Sine Qua Non Naked Truth Grenache 2005

Sine Qua Non Naked Truth Grenache 2005

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£800.00
Regular price  £1,180.00
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  • Robert Parker rating 97
  • The Wine Independent rating 97
  • Vinous rating 96
Sine Qua Non Naked Truth Grenache 2005
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HED2710

75 cl

15.8%
Regular price  £1,180.00
Sale price 
£800.00 32% off
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Founded in 1994 by Manfred and Elaine Krankl, Sine Qua Non is perhaps the most famous of all the California cult wineries and is renowned for producing exceptionally limited quantities of wines made from the classic varieties of the Rhône Valley. The Naked Truth is another of the Extended Barrel-Aged program releases having spent 38 months in barrel. It is an incredibly pure-fruited, rich and decadent blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah entirely sourced from the estate-owned 11 Confessions Vineyard.
97 Robert Parker
2005 The Naked Truth: Manfred Krankl’s obvious love for his wife Elaine seems very apparent with the 2003, followed by the 2004 Ode to E, and here again, a sketch of his wife unclothed (sorry, back view only) appears on the label of the 2005. (I only know it’s his wife because I asked him!) A blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah (any Mourvedre added to the Grenache is now a thing of the past), this wine, made totally from the 11 Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills, is young, yet like all the SQN wines, approachable in its glorious display of fruit, purity and freshness. Dense purple, and offering up notes of cranberries, pepper, boysenberries, raspberries and cherries, a cornucopia of red and black fruits emerge from the aromatics, gently dosed with some spicy oak and Provencal herbs. Full-bodied, gutsy and fleshy, with loads of glycerin, a heady mouthfeel and a long finish, this wine has beautiful freshness and delineation, and should continue to drink well for 10-12+ more years. How did this label get past the puritanical bureaucrats at BATF?

The conclusions I came to about this tasting may seem obvious just by reading the tasting notes. People forget that as famous as Sine Qua Non and both Elaine and Manfred Krankl have become over the last 15 years, their wines really only began to hit full world-class qualitative levels at the turn of the last century (2000). The vineyard sources have largely changed from Alban, Stolpman, Bien Nacido, Shadow Canyon and White Hawk Vineyards to primarily estate vineyards Cumulus Vineyard in Ventura County and 11 Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. In the future, Krankl’s newest vineyard in Alisos Canyon will be an additional component part. His meticulous craftsmanship and phenomenal attention to detail, both in the vineyard and in the winery, have been increasingly noticeable over the last decade. He seemed to hit full stride about eight or nine years ago, and what has unfolded since then is an absolutely
97 The Wine Independent
Composed of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, the 2005 The Naked Truth is 100% from the Krankls’ Eleven Confessions Vineyard. The fermentation included 40% whole clusters, and it was aged in French oak barrels, 68% new, for around 38 months. Medium to deep garnet-colored floral notes of dried roses and lavender slowly emerge from the glass, opening out to a core of dried cherries, tobacco leaf, red currant jelly, and dried Provence herbs, plus hints of crushed rocks and fallen leaves. The full-bodied palate reveals exotic spice notes to complement the red berry preserves and minerally flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a refreshing backbone, finishing long with a minty lift. 218 cases, 125 magnums, and 12 double magnums were made. — Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 4th September 2024
96 Vinous
(includes 10% syrah; made with all estate fruit and 38% whole clusters; aged for 38 months in barrel) Dark purple color. Powerful scents of blueberry, blackcurrant, cracked pepper and fruitcake, with a suave undertone of violet and smoky minerals. Very spicy in the mouth, displaying concentrated, mineral-driven dark fruit preserve flavors and a velvety texture. The peppery note returns on the finish, which is tightly focused and extremely persistent, featuring an exotic note of blood orange. This superb wine is very primary today and would benefit from decanting or a few more years of cellaring. — Josh Raynolds, 1st November 2009

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The wines of Sine Qua Non need little introduction. Mould breaking, iconoclastic, visionary are just some of the descriptors invoked when critics and wine lovers discuss this unique winery. Based in Ventura, north of LA, the wines of Sine Qua Non regularly notch up perfect scores from critics while the waiting list for a direct allocation is well over ten years.

Founded by Manfred and Elaine Krankl in the early 1990s, the duo swiftly gained attention from wine lovers and critics for their superb Rhône blend wines, quirky labels and uncompromising approach in the vineyard and cellar. The winery has experimented with producing Oregon Pinot Noir, dessert wines and an array of quirky single varietal reds and whites, but generally revert to producing the wines for which they are most famous - Grenache and Syrah. The wines are generally big and bold, but those who like things cranked up to eleven should look no further than Manfred's "extended barrel ageing" program.

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