Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika 2018 750ml

The 2018 Syrah Ziehharmonika is composed of 82% Syrah, 6.7% Mourvedre, 5% Petite Sirah, 2.3% Grenache, 2.7% Viognier and 1.3% Muscat. “I think Muscat is the number one white grape for me to blend with reds,” Manfred said. “It kinda triples the effect of the wine.” The red winemaking included 14% whole cluster.

The vineyard sources for this wine are 51% The Third Twin, 43% Eleven Confessions and 6% Cumulus – all estate owned vineyards.

The wine was bottled in August 2020, after 23.5 months of aging. It was reared in 51% new French oak, 46% in used barrels and 3% in terracotta. (The terracotta is only use for whites.)

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored—WOW—perfumed black and blue fruits prance out of the glass, revealing accents of candied violets and cinnamon stick, supporting the plum preserves, blackberry compote and garrigue-scented core, plus hints of molten dark chocolate, licorice, Chinese five spice and bacon with a touch of iron ore. The densely laden, full-bodied palate is seriously showy, featuring flamboyant black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers with a solid backbone of ripe, rounded tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and loads of earth, pepper and floral fireworks.

1,910 cases and 600 magnums were made.

• Country: United States
• Region: California
• Appellation: Central Coast
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red

Varietal

Syrah

Known as Syrah in most countries around the world, and Shiraz in Australia and certain other regions of the New World, this grape varietal has proven over the centuries to be one of the most powerful and flavorful red wine grapes there is. It is now one of the planet’s most widely grown grapes, and is a favorite with wineries as a result of its robustness and versatility. It isn’t easy to identify many characteristics of this particular varietal, due to the fact that it is highly versatile and shows significant differences in flavor and character depending on the terroir it is grown in, and the climatic conditions of the region. However, Syrah is most widely associated with full bodied, strong and loud red wines, packed full of fruity and spicy flavors, held in a beautifully deep red liquid.