2009 | Sine Qua Non | Whole Thing Upside Down Grenache

Description

Red Wine: 2009 | Sine Qua Non | Whole Thing Upside Down Grenache

Deep garnet. Sweeter, brighter and more red fruited than the Thrill Syrah but still a very very slight savoury edge.

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Producer: Sine Qua Non

Ratings: WA | 96VN | 95

Vintage: 2009

Size: 750ml

ABV: 15.5%

Varietal: Grenache

Country/Region: United States, California

Deep garnet. Sweeter, brighter and more red fruited than the Thrill Syrah but still a very very slight savoury edge. Intensely fragrant with sweet black and red cherries.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: The 2009 Grenache Upside Down emerges from the glass with layers of dark red fruit as it sweeps across the palate. There is an inner sweetness and sheer depth that make the 2009 compelling. The 11% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre make themselves heard clearly in adding layers of depth and pure richness. Tar, anise and graphite meld together on the rich, dramatic finish. This is a striking wine endowed with tons of pure textural dimension. The 2009 was sourced from Eleven Confessions (72%), Cumulus (22%) and Bien Nacido (6%) vineyards.

• Vinous: Bright purple. Highly complex aromas of black raspberry, cherry pit, licorice and black pepper, complemented by more exotic hints of apricot and white flowers. Suave and juicy on entry, then alluringly sweet and vibrant in the mid-palate, with vivid red and dark fruit compote, lavender and Indian spice flavors. Finishes very long, with terrific energy and clinging spiciness.

Producer Information

Sine Qua Non is one of California’s most famous wine producers. Based just north of Los Angeles in Ventura County, and with most of its vineyards in Santa Barbara, it eschews the usual image of top California wine as being only from Napa Valley. That is not the only thing eschewed at Sine Qua Non – the same wine is rarely made more than once, turning the idea of the American icon wine on its head. The cult winery specialises in Rhône grape varieties, with most of the red wines based on Syrah and Grenache. White wines are typically based on Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier and are also modelled after Rhône wines. While most of Sine Qua Non’s vineyards are located in Santa Barbara, the home vineyard (and the winery) is located in Oak View. Many of the wines are labeled under the more generic California and Central Coast AVAs, rather than the specific AVAs the vineyards are located in, giving more freedom when it comes to blending. Sine Qua Non’s first vintage was 1994, as Austrian-born winemaker Manfred Krankl released three barrels of Syrah as “Queen of Spades” with a label he had designed himself. Previously, Krankl had made wines with other winemakers – including the “Black and Blue” wine with Havens Cellars and several wines with John Alban of Alban Vineyards. After releasing Queen of Spades, Krankl sent a bottle to Robert Parker, who promptly gave the wine 95 points – then the highest he’d given any American wine based on a Rhône variety. The brand has become a cult favorite since its beginnings. Small volumes mean that demand has consistently outstripped supply and, like many top Californian producers, Sine Qua Non has employed a mailing list to sell wines directly to customers. The wines fetch top prices on the secondary market, often reaching more than $1000, and occasionally much higher: in 2014, a single bottle of Sine Qua Non rosé from the 1995 vintage fetched $42,780 at auction.