Bottle decanted for an hour. The wine still showed some tannins. It is absolutely exquisite right now with hints of smoked meat and berries. A big finish and plenty of time left to enjoy. No need to be in a rush to drink this one.
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Nice balance ready now but has legs for 10 years mot. Spices that are more white pepper with good chocolate tones and smoke like mole and the light mushroom undertones. A great texture on the tongue. Great tenderloin wine
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Syrah varietal is not my cup of tea. Even though a lot of people praise SQN's Syrah as some of the best, but I personally find the taste of this particular wine a bit off. Not that it was spoiled, just I don't appreciate the soy sauce flavor (almost a bit salty to the taste).
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Ripe, big fruit, vanilla and milk chocolate sweetness, smooth tannins yet with enough acid to hold it together and keep it from being goopy. Would never have blinded as Syrah.
And you know what, you know what you're getting into when you're drinking this wine so why not enjoy it? Do you complain about Mickey Mouse when you're going to Disneyland?
A delicious wine that I would have any day -- but perhaps not every day.
Though I don’t think it’s a top SQN, still a great wine. Served to a few people who’ve never had the opportunity to drink a Manfred wine all thought it was spectacular.
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Le petit sommelier de Paris (Le petit sommelier de Paris , Paris): Every now and then we come across a bible of a wine list and tucked away towards the end you have these SQNs at release prices just because nobody will take them. The Ledbury in London is one and this time it was at Le Petit Sommelier, Paris. Served in Sydonios Subtils this was as expected an intense experience. True to SQN style it’s big and muscular and juicy and a beast of war but also in balance and in an elevated state of harmony. Rich fruit, big on the alcohol and still very much driven by fruit. Maybe not the most elegant SQN we have ever tried but still a proper wine to finish on. 93-95 for now
Another late night coravin pour from host, KenK. Needed 20-30 min in the glass to begin to reveal itself, much like the '08 Chave did. This slowly unfurled into a gentle bacon fat on the nose and palate. It's quite soft and silky in the mouth. Less earthy/dirt nose than the Chave, more uprfront dark fruit on the nose instead. Would have been nice to see how it evolved over a full day. Yummy, and I'm not THE biggest Syrah guy on here! Bordering on a 94 for me at the end, just not enough time! Thanks, Ken!
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Soft and exceptionally smooth. Nice acidity and spice on the finish. Drank along side the Grenache. I thought the 2013 Grenache was slightly more interesting.
Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Explosief bouquet. Donker fruit, mint, laurier, gedroogd fruit, verfijnd hout. Smaak / Afdronk: Jeugdig. Frisse zuurgraad, prominente tannines met een prettige ‘bite’, stevig, een wijn om van de genieten bij een mooi diner. Subliem lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Super krachtige wijn maar met jeugdiger en fris-kruidige accenten, vooral mint en laurier. Ook de tannines doen nog ‘jonger’ aan. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 14 + Smaak / Afdronk: 19 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 96/100
Colour: Deep impenetrable ruby red Aroma / bouquet: Explosive bouquet. Dark fruit, mint, laurel, dried fruit, refined wood. Taste / Aftertaste: Youthful. Fresh acidity, prominent tannins with a pleasant bite, firm, a wine to enjoy with a nice dinner. Sublimely long finish. General / potential: Super powerful wine but with more youthful and fresh-spicy accents, especially mint and laurel. The tannins also feel even younger. 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / Bouquet: 14 + Taste / Aftertaste: 19 + General / Potential: 8 = 96/100
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Patience pays off. This was a tremendous wine in a night of super wines. My wine group did a Syrah tasting and the two best wines were the SQN and the 2010 Alban. Better than the rest of the flight. Paired great with steak, egg pasta, and a blue-cheese green salad with fried scallots. This wine has amazing fruit, is layered and is ready to drink now. Did not do a long decant. Popped and poured. Delicious. Such a treat.
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Grosse étiquette, le nom joue pour pas mal ici. C'est super bon mais au prix demandé et surtout quand on peut en avoir, ça me laisse un peut sur mon apétit! Puissant, long, dense et extrait, c'est tout de même approchable.
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The sun finally came out. I slow ox'd this wine for 5 hours and then we went to the club for the Memorial Day BBQ. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was blackberry, plum, leather, tree bark and spices. The finish was very long. A great bottle of wine.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout.. Nose of cocoa powder, roasted meat and currants. Flavors of black raspberries, cherries, plums and currants. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink now with a little air or continue to hold.
