2005 Sine Qua Non, Atlantis Fe203-2d Grenache Vin de Paille, California

AG 94 "Medium red. Impressively complex nose offers a wild bouquet of raspberry, violet, pepper, smoky Indian spices and vanilla. Juicy red and dark berry flavors are deep, sweet and sappy, with dark chocolate and candied flowers adding complexity. A building spiciness adds energy to the lush, liqueur-like berry flavors. Finishes with outstanding sweet persistence and lingering spices. Seven people took two days to hand-destem a mere 1.3 tons of fruit. Incidentally, the amount of fruit that Krankl pulls from his densely planted, severely green-harvested vineyard is absurdly low: in 2006 his white wine yield was 1.28 tons per acre, grenache was 1.31 tons per acre, and syrah was 1.52 tons. (JR)" (November 2008)
Sine Qua Non, Atlantis Fe203-2d Grenache Vin de Paille, California