Sine Qua Non is undoubtedly the most “cult ” producer in California . Its wines are extremely rare , produced in small quantities , sometimes only a few barrels. Needless to say , you have to join the waiting list to get them . Another important feature is that the property is owned by the iconoclastic Austrian artist and restorer M a nfred Krakl . Krakl founded the winery with his wife , Elaine, in 1994 in V en tura, California, a town located an hour north of Los Angeles. Each wine tells a story , has a different name and a unique label , created of course by Manfred himself.
Jeb Dunnuck – Rated 100:
“Starting with the white, the Distenta I White 2019 is pure perfection, and there is no finer white coming out of California today… it spent 23 months in 64% new French oak. It offers a heavenly bouquet of caramelized oranges, toasted bread, honeyed citrus fruits and almond paste. This results in a full-bodied, deep and concentrated white with incredible intensity and depth, yet it is never heavy or overpowering and is perfectly balanced. These have a great reputation for aging brilliantly, but you also can't go wrong drinking them in their youth. I know Krankl's reds get all the attention, but he still produces bright, shiny dry whites
Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) – Rated 99:
The Distenta 1 2019 white wine is a breathtaking and unique blend… The fruit comes mainly from the estate's vineyards, with 46% Eleven Confessions, 32% Cumulus and 7% The Third Twin. Only 15% Chardonnay from the Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley is included – 2019 is the last vintage for which off-estate fruit will be included in the blend. It was barrel fermented and aged on lees for approximately 23 months in 64% new French oak barrels, puncheons and demi-muids and was racked only once before bottling. Manfred Krankl particularly likes the more than 150 year old wood that the Austrian cooper Stockinger uses to make his staves. The 2019 white offers high intensity aromatic flavors, with layers of peach, kiwi, candle smoke, gasoline and green herbs. The full-bodied palate is concentrated, savory and layered, with plenty of enticing spicy accents. What really sets this wine apart is its ample, satiny texture that glides through the mouth to an extremely long finish. Krankl notes that this wine's lees stirring regime helps create texture and that the accumulation of lees inside the barrels better integrates its new oak character. “Petit Manseng berries are very small and the skin is very thick,” he adds, “which also contributes to the texture.”