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I always love reviewing a SQN wine - the CT scores are off the charts and HEY - I can't blame you - you waited so long to get on his mailing list and then paid so much for the privilege of obtaining a bottle that you just have to rate it 90-high +++ something -- just for your own psychic satisfaction to confirm that you didn't make a mistake! BUT, I contend that if you tasted this blind against wines that cost many hundreds less, sure it would be a contender, but by no means a clear winner. And my point? OVERPRICED.
My bottle was a heavily over extracted ripe California Syrah. It was all fruit, all BIG fruit, punch you in the face fruit, with some gravel, sweet oak (way too much IMHO) and vanilla, a piece of meat soaked in the vat, a dollop of tannin and a dash of acid. True, it was nicer and a little more together the second day (I would score it a 92) but who opens a wine a day or two ahead of time "just in case"?! I guess some of you do based on the tasting notes.....
Smokehouse scents of cured meats and beef blood with mild spices and black pepper. Dark chocolate flavors (like 80% cocoa) and rich plum cake, prune & black fig paste. The word “Massive” only begins to scratch the surface of this little monster; it was unapproachable for the first couple of hours. Lesson learned: uncork at breakfast time in anticipation of consumption with dinner. This wine is still a baby, but it was consumed for my 55th birthday. Happy birthday to me!
Paired with duck confit & wild rice, but the best marriage was with the cheeses (Spanish goat cheese and aged Manchego). I believe the master producers of the northern Rhone would have been jealous of this astounding artwork of Syrah. Bravo Manfred!
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Popped and poured -- served a bit too cold. Nose and flavors muted at first (probably due to the temperature) but really opened up over three hours. Chewy, plums, pepper, meaty, leather notes. Finish was a bit short and not a WOW showing for SQN, but certainly a solid crowd pleaser.
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Another spectacular showing! A dark and youthful appearance, with exotic and complex notes of roasted meat, black cherry, blackberry, tobacco, campfire, and hints of espresso and crushed stones. Full bodied, with great concentration, incredible depth, ripe and velvety tannins, and a finish that goes on and on. Hedonists rejoice!
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Nose of savory and fruit, tart blueberries on the palate. A bitter finish which disappeared by day 3 and became creamier and rounder. I think this will get better with some cellar time. I had high expectations after the SQN female Grenache we had a few weeks ago which was amazing after 12 hours. Perhaps an unfair comparison but this couldn’t get there despite the air time. I have another bottle that I will leave to develop.
80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga Nacional, 3.5% Viognier, 28% whole clusters...this has always been one of my fav sqn syrah's of all-time...the plushness and cool like Prince in a velvet suit, the rich and extracted, perfectly ripe dark liqueured berry fruits...such intensity, yet elegance and grace. The years have polished the already perfectly balanced wine to a radiant sheen...the fruit is gushing with perfect sweetness to dryness...liqueured berries, creme de cassis, olive tapenade, licorice...crazy intoxicating florals and spices...white pepper, smoked cherry wood/asphalt, cocoa bean, sweet tobacco, viognier pretties, and violet flowers...I can go on and on! Damn near perfection in every way!
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Deep garnet color with a bouquet and flavor of plums, a touch of raspberry, and black pepper, quite typical of Syrah. Very good balance, with considerable depth and a long finish. This is a wow wine. Another win for SQN.
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Still closed off initially and needs time to open up, but then it Comes with a creamy, fine structure, greath length and balance. Chestnut puree, blackcurrant, very nice.
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Double decanted an hour before dinner. A dark purple core with no signs of age. Notes of blackberry, violets, spice box, roasted meat; hints of campfire and espresso. Powerful on the palate, with a lush mouthfeel, amazing concentration, but in perfect balance; great delineation and depth, with a long and heady finish. Amazing stuff!
