Roman Sukley

9.5

“And An Eight Track” 2013 Sine Qua Non Rose’. 15.4% alcohol. Perfect wine when it’s 90 degrees in Chicago in late September. In the words of Mr. Krankl, “Youthful Happiness.” If you’ve never tasted an SQN Rose’, prepare yourself. First, clear your mind of all preconceived notions of what a Rose’ is, or you expect it to be. Next, prepare your senses for a wild ride. Sort of like driving a Porsche Cup Car through The Kink at Road America. You might not appreciate it at the time (mainly because your life will be flashing before your eyes), but after it’s over, you can’t wait to try and convey the experience to anyone who will listen. Finally, appreciate the fact that you’ve experienced the liquid equivalent of a Chagall painting. Have I mentioned that I’m a Manfred Krankl fan? — 7 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

Excellent grenache from Manfred at SQN...but not etherial. As I'm writing that I realize that this is still awesome - just that Manfred sets the bar absurdly high. Blackberries, kirsch, and a hint of licorice on the nose. Very full mouthfeel with lots of glycerin. The wine is a lot more evolved than I was expecting - possibly a consequence of a warm vintage? - so I'm not sure how many more years of evolution this has left (then again, this is my last bottle of this, so whateves!). Manfred is a genius. 'Nuff said. — 7 years ago

with Vanessa

Roman Sukley

9.7

2012 Next Of Kyn No~6. Way back when,...when Manfred first mentioned to me that he was thinking about a second label for a wine made from his Cumulus Vineyard property, I remember asking "why." And he told me that the profile of the wine was unique, and that instead of just blending it, he thought it would be more interesting on its own. Now, having tasted through them, I can understand his vision. The wines are unique and don't quite fit the SQN profile, at least in the sense that I don't think that I would mistake them for SQN in a blind tasting. Beautiful seductive nose of lilacs and berries. Dark fruits and baking spices on the mid-palate with a hint of beef blood. Multi-layered and dense. Knockout explosive finish that lasts literally minutes. The wines in this series just keep getting better as the vines age. Chapeau Mr. Krankl! — 7 years ago

John Van Trijp

10

101/100!!! Manfred Krankl is my Hero! — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

Another beauty from Manfred Krankle at Sine Qua Non, this 2001 has lost a little steam since we last tried it in 2010 (check out Vanessa's notes for how she described it back then). Subdued but nevertheless sweet red and black fruits on the nose, the tannins have softened considerably to where I would say this is probably just past peak. Exhibits seamless balance across the mid-palate through a 30-second finish, the rating really reflects it relative to when we had it in 2010. This is still a great, older example of the genius that is Manfred and Sine Qua Non. — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Monica O

9.8

This is a quintessential cali Syrah!
Kudos to manfred & Elaine. ❤️ your wines!!! — 9 years ago

Roman Sukley

10

2010 Stockholm Syndrome Syrah. Doesn't get much better than this. Elegant, superbly integrated. Dark fruits, seamless, huge, yet light on it's feet. Great example of why Manfred is the greatest winemaker on the planet.

Drinking spectacularly on day 2. Recommend a lengthy decant. 4 hours on day 1 was insufficient — 10 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.5

Had to do it for the Holiday. Here's to you Manfred. — 10 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.9

The SQN that made me a Manfred Krankl fan, still drinking great. — 11 years ago

Shawn R

9.4

Maggie was once a student under Manfred Krankl, this bottle was her second vintage. Shows a restrained nose even after 3 hours after the decant. Hints of wild game and blackberry compote on the nose. Sweet tannins that integrate well and provide backbone. Layers of cassis, plum and wild flowers set up a stellar finish that sails for over a minute. — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.7

2005 Sine Qua Non "Over & Out" Pinot Noir, or, as it says on the back of the bottle "pinotmore" as this was Manfred's last. Beautiful garnet hues with an opulent and seductive bouquet of fruits, flowers and smokey herbs on the nose. On the palate, ripe cherries predominate with hints of cinnamon, cola and candied orange rind nicely balanced against earthy notes of smoke, leather and freshly baked bread. Good acidity. Complex and perfectly balanced, there's an elegance to this wine which takes it to another level. 12 years young with years ahead of it. My favorite SQN Pinot. Makes me wish Manfred hadn't abandoned the Pinot Project. I can just imagine what they would be today. Thinking of forming a consortium to buy some quality Pinot grapes from Shea Vineyard and seeing if Manfred will make us a barrel. Who's in? — 7 years ago

Steve Bozich

9.4

Intense dried cherry, pepper, a touch of funk after it has been open awhile. Since she trained under Manfred, I was shocked to see the ABV is only 12.7! I have to admit here that I no longer purchase wines from Maggie - to be honest, lovely, well made wines, but I find her price point to be too high. Especially on the white and rose. But this was a reminder of how talented she is, and why in the past I bought a lot of wine from her. AnticaTerra, and Lillian. — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.9

