Sine Qua Non'Pajarito Del Amor' Grenache 2016

Sine Qua Non is one of the most highly coveted and strictly allocated cult estates in the wine world, revered for the wild, boundary-pushing artistic genius of Manfred and Elaine Krankl. For the monumental "Pajarito Del Amor" (Little Bird of Love)—which earned dual, perfect 100-point reviews from The Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck—the Krankls turned to their hallowed Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. As Sine Qua Non's coolest estate site, this clay-heavy terroir forces an exceptionally long, slow ripening process, yielding grapes with astonishing structure and muscular intensity. Composed of 85.4% Grenache with 7.1% Petite Sirah, 6.9% Syrah, and a splash of Viognier, the wine was fermented with 56% whole clusters and raised for 38 months in French oak demi-muids to construct a complex masterpiece. It explodes from the glass with a high-toned bouquet of candied violets, mandarin peel, and exotic spices, beautifully underlaid by notes of crème de cassis, wild blackberries, and a savory hint of caramelized meat. On the palate, the wine delivers a multi-dimensional experience; despite its immense power and concentration, it possesses a deceptively weightless, ethereal lift propelled by a racy beam of natural acidity. Rich layers of Morello cherries, espresso bean, and dark cocoa glide across the tongue, supported by tightly woven tannins that carry the wine into an endless, mineral-driven finish of spectacular persistence. Just 916 cases produced.