WI-98-100

Blend: 81.7% Syrah, 11.3% Grenache, 3.3% Mourvedre, 2.1% Petite Sirah, 0.7% Gelber Muskatelle, 0.9% Petit Manseng Vintage production: n/a The brand-new Sine Qua Non Distenta III Syrah and Grenache... 2021s from winemaking legend Manfred Krankl have just been released to great fanfare. Last year's Distenta II 2020s were lauded by the critics - the Syrah scored 97-99 JD / 99 WA / 97-99 TWI, and the Grenache scored 97-100 JD / 97 WA / 98-100 TWI - and with the early impressions pointing to an amazing vintage in 2021 the numbers are going to be BIG when published later in the year. Do NOT miss the chance to secure an allocation now, as by the time the reviews are out it'll be too late! 2021 is a fantastic vintage for the Central Coast. Manfred has this to say: “My favorite growing conditions are mild weather, by California standards, with consistent sunshine, but not too much extreme heat. That is what we received in 2021. We have had only one single day where temperatures reached 100° and only at one of our four vineyard sites. As a result, we received fruit and wines that are reminiscent of 2019. Perhaps with slightly more richness, but there is a distinct resemblance. Lots of elegance, lots of character, lots of alertness and a good amount of playful spiciness with many layers and nuances. Nothing boring or predictable.” Sine Qua Non is famed for the unique names and artwork given to the wines in each vintage. However, in 2019 Manfred chose a new ongoing name for his Estate blends: Distenta, meaning 'unlabelled' in Latin. The 2019s were 'Distenta I', the 2020s were Distenta II, the new 2021s are 'Distenta III', and so on for future releases. He couldn't resist making a new artwork for each label though! Manfred Krankl: "Great, great color. Quite dark – no surprise I guess, but still a warm feeling to stare at it. A lot of work…for a long time…to get to appreciate it in a glass. Color is clearly not the most important aspect to the wine – to ANY wine – but it is some indicator of something good. In the nose there are tones of coffee grounds, rhubarb, red plums, toffee, boysenberry, mashed up strawberry skins (a little over the top…I know), cigar-box and even some chalk and dusty cookie crumbs. The mouth, the palate, is super soft, but not flabby, but rather still structured and very fanned out. Sort of like 2019 (if memory serves correctly), but with a touch more sexy flesh. There are plenty of tannins, but they are broad and satiny!!! We also got some mild Asian spices. The wine gets more and more lush the longer it sits in the glass. More palate enveloping too. Yahoo!!!"