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The February 2023 Auction: Part 1

Auction # 748 | View Auction Schedule and Details
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Auction Ends: 2/2/2023 6:00:00 PM PDT

Lot #430. Sine Qua Non Grenache Distenta I 2019

Description: Consists of 6 Bottles, 0.75L
Score: 98 WA.
"The 2019 Grenache Distenta I is composed of 76% Grenache, 8% Mourvèdre, 9.3% Syrah, 4.3% Petite Sirah and 2.4% Viognier. The vineyard sources are 11% Cumulus Estate, 39% The Third Twin Estate, 32% Eleven Confessions Estate, 3% Molly Aida and 15% Bien Nacido vineyard. Around 43% whole cluster was performed, predominately on the Grenache. The small proportion of Viognier was co-fermented with red grapes, but interestingly, because it ripens earlier than the reds, the white berries were frozen and added to the reds at the time of fermentation. As an added bonus, these frozen grapes help to cool and, therefore, slow the fermentation. The wine was aged for around 23 months in 26.5% new French oak, 66.7% used oak and 6.8% concrete. It was bottled June 21, 2021. Medium to deep garnet-purple it bursts with profound perfume of black raspberries, boysenberries and cherry preserves, leading to an undercurrent of charcuterie, charcoal, bouquet garni and aniseed. Notions of red roses and garrigue reward patient swirling and coaxing. The full-on full-bodied palate is wonderfully opulent, its intensity offset by fantastic freshness, finishing long with a savory dried herb-laced lift. 1,536 cases plus 600 magnums were made. Due to be released in spring 2022. “Naming wines is becoming impossible,” Manfred Krankl told me last year in a fit of frustration. “Everything has already been taken. Even, 'No Name!'” After this conversation, his nearly completed registration of the name “Squeezebox” for one of the new releases fell through. Someone had already registered that name. The wine’s name had to be changed to “Ziehharmonika,” meaning "squeezebox" in German. It was the last straw. The Krankl’s are done (for now) with new fanciful names for every new Sine Qua Non label each year. From 2019 onward, the wines are all to be called “Distenta,” meaning “unlabeled” in Latin, with a number to follow. Accordingly, the 2019 Grenache and Syrah releases this year are called “Distenta I.” “I cannot say that there will never be a fanciful name again, but for now, we are trying to avoid the nightmare of litigation or removing labels,” said Elaine Krankl. More importantly, the original artwork for the labels will continue to be different every year, as will the blending creation inside the bottle." Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate Interim, Aug 2021
Provenance: The Altitude Cellar
Lot Location: Orange County
Estimate: $1,700

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