Sine Qua Non Grenache Distenta V - 2023 (750ml)

98 points Vinous

Bottled only three weeks before this tasting, the 2023 Grenache Distenta V is deeply aromatic and exquisitely pure, a wine of both sensuality and structure. Crushed stones, gravel and graphite infuse the palate with mineral intensity, while lavender, blood orange and macerated cherry notes quietly build layers of nuance. A spine of fine tannin carries the 2023 through a taut, finely chiseled finish, accentuated by the inclusion of 25% whole clusters that bring attractive spice. Elegant, persistent and beautifully integrated, this is a Grenache of clarity and poise. The blend is 81.8% Grenache, 8.6% Mourvèdre, 7.7% Syrah, 1.3% Muscat and 0.6% Petit Manseng. - By Billy Norris on August 2025

My initial thought in tasting this supremely impressive array of wines from Sine Qua Non, Next of Kyn and The Third Twin was that these wines defy categorization, and moreover that they defy what many who haven’t actually tasted the wines think they’re like. Do not get me wrong, these are big, bold wines that run fruit richness and textural opulence through a 100-watt Marshall stack and dial it up to 11, BUT these wines are not monoliths. They are beautifully elegant, deeply complex, completely polished and absolutely intentional—all characteristics that cement them as among the most singular wines in the world.