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 95
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Moment 2011

The Moment

2011
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Robert Parker 92
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Monkey 2010

The Monkey

2010
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Naked Truth Grenache 2005

The Naked Truth Grenache

2005
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Naked Truth Grenache 2005

The Naked Truth Grenache

2005
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 95
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Petition 2005

The Petition

2005
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Robert Parker 96
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Rejuvenators White Blend 2004

The Rejuvenators White Blend

2004
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Robert Parker 95
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Thrill of Stamp Syrah 2009

The Thrill of Stamp Syrah

2009
(damaged label)
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Robert Parker 95
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - The Thrill of Stamp Syrah 2009

The Thrill of Stamp Syrah

2009
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Robert Parker 96
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - This is not an Exit Grenache 2009

This is not an Exit Grenache

2009
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Touche Syrah 2012

Touche Syrah

2012
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Trouver l'Arene Syrah 2015

Trouver l'Arene Syrah

2015
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Robert Parker 100
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Trouver l'Arene Syrah 2015

Trouver l'Arene Syrah

2015
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 96
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Upside Down Grenache 2009

Upside Down Grenache

2009
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Robert Parker 96
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Upside Down Grenache 2009

Upside Down Grenache

2009
(Magnum - slightly bin soiled label)
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Robert Parker 96
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Upside Down Grenache 2009

Upside Down Grenache

2009
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 92
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Ventriloquist 2001

Ventriloquist

2001
(slightly bin soiled label)
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Robert Parker 92
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Ventriloquist 2001

Ventriloquist

2001
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Robert Parker 95
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Whispering E 2002

Whispering E

2002
(Magnum)
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Robert Parker 97
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - White Wine Resiste 2013

White Wine Resiste

2013
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Ziehharmonika Syrah 2018

Ziehharmonika Syrah

2018
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Robert Parker 99
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non - Ziehharmonika Syrah 2018

Ziehharmonika Syrah

2018
(Magnum)
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