2005 Sine Qua Non, SQN, The Naked Truth, Bottle (750ml)
$775
97RP97LP
Critic key
RP = Robert ParkerLP = Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Product Description
RP97 "2005 The Naked Truth: Manfred Krankl's obvious love for his wife Elaine seems very apparent with the 2003, followed by the 2004 Ode to E, and here again, a sketch of his wife unclothed (sorry, back view only) appears on the label of the 2005. (I only know it's his wife because I asked him!) A blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah (any Mourvedre added to the Grenache is now a thing of the past), this wine, made totally from the 11 Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills, is young, yet like all the SQN wines, approachable in its glorious display of fruit, purity and freshness. Dense purple, and offering up notes of cranberries, pepper, boysenberries, raspberries and cherries, a cornucopia of red and black fruits emerge from the aromatics, gently dosed with some spicy oak and Provencal herbs. Full-bodied, gutsy and fleshy, with loads of glycerin, a heady mouthfeel and a long finish, this wine has beautiful freshness and delineation, and should continue to drink well for 10-12+ more years. How did this label get past the puritanical bureaucrats at BATF?" RP Aug 2011
LP97 "Composed of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, the 2005 The Naked Truth is 100% from the Krankls’ Eleven Confessions Vineyard. The fermentation included 40% whole clusters, and it was aged in French oak barrels, 68% new, for around 38 months. Medium to deep garnet-colored floral notes of dried roses and lavender slowly emerge from the glass, opening out to a core of dried cherries, tobacco leaf, red currant jelly, and dried Provence herbs, plus hints of crushed rocks and fallen leaves. The full-bodied palate reveals exotic spice notes to complement the red berry preserves and minerally flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a refreshing backbone, finishing long with a minty lift. 218 cases, 125 magnums, and 12 double magnums were made." LPB for TWI Sep 2024 and "Composed of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, the 2005 The Naked Truth is 100% from the Krankls’ Eleven Confessions Vineyard. The fermentation included 40% whole clusters, and it was aged in French oak barrels, 68% new, for around 38 months. Medium to deep garnet-colored floral notes of dried roses and lavender slowly emerge from the glass, opening out to a core of dried cherries, tobacco leaf, red currant jelly, and dried Provence herbs, plus hints of crushed rocks and fallen leaves. The full-bodied palate reveals exotic spice notes to complement the red berry preserves and minerally flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a refreshing backbone, finishing long with a minty lift. 218 cases, 125 magnums, and 12 double magnums were made." LPB for TWP Jun 2025
Robert Parker writes, "The conclusions I came to about this tasting may seem obvious just by reading the tasting notes. People forget that as famous as Sine Qua Non and both Elaine and Manfred Krankl have become over the last 15 years, their wines really only began to hit full world-class qualitative levels at the turn of the last century (2000). He seemed to hit full stride about eight or nine years ago, and what has unfolded since then is an absolutely brilliant succession of true works of genius, both in his expressive, sometimes slightly abstract artwork on the labels, to the meticulously crafted wood boxes in which the wines are housed. Of course, the most important thing of all, the actual wine itself, is both the beginning as well as the end for consumers, and where 100% of my focus and judgement are centered. Grenache, as Krankl would be the first to say, is by far the most challenging grape varietal to make majestic wine from, and unequaled in difficulty by any other grape in the world except Nebbiolo. That’s why we see so little of it from great terroirs. High quality Grenache exists in northern Spain, southern France, parts of southern Italy and Sardinia, and in southern Australia, but rarely in California. This makes Krankl’s achievement all the more remarkable." Published: Aug 30, 2011
LP97 "Composed of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, the 2005 The Naked Truth is 100% from the Krankls’ Eleven Confessions Vineyard. The fermentation included 40% whole clusters, and it was aged in French oak barrels, 68% new, for around 38 months. Medium to deep garnet-colored floral notes of dried roses and lavender slowly emerge from the glass, opening out to a core of dried cherries, tobacco leaf, red currant jelly, and dried Provence herbs, plus hints of crushed rocks and fallen leaves. The full-bodied palate reveals exotic spice notes to complement the red berry preserves and minerally flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a refreshing backbone, finishing long with a minty lift. 218 cases, 125 magnums, and 12 double magnums were made." LPB for TWI Sep 2024 and "Composed of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, the 2005 The Naked Truth is 100% from the Krankls’ Eleven Confessions Vineyard. The fermentation included 40% whole clusters, and it was aged in French oak barrels, 68% new, for around 38 months. Medium to deep garnet-colored floral notes of dried roses and lavender slowly emerge from the glass, opening out to a core of dried cherries, tobacco leaf, red currant jelly, and dried Provence herbs, plus hints of crushed rocks and fallen leaves. The full-bodied palate reveals exotic spice notes to complement the red berry preserves and minerally flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a refreshing backbone, finishing long with a minty lift. 218 cases, 125 magnums, and 12 double magnums were made." LPB for TWP Jun 2025
Robert Parker writes, "The conclusions I came to about this tasting may seem obvious just by reading the tasting notes. People forget that as famous as Sine Qua Non and both Elaine and Manfred Krankl have become over the last 15 years, their wines really only began to hit full world-class qualitative levels at the turn of the last century (2000). He seemed to hit full stride about eight or nine years ago, and what has unfolded since then is an absolutely brilliant succession of true works of genius, both in his expressive, sometimes slightly abstract artwork on the labels, to the meticulously crafted wood boxes in which the wines are housed. Of course, the most important thing of all, the actual wine itself, is both the beginning as well as the end for consumers, and where 100% of my focus and judgement are centered. Grenache, as Krankl would be the first to say, is by far the most challenging grape varietal to make majestic wine from, and unequaled in difficulty by any other grape in the world except Nebbiolo. That’s why we see so little of it from great terroirs. High quality Grenache exists in northern Spain, southern France, parts of southern Italy and Sardinia, and in southern Australia, but rarely in California. This makes Krankl’s achievement all the more remarkable." Published: Aug 30, 2011