A cult-status Syrah from Manfred Krankl, Distenta V is a powerful yet refined Rhône-inspired blend led predominantly by Syrah, with small amounts of Grenache, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, and other varieties. Intensely aromatic, offering dark berries, violet, exotic spice, and crushed stone. The palate is richly textured and layered, with firm, polished tannins, remarkable depth, and a long, expressive finish. Produced in extremely limited quantities.

An artisanal Rhône-based winery in the Ojai Valley. Owners and winemakers Nikolas and Julia Krankl are hyper-focused on quality over quantity, producing a miniscule 1,900 cases annually. Following in the footsteps of his iconic food and wine family, Nik trained with Jim Binns of Andremily and Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non and in 2017, launched his and Julia’s own label. The couple sources pristine grapes from a who’s who of Santa Barbara County’s Grand Cru vineyards including Bien Nacido, Stolpman, and Sanford and Benedict. Each year, Nikolas and Julia craft their own distinctive artwork for their bottles and custom wooden boxes, which change annually to express the individuality of each new vintage. Through ever-evolving art mediums such as photography, woodcuts, Polaroid emulsion lifts, paint and collage – every label tells a story. Despite their limited production, Nikolas and Julia Krankl have been recognized by renowned wine reviewers Lisa Perotti Brown, Antonio Galloni, James Suckling, Jeb Dunnuck and Erin Brooks. They have been called “rising stars,” and by their second vintage had already scored a perfect 100-points for their 2018 Syrah, “Off The Record” and then again for their 2022 Syrah, “Life and Death.” Their wines have garnered high praise from Rhône-expert Jeb Dunnuck, scoring 96+ on every wine they have produced. We receive one bottle per year!

is a highly acclaimed, rare California wine produced by Nikolas Krankl (son of Sine Qua Non's Manfred Krankl). The name "Brain Teaser" references a book on mental health. A blend containing 77% Syrah, 11.5% Petite Sirah, and 11.5% Graciano, characterized by notes of blackberries, pepper, and violet. The name is inspired by Julia Krankl's book "The 21st Minute". Known for being opulent, creative, and "cult" quality, produced in limited quantities. These wines are highly sought after and often sold through allocated, high-end retailers. We receive one bottle per year.

At a minimum, it takes three years from gently hand-planting each individual vine to the first harvest. However, that initial crop is quite small and it will be another two to three years before the vines really hit their stride. After harvest, fruit destined for the Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon will spend an additional two years in barrel before bottle aging in our cellar prior to release. At best, it’s six solid years of farming, winemaking and cellaring before we can pull that first cork. 2010 "The Estate" is the current library vintage, and drinking beautifully.