Sine Qua Non is a California cult winery known for its Rhône-style blends, a tendency to avoid repetition, and a very limited production of wine that is highly difficult to obtain. 100% of all releases are allocated and directly sold to a carefully managed mailing list.

Among other accolades, seven of SQN wines have rung up perfect 100 scores from Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. To put that in perspective, Bordeaux icon Château Lafite-Rothschild has notched only four 100s, Châteaux Haut-Brion and Latour have three apiece - and their ratings reach back to vintages in the 1940s. The only American winery even close is Harlan Estate with four 100s.

This is your chance to choose your own piece of Sine Qua Non. The winner of this collection will take home either a beautiful three-bottle collection or a fabulous magnum.

The Collection
Valued at $900

The wines are:
2006 Raven California Syrah Series No. 4
Wine Advocate/Cellar Tracker - 96 pts.; RP - 96 pts.; WS - 95 pts.
Offers a dense purple color, gorgeous fruit and a sweet perfume of graphite, blackberries, blueberries, charcoal, licorice, tar and new oak. It is a dense, full-bodied, well-endowed, beautifully layered pure Syrah that is ready to drink now through 2021.

2008 The Line, Grenache
RP - 97 pts.; WS - 95 pts.
"A blend of 87.5% Grenache, 11% Syrah, and 1.5% Viognier, with 21% whole clusters used in the Grenache component. 78% of it came from the 11 Confessions Vineyard, with the balance from Bien Nacido and the White Hawk. It is no measly wine at 15.5% alcohol, but it displays extraordinary berry fruit and kirsch notes intermixed with lavender and other floral components. Intense, full-bodied, voluptuously textured, and stunningly pure, with no real noticeable oak (21% new French oak was used), this beauty has put on weight and is showing additional complexity since I first tasted it." Robert Parker

Drink now through 2020.


2016 Duex Grenouilles, White Bordeaux Blend
RP & Vinous - 94 pts.
"The 2016 Deux Grenouilles is gorgeous. Rich and ample on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2016 is super-distinctive. Like all Sine Qua Non whites, the Deux Grenouilles will need a few years in bottle to come into its own. Apricot pit, almond, chamomile and dried flowers are woven together in a creamy, expansive white endowed with superb textural voluptuousness. The Sine Qua Non whites are tempting to drink upon release, but I prefer them with a few years of bottle age." Vinous (AG)

The Magnum: 2015 Sin Qua Non Syrah Trouver L'Arene
Valued at $930

RP - 100 pts.
Composed of 80.5% Syrah, 7% Petite Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 2% Grenache and 3.5% Viognier, all sourced from estate vineyards-37% The Third Twin, 36% Eleven Confessions and 27% Cumulus-the 2015 Syrah Trouver L'Arene was made using 34% whole cluster and has a deep purple-black color with intense cassis, black plums and black cherry scents, plus hints of anise, violets, sage and tar, with wafts of savory/smoked meat suggestions. Full-bodied, this voluptuous beauty is seriously singing in the mouth, belting out vibrant red and black fruit flavor layers, all framed by very fine, rounded, ripe tannins and a wonderful freshness, finishing with persistent perfumed fruit and a spring in its step. (LPB, 9/2017)