2010 Sine Qua Non The Monkey
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Tasting notes
Manfred Krankl’s 2010 The Monkey, which is tight and reserved right out of the gate (don’t be afraid to give Manfred’s whites plenty of air, they need it) opens up beautifully and has a classic Rhône-like bouquet of buttered citrus, tangerines, honeyed minerality, and exotic floral notes. Decadent, powerful and concentrated on the palate, it will easily stand up to the top white Hermitage bottlings out there.
Critic scores
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2010 The Monkey from Sine Qua Non is a bit reduced, something I don’t remember picking up on before.
(58% roussanne, 23% viognier and 19% chardonnay; 15.1% alcohol): Bright gold. Deeply pitched aromas of pit fruit nectar, orange marmalade and coconut, with a smoky topnote. Lush and expansive, offering palate-staining peach, melon and honey flavors and a late jolt of spiciness that adds lift. Shows a wild blend of richness and energy that will allow it to work with a wide range of foods. A weighty yet lively white blend with impressive finishing energy and refreshing bitterness.
The 2010 White Wine The Monkey captures a nice stylistic middle ground between the richer, creamier style typical of the Sine Qua Non whites and the brighter minerality of years like 2011. Tangerine, mint, honeysuckle, truffles and honey wrap around the expansive, creamy finish.
About the producer
The brainchild of Manfred Krankl, Sine Qua Non (commonly known as SQN) is a cult California producer whose wines are avidly collected. The winery focuses on Rhône-inspired blends, however is famously non-conformist with each release totally unique.