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Kleur: Diep opaak donkerrood met zelfs na 7 jaar nog een paarsige vleug en opvallende 'tranen' aan de rand van het glas. Aroma / bouquet: Het bouquet van Syrah dat kenmerkend is voor een beperkt aantal briljante wijnmakers. Een explosie van donker fruit, bramen, zwarte bessen. Daarnaast gedroogd fruit. En vervolgens zacht zoete kruiderij en verfijnde tonen van chique hout. Smaak / Afdronk: Een 'bek vol wijn', sublieme concentratie. Zachte zuurgraad, een brilijante vulling boordevol krachtige maar verfijnde tannines. Serieus alcoholisch. Een lange en zacht zoetige, iets alcoholische finale. Algemeen / potentieel: Bijzondere blend van 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga Nacional en 3.5% Viognier. Dcg 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 16 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 92/100
Color: Deep opaque dark red with a purplish hint even after 7 years and striking 'tears' at the edge of the glass. Aroma / bouquet: Syrah's bouquet that characterizes is for a limited number of brilliant winemakers. An explosion of dark fruits, blackberries, black currants. In addition, dried fruit. And then soft sweet condiment and sophisticated notes of chic wood. Taste / Finish: A 'mouth full of wine', sublime concentration. Soft acidity, a gorgeous filling full of powerful but refined tannins. Seriously alcoholic. A long and softly sweet, slightly alcoholic finish. General / potential: Special blend of 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga Nacional and 3.5% Viognier. Dcg 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 16 + General / potential: 9 = 92/100
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had alongside a saxum James berry....this was a bit better....multi dimensional with floral edges. deep blue fruits, cherry, violets. amazing how dark it is and how light it is.
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Very complex nose with notes of bbq spice, lavender, smoked meats, blackberry and some smoke. Seamless on the palate, flavors explode and have some nice precision. Delicious wine that should improve with more time in the bottle.
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Opaque. Asphalt, aniseed and cured meat on the nose. Dark fruits and iodine on the palate. This has evolved beautifully since my last visit and is a real pleasure to drink now. Not my first SQN, but my first glimpse of Manfred’s greatness. Wonderful.
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Cellared since release, perfect cork and fill. Dark inky purple to rim. Intense nose of ripe dark fruits, spices, oak. Full bodied, lush layered ripe fruit, good balancing acidity but needs more time for the oak to integrate better, long finish. I’ll leave these alone for 3-5 years. Excellent with upside potential.
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Deep garnet color with a bouquet and flavor quite typical of Syrah with a lot of plum, a little cherry, and a very peppery finish. Generally good balance with nice nuance and depth. The finish was quite long. Lovely wine drunk on the beautiful Emerald Coast of Florida.
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Not sure how it happened but this was a PnP when a friend came over. Dark purple, very young. Feral wine with dark berry, hints of stewed meats that I believe will become more prevalent with time, a little bacon but mostly fruit. It's starting to turn the corner to secondary notes. Heavy, weighted, tannins with a little grip to them but well balanced and integrated. Another winner for Manfred.
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Decanted for one hour prior to drinking, this clear wine was deep garnet red in colour with a nose of dark berries and a slight amount of mustiness which only lasted for about 45 minutes. These berries were also tasted along with a good amount of ground spices. Both the tannins and acidity were not overly strong and I did find a noticeable sour aftertaste.
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Opened in the bottle for 3-5 hours. Loads of ripe almost sticky cherry that’s really blossoming right now. This reminds me more of Grenache character here as I wasn’t picking up any savory/meaty elements. Anise, sage, flowers, vanilla, and minerals accent the fruit. More integrated and elegant than I was expecting but still some heat on the finish. I personally like a little bite and drinking these on the younger side.
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Decanted for about an hour, this wine is seamless. Strong hint of black pepper on the nose, silky and ripe blackberry dominates the palate with notes of pepper and a touch of sweet allspice. Just enough acidity to keep this from being over the top. Not as complex as other SQN syrahs but still a fun, very pleasurable wine to enjoy.
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Rich, luscious, opulent boatloads of fruit hit the spot. Delicate? Perhaps not. But pleasing to the palate, absolutely! The fruit is perfectly ripe, black, juicy and with smoke, licorice, jam, vanilla, and black cherries. Mouth-fill and teeth staining, but also not hot, over-done or out of proportion. This is drinking really well today.
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I've had this wine a number of times in the past and always really enjoyed it. That being said, tonight's bottle just wasn't there. It was certainly clear and garnet red in colour with no noticeable flaws to be seen or smelled. The wine had flavours of cherries and dark berries but there was a sourness that lingered at the end of each sip. As well, I thought the spices were quite a bit too hot for my liking. I'm sure the bottle suffered from lack of decanting but I didn't expect to have the tasting that I did. I can only hope (and expect) that this was a quirky bottle.
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2hr decant. Fantastic wine that is unique to SQN, but didn't get quite as much out of my second bottle as the first. Give it 3 more years at least before drinking the next bottle.
