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Other Calif/White
11 wines match your criteria.
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| 2004 |
Kongsgaard Roussanne/Viognier |
Other Calif/White |
RP89 |
750 ml |
2 |
$69.00 |
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One of the fun wines in Kongsgaard’s portfolio is his playful blend of Roussanne and Viognier. The chunky 2004 (55% Viognier and 45% Roussanne) is not quite up to the level of the previous two vintages, no doubt because the heat of 2004 forced him to harvest earlier than normal. Its evolved light gold color is accompanied by a kinky nose of litchi nuts intermixed with nectarines, marmalade, and honeysuckle. It will offer a pleasant glass of Rhone Ranger white over the next 2-3 years.
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| 2000 |
Pride Viognier |
Other Calif/White |
RP89 |
750 ml |
5 |
$65.00 |
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Pride Mountain, which is justifiably revered for their sensational Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, and Reserve cuvees, also fashions one of northern California's finest Viogniers. The light gold-colored 2000 boasts an excellent nose of tropical fruits, honeysuckle, apricots, and a hint of minerals. This medium to full-bodied, finely-tuned 2000 will drink well for 1-2 years.
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| 1993 |
Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc |
Other Calif/White |
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9 L |
1 |
$999.00 |
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| 2005 |
Sine Qua Non Atlantis Fe 203 3E Roussanne Vin de Paille |
Other Calif/White |
RP97 |
375 ml |
1 |
$145.00 |
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The 2005 Atlantis Fe 203-3e Roussanne Vin de Paille is a 100% Roussanne cuvee possessing 352 grams of residual sugar per liter. While it is a stunning effort, when tasted next to the two Mr. K. whites, it comes in slightly below those two out-of-this-world offerings. Incredible aromas of honeysuckle and marmalade are classic late-harvest Roussanne, and the wine’s sweet style is beautifully balanced by terrific acidity (12.5 grams of acid per liter).
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| 2006 |
Sine Qua Non Autrement Dit |
Other Calif/White |
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750 ml |
5 |
$109.00 |
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| 2007 |
Sine Qua Non Body And Soul Roussanne / Viognier |
Other Calif/White |
RP96 |
1.5 L |
1 |
$299.00 |
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The new cuvee of white wine, the 2007 Body and Soul, a 475-case blend of 71% Roussanne and 29% Viognier, is primarily from the 11 Confessions Vineyard. Krankl has dropped Chardonnay from the blend, and the resulting wine is a beacon for what can be achieved by blending two white Rhone varietals. About one-third new French oak is used. Honeysuckle, orange blossom, lemon oil, tropical fruit, and floral notes are found in this unctuously-textured white. Full-bodied and dry, with good underlying minerality, crispness, and an alluring freshness, it is impossible to know how such a wine will age. I just finished my last bottle of the 2001 Albino, which is aging fabulously well, and seems capable of lasting another 4-5 years. These wines are so spectacularly perfumed and intense in their youth that they are hard to resist.
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| 2000 |
Sine Qua Non The Filly |
Other Calif/White |
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375 ml |
1 |
$500.00 |
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| 2006 |
Sine Qua Non The Hoodoo Man |
Other Calif/White |
RP95 |
750 ml |
1 |
$160.00 |
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The newest cuvee of white wine, the 2006 The Hoo Doo Man, is a 568-case blend of 39% Roussanne and the rest essentially equal parts Viognier and Chardonnay. This exceptional effort is a model example of what can be done with white varietals in California’s Central Coast. An exceptional bouquet of lemon blossom, nectarine, orange marmalade-infused honey, quince, and citrus are stunningly aromatic and provide profound richness, yet the freshness, precision, and overall lift are remarkable for a wine of this power and intensity. It offers a prodigious glass of dry white wine that should drink handsomely for a decade. In short, I call it “How do he do it man.”
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| 2005 |
Sine Qua Non The Petition |
Other Calif/White |
RP95 |
750 ml |
1 |
$195.00 |
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The 2005 The Petition (a blend of 37% Viognier, 33% Roussanne, and 30% Chardonnay; 62% from John Alban’s vineyard and 38% from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard) is more restrained than the 2006. 2005 was a cooler year, but you wouldn’t know that from the glorious opulence in both the aromatics and flavors of this light golden-colored wine. Litchi nut, buttered tropical fruits, flower, and subtle wood notes soar from the glass. Rich, dry, full-bodied flavors coat the palate, but supporting underlying acidity provides superb definition to the wine’s mass and intensity. This cuvee, along with its younger sibling, are among the most profound dry whites being made in California. Hopefully they will encourage more wineries to move away from varietal labeling and create blends such as these. I believe that is the future for Central Coast whites. To reiterate, it is a challenge to analyze these wines. I know they are distinctive, and I think I am beginning to understand why they are so much greater than just about every other Syrah or Grenache-based wine in California. In short, it is talent and incredibly meticulous hard work. No one works as hard or is as maniacal about a vineyard’s viticulture and winemaking as Manfred Krankl. Take that, add in exceptional talent, humility, top-notch vineyards, and I believe I understand the fundamentals of why these wines are so special.
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| 2008 |
Sine Qua Non The Pontiff Rose |
Other Calif/White |
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750 ml |
2 |
$125.00 |
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| 2006 |
Sine Qua Non To The Rescue Roussanne Vin de Paille |
Other Calif/White |
RP98 |
375 ml |
3 |
$140.00 |
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The 2006 To the Rescue Roussanne Vin de Paille has 290 grams of residual sugar per liter. Despite its aging in 100% new oak, there is not a hint of wood to be found in the aromas or flavors. This remarkable sweet white exhibits abundant aromas of orange marmalade, rose petals, honeysuckle, brown sugar, and spice. It looks like 10W40 motor oil, but its ample acidity provides uplift and vibrancy to its enormously endowed, sweet personality. Who knows how long it will last, but it definitely has 15-20 years of longevity, and it may surprise us all by living for 40-50 years.
More of this wine may be available at a higher price.
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