2003 Sine Qua Non Sublime Isolation

(16.6% alcohol; 44% chardonnay, 37% roussanne and 19% viognier) Deep yellow. More deeply pitched on the nose than the 2004 white blend but equally pure: pineapple, grapefruit, menthol, minerals and smoke, with hints of more exotic fruits. Conveys an even rounder, sweeter, fuller impression than the '03, with glyceral, layered flavors of mirabelle, honey and herbs. But without the floral lift of the 2004, this impressively fat and rich wine is just short of heavy.

The 2003 Sublime Isolation is a blend of 44% Chardonnay, 37% Roussanne, and 19% Viognier, all from the Alban vineyard. Aromatically restrained by SQN standards, with coaxing it offers up notes of honeyed pineapples, minerals, and flowers, but it is much more timid than its younger sibling. Rich, pure, and deliciously textured in the mouth, it reveals more on the palate than in its aromas, which should develop more nuances with additional bottle age. Sadly, production of this brilliant dry white proprietary wine is a minuscule 250 cases. The world’s most profound wines are always made by the same kind of people ... artists, craftspeople, revolutionaries, and traditionalists who have one overwhelming trait in common ... they are irrefutably dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, and their hearts, souls, and enormous talents are reflected in wines of singular personality and achievement. There are never any compromises, so it is no surprise that what takes place in these cellars is the transformation of a commonplace beverage into a form of drinkable art! Manfred Krankl and his charming wife, Elaine (referred to by Krankl as “E”), are on a roll given what has emerged from their funky warehouse/garage winery located in what looks like a discarded Hollywood set from the movie Mad Max. Finding a bottle or two of Sine Qua Non is no easy task since virtually all these wines are sold to longtime mailing list clients as well as the country’s finest upscale restaurants. However, some relief is in sight as Krankl is beginning to get fruit from his own Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. Moreover, he planted another vineyard in Ventura County on a bald outcropping that should produce some fascinating Rhone varietals. The upcoming releases all reveal Krankl’s magic touch, and like some of the finest wineries working with Rhone varietals, Manfred Krankl is a creative blender, recognizing that blends generally result in more nuances and flavor complexity than a single varietal cuvee. (Release date 11/05) Tel. (805) 649-8901

The 2003 Sublime Isolation is a blend of 44% Chardonnay, 37% Roussanne, and 19% Viognier, all from the Alban vineyard. Aromatically restrained by SQN standards, with coaxing it offers up notes of honeyed pineapples, minerals, and flowers, but it is much more timid than its younger sibling. Rich, pure, and deliciously textured in the mouth, it reveals more on the palate than in its aromas, which should develop more nuances with additional bottle age. Sadly, production of this brilliant dry white proprietary wine is a minuscule 250 cases. ||The world’s most profound wines are always made by the same kind of people ... artists, craftspeople, revolutionaries, and traditionalists who have one overwhelming trait in common ... they are irrefutably dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, and their hearts, souls, and enormous talents are reflected in wines of singular personality and achievement. There are never any compromises, so it is no surprise that what takes place in these cellars is the transformation of a commonplace beverage into a form of drinkable art!||Manfred Krankl and his charming wife, Elaine (referred to by Krankl as “E”), are on a roll given what has emerged from their funky warehouse/garage winery located in what looks like a discarded Hollywood set from the movie Mad Max. Finding a bottle or two of Sine Qua Non is no easy task since virtually all these wines are sold to longtime mailing list clients as well as the country’s finest upscale restaurants. However, some relief is in sight as Krankl is beginning to get fruit from his own Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. Moreover, he planted another vineyard in Ventura County on a bald outcropping that should produce some fascinating Rhone varietals. The upcoming releases all reveal Krankl’s magic touch, and like some of the finest wineries working with Rhone varietals, Manfred Krankl is a creative blender, recognizing that blends generally result in more nuances and flavor complexity than a single varietal cuvee.||(Release date 11/05)||Tel. (805) 649-8901 Wine Advocate.June, 2005