68 degrees in Chicago in November, the Chicago Cubs are the World Series Champs in an amazing comeback after being down 3-1, and I'm drinking an SQN Papa sitting on my deck after a spectacular Cubs rally with about 5 million other Cub fans in Grant Park. Doesn't really get much better. Oh, and the wine is singing ("Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, Hey Chicago, What Do You Say, Cubs Have Finally Gone All The Way"). The nose on this wine is well worth the price of admission. Simply stunning. Manfred is still the mark for all winemakers to shoot for. — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

This is an awesome white blend from Manfred Krankle. Deep golden yellow color, aromatics doninated by the roussanne (although this is a complex blend - roussanne, chardonnay, petite manseng, and I'm not sure what else), and a beautifullly mouth-coating palate. Definitely benefits from some time in air and needs to be a few degrees below cellar temp to reallly come into focus, but when it does it is awesome. Another winner from Sine Qua Non. — 9 years ago

with Vanessa and Tom

Jim McCusker

9.6

Another awesome effort by Manfred Krankle. This wine is way too young, but an hour after decanting this started to open up. Peppery nose, with terrific layers of dark fruits, iodine, and earthy undertones, this needs several more years in the cellar but is going to be one of the best (short barrel-aged) wines he has yet produced. Fantastic. — 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Doing 32 SQN Reds and 6 whites as well as a number of his stickies
tonight. This is the largest tasting of Sine Qua Non wines that I have ever heard about.

1st 100 % Chard from Manfred. — 9 years ago

Nick Lobaccaro

9.8

2010 Sine Qua Non Grenache- About as good as it gets across the board, these singular, incredible wines are the result of an obsessive attention to detail at all stages of the wine making process. There is no secret or hidden magic going on here. The incredibly talented and down-to-earth Manfred Krankl simply walks the walk as opposed to only talking about attention to detail or offering up the standard, wine is made in the vineyard comments. Looking at the vintages focused on here, 2009 has produced a decadent, voluptuous style that offers up thrilling levels of fruit as well as an approachable, heady richness that-s hard to resist. While they possess ample depth and structure, I would drink these before either the 2010s or 2011s. The 2010s here are stunning and have everything; gorgeous fruit, awesome concentration and incredible purity. While the most age-worthy of the recent vintages, they're a spectacular drink even today. The 2011s, which were all tasted out of barrel, have additional freshness and focus over the 2010s. They have solid concentration and overall balanced profiles that should allow them to cruise in the cellar. — 10 years ago

The Schwartz

9.3

What can I say Manfred — 10 years ago

Ki Punwar

Owner, California Wine Republic

10

Wow. Huge wine thats sexy and lush. Nice job Manfred — 11 years ago

Michael Park

9.4

You just can't go wrong with Manfred — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.9

2002 Cariad. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and the rest Cab Franc and Petite Verdot. Dark purple in color with a little brickiness on the rim. Opulent and sexy old world bouquet of graphite, smoke, Blackberry liqueur and expresso roast. Yet another one of those wines that I could swirl and contemplate into the evening. On the palate, dark berry, sage, cedary tobacco leaf and loamy earth flavors, along with Asian spices, duck sauce and exotic herbs and spices. Rich and intense with silky tannins. Beautiful structure. Intense. Complex. Elegant. Ethereal is the word I'm searching for. Endless finish. Just sensational. I stopped buying California Cabernet as I was simply priced out of the market. I had to choose, and I went with my main man Manfred and never have looked back. But whenever I taste one of these gems from my favorite Cabernet producer, @anncolgin and @colgincellars, I'm reminded of how compelling a truly great California Cabernet can be. — 7 years ago

Cody Short

9.5

Gave this a 3hr decant and needed every bit of it and continued to evolve in the glass. Big wine but extremely well balanced. Manfred is the master. — 7 years ago

Elizabeth Van Wazer

9.0

RCS - 2015 — 7 years ago

Joe Conti

10

Wow. What a treat this was. This is a very rare and special gewurztraminer made by Manfred for his good friend @Roman Sukley with a personally inscribed note from Manfred for Roman to share it with friends and family.

This wine is the nectar of the gods. Amazing — 8 years ago

with Mike, Tyler and 3 others

William Lauder

9.6

Awesome wine. Thank you Manfred K — 9 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.8

WOTN in heavy fire. Beat out the XXL and five shooter. Definitely a 3-1 under dog in this fight but it gets the belt. 5 hr slow oxed then down the hatch. So polished, deep and dark.... Manfred is a mad scientist with this stuff. This is the wine that changes your perception of what great really can be. — 9 years ago

Max Coane

9.0

Big Viognier nose and the standard Manfred richness. Too bad it doesn't go with food — 9 years ago

Michael Brughelli

10

Manfred killing it with this one. 2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah Atlantis Fe2O3-1c. Parker gave it 100 points... It's worth every one — 10 years ago

Birgit Glock

9.5

Mit Eltern Bettmeralp 2013/14 — 10 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.8

Seriously, Manfred Krankl is the man! — 11 years ago