2012 Sine Qua Non Stock & Stein Assortment Sine Qua Non, Central Coast, California, USA
| Country | USA |
|---|---|
| Region | California |
| Appellation | Central Coast |
| Producer | Sine Qua Non |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Type | Red (Dry) |
| Grape Variety | Syrah, Grenache |
| ABV | 15.4% |
| Format | 2x150cl |
| Packaging | Original Wood Case |
| Duty Status | In Bond |
| Notes | 1 magnum each of Stock Syrah and Stein Grenache |
| Provenance | Acquired from the original owner, a Sine Qua Non mailing list subscriber who received an allocation directly from the winery; directly imported into the UK by Liquid Assets; securely stored in a climate-controlled bonded facility |
| Stock | 10+ cases (in stock and available immediately) |
98 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate (August 2015)
Stock Syrah: A step up from the Grenache, the blockbuster-styled 2012 Syrah Stock checks in as a blend of 84% Syrah, 7% Grenache, 6% Petit Sirah, and the rest Viognier and Mourvedre, that was fermented with 32% whole clusters and aged in just over half new French oak. It offers stunning notes of blackcurrants, cassis, smoked meats, ground pepper and wild herbs to go with a full-bodied, unctuous, layered, yet always graceful and elegant feel on the palate. Nicely structured, with perfect overall balance, it still has the open-knit character of the vintage, yet has plenty of underlying structure, which at the moment is slightly hidden by the wine's lavish fruit. It will be better in 2-3 years, and have two decades of overall longevity.
97 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate (August 2015)
Stein Grenache: Starting with the Grenache release, the 2012 Grenache Stein is a blend of 76% Grenache, 16% Syrah and 8% Mourvedre, aged in 14% new French oak (15% was in concrete), that comes mostly from the estate's Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, but also includes grapes from the Cumulus, Third Twin (Syrah) and Bien Nacido vineyards. Checking in at 15.7% alcohol, it's no lightweight, yet it has considerable elegance in its sweet blackcurrants, white pepper, licorice, baking spices and hints of violet-like aromas and flavors. Possessing the hallmark purity of the estate, it's full-bodied, concentrated, rich and textured, with sweet tannin barely noticeable on the finish. I don't think it's one of the greatest Grenaches from the estate, yet it's still an incredible effort that will benefit from short-term cellaring and have 15-20 years or more of overall longevity.
96+ Antonio Galloni, Vinous (August 2015)
Stock Syrah: The 2012 Syrah Stock has come together beautifully since I last tasted it a year ago. In particular, the Stock seems to have gained a measure of focus and precision I did not see back then. The inclusion of 32% whole clusters is felt in the wine's floral, savory aromatics and overall sense of freshness. The spherical, creamy finish alone is simply stunning. This is a fabulous showing. The 2012 is 84% Syrah, 7% Grenache, 6% Petite Sirah, 1% Mourvèdre and 2% Viognier, done with 32% whole clusters. The wine spent about 21 months in French oak, 52% new. Vineyard sources are 47% Eleven Confessions, 27% Cumulus, 17% Third Twin and 9% White Hawk.
(95-97) Antonio Galloni, Vinous (August 2015)
Stein Grenache: The 2012 Grenache Stein is incredibly refined, silky and pure, with bright red and blue-hued fruits. Today, the flavors are primary, so readers will have to be patient get the full breadth of aromas, flavors and textures. The Stein is a decidedly feminine, gracious Grenache that impresses for its textural beauty and nuance. I imagine it will provide a long and broad drinking window of pure pleasure over the next 15-20 years. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine from Sine Qua Non. The final blend is 76% Grenache, 16% Syrah and 8% Mourvèdre; 53% from Eleven Confessions, 29% from Cumulus, 9% The Third Twin and 9% Bien Nacido. The 2012 was done with 29% whole clusters and will spend around 22 months in French oak (14%) prior to its scheduled bottling this summer.