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The November 2026 Auction: Part 2
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1 / 2Lot 583
Estimate: $900
Very lightly scuffed labels.
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Reviews
99WA
"his is a single-vineyard Syrah-dominant blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Manfred Kranklâs initial and a provocative self-portrait on the label. The blend is 90.6% Syrah, 4.4% Petite Syrah, 2.6% Grenache and 2.4% Viognier. Forty-three percent was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 66% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Syrah M starts off a little closed, slowly unfurling to show layer upon layer of savory notes: peppered salami, woodsmoke, marmite and black olives, beneath a profound core of preserved plums, blueberry coulis and Chinese five spice with fragrant touches of fenugreek, Sichuan pepper, crushed rocks and mossy bark. Exquisitely textured with firm, rounded tannins, the taut, full-bodied, muscular fruit is laced with seamless freshness, finishing with fantastic persistence. This is a Syrah for the long haul! 913 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were made. As Iâm leaving Sine Qua Non, driving through their bucolic hills, past hay bales and farm buildings, with Cumulus Vineyard green and lush behind me, I can still taste the new releases. In particular, the new 2015 âEâ Grenache and âMâ Syrah are wines you donât soon forget. An ironic smile starts to spread across my face. Iâm thinking how the blurry image of Manfred on his new bottling of the 2015 Syrah âMâ looks a little like Charles Bukowski. On a previous visit to the winery, Elaine told me the story of how she fell in love with Manfred over a copy of Charles Bukowskiâs novel, âPost Office," that he had given her when they were first dating. If you have ever read the book, you might be scratching your head as to how someone could be wooed by this. Itâs a thinly veiled autobiography in which Bukowski takes on the persona of a pessimistic, bar-crawling, too-intelligent down-and-out that vacillates between his job at the post office, sexual exploits, gambling and, his failsafe, being a drunken bum. Not exactly a love sonnet. You donât have to be a fan of Bukowski to love the wines of Sine Qua Non, but I like to think of this literary reference as a little window into the soul of the winery. There is unquestionable skill, craftsmanship, genius and, yes, artistry about everything produced here. Yet, there is also something very primal, raw, immediately gratifying and hedonic at the core of each and every wine. And so, Sine Qua Non fans will not be disappointed by these latest releases. "Somebody asked me,â Bukowski once said in an interview, âWhat do you do? How do you write, create?â You don't, I told them. You don't try. That's very important: not to try, either for Cadillacs, creation or immortality. You wait, and if nothing happens, you wait some more. It's like a bug high on the wall. You wait for it to come to you. When it gets close enough you reach out, slap out and kill it. Or if you like its looks, you make a pet out of it." If you look carefully at the picture of Manfred on the 2015 âM,â you can imagine his arm is stretched above his head, and in his fist, you might just find Bukowskiâs bug."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"his is a single-vineyard Syrah-dominant blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Manfred Kranklâs initial and a provocative self-portrait on the label. The blend is 90.6% Syrah, 4.4% Petite Syrah, 2.6% Grenache and 2.4% Viognier. Forty-three percent was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 66% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Syrah M starts off a little closed, slowly unfurling to show layer upon layer of savory notes: peppered salami, woodsmoke, marmite and black olives, beneath a profound core of preserved plums, blueberry coulis and Chinese five spice with fragrant touches of fenugreek, Sichuan pepper, crushed rocks and mossy bark. Exquisitely textured with firm, rounded tannins, the taut, full-bodied, muscular fruit is laced with seamless freshness, finishing with fantastic persistence. This is a Syrah for the long haul! 913 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were made. As Iâm leaving Sine Qua Non, driving through their bucolic hills, past hay bales and farm buildings, with Cumulus Vineyard green and lush behind me, I can still taste the new releases. In particular, the new 2015 âEâ Grenache and âMâ Syrah are wines you donât soon forget. An ironic smile starts to spread across my face. Iâm thinking how the blurry image of Manfred on his new bottling of the 2015 Syrah âMâ looks a little like Charles Bukowski. On a previous visit to the winery, Elaine told me the story of how she fell in love with Manfred over a copy of Charles Bukowskiâs novel, âPost Office," that he had given her when they were first dating. If you have ever read the book, you might be scratching your head as to how someone could be wooed by this. Itâs a thinly veiled autobiography in which Bukowski takes on the persona of a pessimistic, bar-crawling, too-intelligent down-and-out that vacillates between his job at the post office, sexual exploits, gambling and, his failsafe, being a drunken bum. Not exactly a love sonnet. You donât have to be a fan of Bukowski to love the wines of Sine Qua Non, but I like to think of this literary reference as a little window into the soul of the winery. There is unquestionable skill, craftsmanship, genius and, yes, artistry about everything produced here. Yet, there is also something very primal, raw, immediately gratifying and hedonic at the core of each and every wine. And so, Sine Qua Non fans will not be disappointed by these latest releases. "Somebody asked me,â Bukowski once said in an interview, âWhat do you do? How do you write, create?â You don't, I told them. You don't try. That's very important: not to try, either for Cadillacs, creation or immortality. You wait, and if nothing happens, you wait some more. It's like a bug high on the wall. You wait for it to come to you. When it gets close enough you reach out, slap out and kill it. Or if you like its looks, you make a pet out of it." If you look carefully at the picture of Manfred on the 2015 âM,â you can imagine his arm is stretched above his head, and in his fist, you might just find Bukowskiâs bug."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is a red grape valued for deep color, dark-fruit flavors and a savory, spicy character. Blackberry and plum are common, often accompanied by violet, black pepper and smoked-meat notes. Its wines range from fragrant, medium-bodied expressions to rich, full-bodied reds, with structure and texture shaped by climate, vineyard site and winemaking. France's northern Rhône Valley is a benchmark for Syrah, with appellations such as Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Cornas showcasing its aromatic complexity and structure. In Australia, where it is usually labeled Shiraz, the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale are known for generous fruit and depth, while cooler regions can produce more restrained, peppery styles. The two names refer to the same grape and do not by themselves guarantee a particular style. Syrah is made both on its own and in blends, including combinations with Grenache and Mourvèdre. Some producers also co-ferment it with a little Viognier. Structured examples can develop additional savory complexity with age, while many wines are crafted for enjoyment in their youth. This combination of fruit, spice and versatility gives Syrah a distinctive identity across a wide range of regions and styles.