2019 Sine Qua Non, SQN, Distenta I Syrah, California, Bottle (750ml)

LP100 "Deep garnet-purple, the 2019 Distentia I lets rip with an aria of Morello cherries, blackberry compote, blueberry preserves, and Chinese five spice notes, accompanied by whispers of licorice, tar, Sichuan pepper, and bacon fat. The full-bodied palate is charged with energy and freshness, supported by densely pixilated, fine-grained tannins, finishing with incredible length and resonance." LPB for TWI Aug 2022

RP98+ "The 2019 Syrah Distenta I comes entirely from the Krankls' estate vineyards: 35% from The Third Twin, 33% from Eleven Confessions, 31% from Cumulus and 1% from Molly Aida. It is a blend of 83.6% Syrah, 6.2% Grenache, 5.2% Petite Sirah, 3% Mourvedre and 2% white grapes (1.4% Muskat and 0.6% Petit Manseng). Fermented with 33% whole clusters and matured for 23 months in 43% new French oak, it has an opaque purple-black color and takes plenty of time in the glass to reveal a core of cassis and accents of sage, lavender, tar and coffee beans. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and still youthfully coiled. It has a fine, grainy texture, fresh acidity and a long, floral finish. Bottled on July 29, 2021, and tasted on May 24, 2022, 1,999 cases and 600 magnums are set to be released in the spring of 2022." EB May 2022

JD98+ "The 2019 Syrah Distenta 1 is brilliant, and certainly one of the Syrahs of the vintage. Sporting a vivid ruby, almost opaque hue, it offers awesome, textbook Syrah notes of assorted red and blackberry fruits, bacon fat, smoked meat, and an incredible floral character that develops with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's a more elegant, restrained Sine Qua Non revealing flawless balance, beautiful freshness and elegance, silky tannins, and one heck of a finish. Still a baby that needs a lengthy decant if drinking any time soon (this bottle showed best on the second day, at which point it was drunk), it will benefit from a solid 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades after that.I’ve been visiting with Sine Qua Non for a decade now, and I never cease to be amazed at the quality consistently coming from this address. In addition, Krankl somehow manages to deliver brilliance with just about any variety out there, and whether it’s Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Touriga Nacional, Roussanne, or even Petit Manseng, you can expect a truly riveting wine, as well as a wine with singular characteristics. Unfortunately, it’s all too common, particularly for those who don’t drink the wines often, to assume all California cult wines are over-ripe or heavy. The reality, however, couldn’t be more different, and great wines deliver intensity and depth while staying light on their feet and elegant. And these latest releases from Sine Qua Non are great wines." JD Aug 2022

“Naming wines is becoming impossible,” Manfred Krankl told me last year in a fit of frustration. “Everything has already been taken. Even, 'No Name!'" The Krankl’s are done (for now) with new fanciful names for every new Sine Qua Non label each year. From 2019 onward, the wines are all to be called “Distenta,” meaning “unlabeled” in Latin, with a number to follow. Accordingly, the 2019 Grenache and Syrah releases this year are called “Distenta I.” More importantly, the original artwork for the labels will continue to be different every year, as will the blending creation inside the bottle."