Brian S

9.1

Incredible bottle if you want a champagne for a fraction of the cost! — 3 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

Vintage 2011 | magnum | divine nectar | paired with Tarte Tatin — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.7

I had the ‘15 counterpart, the Syrah, about a year ago and was shocked at how accessible it was. This isn’t as open, but it’s not far off. The bottle was poured blind to a group of 5-7 of us. I called this 5yr old SQN Grenache. For my taste, nobody in the new world can do Grenache like Manfred. Seductively aromatic and spice driven, showing cracked black pepper, spicy rhubarb and red fruits with herbs de Provence. Lifted profile due to the use of whole cluster. Great acidity. The dominant notes of red fruits are highlighted by just a touch of blue and black fruits, with dark cocoa, potpourri and cherry jerky. A baby, but a glimpse at a monster in 5-7yrs. Thank you @Keith Fisher . — 7 years ago

with Dan

Mike R

9.7

Omg good - prefect construction with some intriguing blackberry seed and purple plum notes that desperately wanted to jump out of the glass. Believe it or not only decanted for 45 mins - created an utter explosion of flavor and power - the wine absolutely amazed me with the intensity and deep flavor

It’s a big wine and it’s not “ready” by scientific standards, but boy oh boy was this thing singing in prefect pitch already with its electric blueberry, blackberry, purple plum and river rock spices - this surreal bombastic wine is reflecting both youth and a seeming modern stylistic character I have not experienced from a previous Manfred wine I have tried

Whatever your preference, it’s hard to deny the expert construction of this particular wine. Captivating, driven, complex, and pure. The only thing missing from this at the moment is some finesse, which I have confidence it will gain over the next few years. Ideally, wait until after 2022++. 98-100 points.

A huge contrast with the 2013 Next of Kyn No.7, which was all balled-up with nowhere to go all night; hyper-vigilantly tannic and on-guard. The 2014 was just as big, but had the presence of amazing flavor to back up its intensity and fortitude. — 7 years ago

with David

Bill Bender

9.5

Sensational SQN at 16.9% alcohol was the sexiest “little chick” (Gallinita) at the party courtesy of @Eric LaMasters while you could feel the substance of this wine the high alcohol was not a factor at all....illustrating once again how Manfred is a magician at bringing the chained inhabitant of the barrel to the edge of the waterfall but never allowing it to go up and over the edge and crash and die on the rocks below. Massive (for a rose’) but an intricate and somehow delicate wine. Grenache dominates the blend with ample bright red fruit, herbs, stewed strawberry and a decided creamy texture. Unfurled and blossomed throughout the night. Best Glass was the last. — 8 years ago

Keith Fisher

9.7

As you would expect from Manfred. After a while you just run out of superlatives and just sit there with a Syrah stained smile on your face. Rich dark fruit with beef blood smell (that term doesn’t do justice to how interesting and delicious the combination really is). Tremendous finish, dark color to the edge. Just a great wine experience. My only bottle. I have no clue how long this wine could go before peaking. — 8 years ago

William Lauder

9.6

Truly amazing Oregon Pinot. In magnum. Still drinking beautifully. Manfred is the best wine maker. — a year ago

Joseph Sterrer

9.2

viel Holzwürze, warm, Power, breit, dennoch mit Tiefe und viel Saft, komplex, im Abgang alkoholisch. — 3 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

This is the No. 5 Syrah from Andremily - had it last night. Absolutely terrific bottle. Intense yet elegant at the same time. Very reminiscent of Sine Qua Non (I guess mot surprising given that the owner/winemaker apprenticed with Manfred for many years if I recall correctly). Between this and the mourvedres they’re making, this is definitely a wine list that you want to get on. Great stuff! — 6 years ago

with Vanessa

Andrea Watt

8.9

dark, and rich, smells smokey. Tastes of fig jam, smoke, and cassis. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Another 4th Friday for the books. What a much needed time out of the house and to be with friends after this past week.

This was my contribution for the evening...it was a bottle that was given to me via “trade” with @TheSkip . I’ve been quite curious of this wine for a while and he graciously included this along with the other wines he sent. The winemaker used to work for Manfred Krankel of SQN...need I say more? Also the winemaker for Antica Terra. The nose on this is EXPLOSIVE. Not quite as much as the SQN Grenache tonight, but it’s up there...potpourri, lavender and black licorice. Needed every bit of the 1.5hr decant I gave it. Complex from start to finish...red and black fruit driven, savory and herbal on the mid-palate. Not meaty/olive driven. More bramble notes and dusty cedar. Drinking absolutely perfect. What a wine @TheSkip ! — 8 years ago

