Sine Qua Non Sine Qua Non Distenta Grenache 2020 750ml

The 2019 Grenache Distenta I is composed of 76% Grenache, 9.3% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 4.3% Petite Sirah and 2.4% Viognier. It was fermented with 43.5% whole clusters (predominantly Grenache) and matured for 23 months in 26.5% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple in color, it explodes with scents of crushed blackberries and blueberries, tar, coffee beans, cracked pepper and thyme. The full-bodied palate has a frame of grainy tannins, seamless acidity and layer after layer of spicy and floral fruit. It has a latency that suggests it will continue to develop for many years in bottle. 1,536 cases and 600 magnums will be released in the spring of 2022. This 2019 is made almost entirely from estate fruit—just 15% comes from the Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. The rest of the fruit comes from estate vineyards The Third Twin (39%), Eleven Confessions (32%), Cumulus (11%) and Molly Aïda (3%). (Erin Brooks)

Tasted out of bottle, the 2020 Grenache Distenta II is total blockbuster stuff that’s darker and richer than the 2021. Red and black fruits, white pepper, classy leather, and spicy baking chocolate-like nuances all define the aromatics, and it’s deep, full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, with gorgeous tannins and a great finish. The blend is 78% Grenache, 9% Mourvèdre, 8% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah (with a splash of Viognier), and it’s going to knock your socks off any time over the coming 15+ years. (Jeb Dunnuck)

The 2021 Grenache Distenta III shows the cooler, more elegant style of the vintage, yet it’s still 100% Sine Qua Non goodness with its richness and concentration. Beautiful black raspberries, ground pepper, sandalwood, and sappy flower notes are just some of the nuances in this beauty, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, beautifully polished tannins, and a great, great finish. Give it 2–3 years and enjoy over the following 15+. The 2021 is 79% Grenache, 8.4% Syrah, 7.4% Mourvedre, and the rest Petite Sirah and white varieties, fermented with 35% whole clusters, all aged 23 months in just 42% new barrels. (Jeb Dunnuck)

Not yet bottled, the 2019 Grenache Ditenta 1 (which is the new name for the classic Grenache of the estate and means “unlabeled” in Latin) sports a dense purple hue as well as a flamboyant, exotic, complex nose of black raspberries, flowery incense, pepper, and spice. It’s incredibly layered and elegant, yet still has classic Sine Qua Non opulence and texture. It’s a brilliant Grenache in the making.

The 2020 Syrah Distenta II, bottled in late July of 2022, is beginning to tighten ever-so-slightly since I last tasted it in early 2023, although its merits as an archetypal Syrah are still on display. It incorporates fruit from all four estate vineyards: The Third Twin (43%), Eleven Confessions (33%), Cumulus (21%), and Molly Aïda (3%). It's blended with 7.5% Grenache, 3.9% Mourvèdre, 3.4% Petite Sirah, 1.5% Muscat and 0.8% Petit Manseng, was vinified using 16% whole clusters and matured for around 23 months in 66% new French oak barrels. It has a deep ruby color and heart-stopping aromas of blackcurrants, violets, bitter chocolate and coffee grounds, which blossom over time to tones of prosciutto and mint. The full-bodied palate is concentrated yet nuanced with a harmonious balance of powdery tannins and refreshing acidity, and it wears its alcohol expertly. It has a long finish that hints at more savory character to come, but it will require plenty of time in the bottle. 2,000 cases and 600 magnums were made.

The 2020 Grenache Distenta II is a dense, powerful wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, espresso, menthol, licorice and cloves hits the palate. This rich, heady Grenache delivers the goods. In a vintage that was so hard for Grenache, Elaine and Manfred Krankl found the way to craft a memorable wine. All this needs is time. (Antonio Galloni)

Because my visit was scheduled for July 6, just two weeks after bottling on June 22, I tasted the 2021 Grenache Distenta III as a precise blend from barrel. It comes mostly from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard (71%) and The Third Twin (23%) with the balance from the Cumulus Vineyard. It is a blend of 79% Grenache, 8.4% Syrah, 7.4% Mourvèdre, 3.2% Petite Sirah, 1.6% Petit Manseng and 0.4% Muscat. The Distenta III was vinified using about 35% whole Grenache clusters, and it matured in 42% new French oak of various sizes for around 23 months. It has a medium to deep ruby color and is incredibly fragrant at this stage. Wild berry jam aromas are accented by tones of wildflower, tar, tangerine and coffee beans. The full-bodied palate is concentrated yet lively, bursting with crunchy, floral fruit and surprisingly energetic acidity. It has detailed, grainy tannins and a long, lifted finish that wears its alcohol well. 1,459 cases and 600 magnums are projected, to be released in the spring of 2024.