parker 95
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Syrah B 20 2008

Syrah B 20

2008
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Syrah Dark Blossom 2011

Syrah Dark Blossom

2011
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Robert Parker 96
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Syrah Impostor McCoy 1997

Syrah Impostor McCoy

1997
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Syrah Le Supplement 2013

Syrah Le Supplement

2013
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Syrah Le Supplement 2013

Syrah Le Supplement

2013
(slightly damaged label)
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Syrah M 2015

Syrah M

2015
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Robert Parker 98
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Syrah The Hated Hunter 2017

Syrah The Hated Hunter

2017
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Syrah This Is Not An Exit 2009

Syrah This Is Not An Exit

2009
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Tectumque 2016

Tectumque

2016
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Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Complicator Pinot Noir 1997

The Complicator Pinot Noir

1997
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Duel Grenache 2008

The Duel Grenache

2008
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Duel Syrah 2008

The Duel Syrah

2008
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Line 2008

The Line

2008
(slightly damaged label)
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Line 2008

The Line

2008
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