with Dan, Mark and 1 other

Josh Weinstein

9.7

Yeah, Manfred knows what he’s doing!!!! — 8 years ago

with John

Roman Sukley

9.7

You know what I like about Manfred Krankl? (“I’m going to go out on a limb and say ‘everything’?” is my wife’s sarcastic answer to my posed hypothetical). Well yes, but that’s not where I was heading tonight. What I was going to say is that I like that Manfred’s wines are thought provoking. And not just the wine itself, but also the ever-changing labels and names. Take this evening’s selection. Entre chien et loup is one of my favorite French expressions from my college French class days. Literally translated, it describes a specific time of day, just before night, when the light is so dim you can’t distinguish a dog from a wolf. But like most good French expressions, it delves much deeper. It’s all about that limit between the familiar and the unknown, the comfortable and the dangerous. Pushed to the extreme, it’s that fine line between hope and despair. Layers of meaning.

And the wine? Layers of flavor. As usual for an SQN white, a blend. Mostly equal parts Chardonnay and Roussanne with a touch of Viognier and Petite Manseng thrown in. Vibrant gold color. A vigorous four hour decant reveals a huge nose of peaches and apricots with a yeasty, buttery brioche note that just rings the bell. Palate of tropical fruits and a hint of burnt toast with that unctuous silky texture only Roussanne can provide. A butterscotch finish of great length. Dense concentration. Full-bodied. Wonderful structure. Positively elegant. Personally, I prefer my SQN whites with several years of cellar time, but hey, sometimes you just can’t wait. This is excellent now, but will get nothing but better with age.

Finally, that label? I’ll just say that the TTB approves and so do I and leave it at that. And speaking of the TTB, check out that banned label in the background. — 8 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

+1 hour decant(decent fine/cloudy sediment). A striking dark magenta color. On the nose: sweet black fruit, earthy mushroom, leather, bacon, floral. Taste: deep, dark, rich, and silky as you would expect from a Manfred Krankl wine with blackberry, dark chocolate, bacon fat, earth, and a long peppery coffee ground finish. YUM! — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Eric Hoepelman

8.9

Gekoeld, op een warme zomeravond! — 3 years ago

Fraser McKinley

10

This was stunning today; Elixir-esq concentration sporting deep bass notes, a plethora of vital high tones, some carbon, a little graphite and impeccable purity. It would have likely tasted delicious anywhere but to share it with the Krankl family and perfect gentleman turned SQN chevalier @Roman Sukley was an honour and a privilege. It was part of a diamond day and the summit of a 17 year pilgrimage that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Thank you kindly Roman, Manfred, Elaine & August - 2014 — 7 years ago

Andy Hock

9.0

Lemon and tart white stone fruit. Light+ body and nice clean mineral acid finish. Pleasant — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.8

2006 Sine Qua Non "The Raven" Series No. 5
I decided to cut my SQN French class today with all the new French named SQN labels and go slightly old school with the Raven. But instead, I found myself still mired squarely in the Northern Rhône Valley. Perhaps Manfred should have named this one “Corbeau” or “Noir Comme du Charbon” because this one has me thinking Guigal La La. As these older SQN’s age, they seem to take on more Northern Rhône characteristics. A blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Grenache, and 2% Viognier primarily from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard with small quantities from the Bien Nacido and White Hawk vineyards. Bottled after spending 22 months in oak casks. Potpourri of sweet black and blue fruits, forest floor, Asian spice, bacon fat, tar, black olives and spring flowers on the almost overwhelmingly sumptuous nose. Mind-blowing really.
On the palate, blackberry jam, cracked white pepper, cherries, cinnamon, tobacco and allspice. Opulent mouthfeel. Ethereal texture. Dense, seamless, elegant. Complex, bold, rich and layered. So much finesse. “Tres Bon”Mr. Krankl!




— 8 years ago

Melissa Rose

10

Fantastic big bold red. Super special vintage.. 🍷 — 8 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.8

2004 Sine Qua Non Covert Fingers Pinot Noir. 14.9% alcohol from the Santa Rita Hills Vineyard. Beautiful, youthful garnet hues with a seductive bouquet of dark fruits and freshly cut flowers on the nose. On the palate, sweet, ripe cherries predominate with notes of cinnamon and candied orange rind nicely balanced against a yeasty, freshly baked bread-like savoriness that blows me away. Texture in Spades. Wonderful acidity. Complex and perfectly balanced. My brother-in-law Joe said it best when he described the wine as ethereal. Wine of the weekend for me which is saying something since the weekend just started. Hate to sound like a broken record, but Manfred Krankl. Nuff said! — 9 years ago

with Bill, Charles and 3 others