Distenta III White 2021

Sine Qua Non is arguably California's most cult producer . Its wines are extremely rare , produced in small quantities , sometimes only a few barrels. Needless to say , you have to join a waiting list to get your hands on them . Another important characteristic is that the estate is owned by the iconoclastic Austrian artist and restaurateur Manfred Krakl . Krakl founded the winery with his wife , Elaine, in 1994 in Ventura , California, a city an hour north of Los Angeles. Each wine tells a story , has a different name , and a unique label , created, of course, by Manfred himself.

Jeb Dunnuck – Rated 100:

An absolutely exceptional white wine of absolute perfection, the Distenta III Blanc 2021 boasts a brilliant golden hue and offers an incredible bouquet of stone fruit, toast, green almond, and fresh croissants. Far from being a light and easy-drinking wine, it displays a full-bodied richness and depth while maintaining perfect balance, great finesse, purity, and remarkable precision. This divine white will benefit from a year of bottle aging and, in my opinion, possesses exceptional aging potential of over a decade, although there is no need to age it prematurely.

Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) – Rated 93: 

The 2021 Distenta III is a blend of 33% Chardonnay, 27% Viognier, 24% Gelber Muskateller, 12% Roussanne, and 4% Petit Manseng, the latter two varieties having been co-fermented. Primarily sourced from the Eleven Confessions vineyard, it also includes grapes from The Third Twin and Cumulus parcels. Aged for 23 months, 52% in new French oak barrels and demi-muids, the wine is intensely floral and exuberant, with honeyed and exotic aromas of stone fruit, citrus oil, pine needles, mint, and a noticeable alcoholic presence after aeration. The palate is full and smooth, dominated by a generous array of stone fruit flavors, supported by vibrant acidity. The finale, initially clean and precise, gradually evolves into an intoxicating and persistent sensation.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) – Rated 94:

The 2021 Distenta III is a wild and exotic white wine. Ginger, passion fruit, spices, and candied lemon mingle harmoniously in the glass. Extended aging on the lees for 8 to 12 months gives it a remarkable texture. This 2021 vintage is rich and smooth, without any heaviness. Intensely aromatic notes linger on the finish. The Distenta III is a magnificent wine in every respect. The blend is composed of 33% Chardonnay, 27% Viognier, 24% Gelber Muskateller, 12% Roussanne, and 4% Petit Manseng. This is the first vintage with a high proportion of Muscat, an approach that proves particularly successful here.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...). In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.