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very young wine but showing well. still massive amount of oak with chocolate and bing cherry. needs at least 5 more years to round out some edges but this wine is superbly built with a taste profile that goes on for 30 seconds. tannin is well balanced at this early age
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I don't know how he does it. From day 1 his wines are approachable and always in balance. Full of fruit and delicious charm but still a back bone that shows it presence and signals "serious wine". I love how you don't have to buy these and forget them for 10 years - -you can instead drink a case over 10 years. Not sure mine will last that long but I like the concept :)
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Decanted for an hour. The goal when critiquing is to find the flaw(s). In this case it was challenging, yet there were two: one point for the palate and one for the finish. What an honor to enjoy such a velvety, layered Syrah. Lavished in oak, but in no way obnoxious. Cassis, French onion soup, kirsch, used coffee grounds and braised lamb. The finish is long and delicious. Still very much an infant, this illustrious goddess will age for many, many years. Drink 2021 -.
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WX Blind Pinot Noir Tasting (Danny Aliaga's House): YES! Culty plums, smoke, meat, cassis. So SQN, so creamy and pleasing to the senses. Limited notes but this was a winner. Tasted after blind Pinots.
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This was opened at a local bar with and drank with no decanting. It was deep garnet red in colour and clear. The wine had a nose and flavours or ripe cherries, some caramel and dark chocolate. Tannins and acidity were quite balances and the heat level of the spices was also very nice. This was a very good bottle even without the benefit of pre decanting.
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Good but not great right out of the bottle. After an hour it started to really open up. Very good now that it's had time to breathe, but I do think there are many better options at this price point as this doesn't bring the wow factor I'm looking when drinking a $350/bottle of new world style wine. Drank side by side with a 2013 Kathryn Hall Cabernet, which I thought was slightly better.
Sine Qua Non at its best can be truly exceptional, but otherwise it can feel very expensive for what it is, in my opinion.
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Dark purple color. Spicy, blackberry, tobacco, sweet plum, cinnamon on nose. The spiciness is more like cinnamon than pepper. The alcohol is a bit high on this one, but not enough to really bother. Weight heavy. Nice unique syrah.
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This clear and dark garnet red wine was poured with 45 minutes decanting at a local restaurant. With a nose and flavours of ripe cherries, dark berries, pepper and some ground spices, this wine was smooth from the get go but continued to open up and get smoother as time progressed. It had a long finish with a good balance to both the tannins and acidity. On this bottle, I did however find it a bit hot with regards to the spices.
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Opaque. Dark fruits, sweet spices and a note of dill on the nose. Dark fruits and a dense core of black pepper, asphalt and licorice on the palate. Grippy tannins. Long finish. Long life ahead. My best SQN to date. Hats off!
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6 hour decant. Drank blind against 2003 La Turque. Easy to pick out the SQN, and was the better of the two wines despite less than half the price. Possibly the WOTN.
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Goodness; this is more science experiment than wine. One of the more extracted wines I've ever drunk, this is also extraordinarily hot. Clearly, this is made with the intent to impress - and looking at the notes here, I see that it sometimes does. My reaction, however, falls short of "shock and awe" - really just shock. Where is the sophistication? Where is the appeal? This is so overblown, ungainly, and top-heavy. Specious at best and not very enjoyable at that. I can't imagine actually sitting down and drinking this. One of the more off-putting wines I can recall drinking.
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At my daughters birthday dinner at Park Avenue Autumn in NYC. They decanted the wine for us and we let it sit for an hour. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was blackberry, charred meat, mocha and dried spices. The finish was long and full. A great bottle of wine.
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Quite a bit better than a year or so ago. A bit more open. Large in scale, with beautiful black fruit and herbs, a very nice mouthfeel and finish. Luxurious in texture, mouthwatering (fine acidity for such a large scale wine).
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Dark ruby color. More red and blue fruits than I had expected: raspberry, black cherry and boysenberry mostly. Dense, rich, opulent fruit, with occasional whiffs of VA. Somewhat formless and lacking definition. I may have caught this too early. The score is based mainly on the sheer density of fruit; it may one day yield more complexity and style.
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Incredible bottle of wine. Nose was muted at first but after a couple of hours the floral scents came out. The palate was rich and concentrated bit not over the top. Boysenberries and other dark fruits were evident and the finish was long and lush. One of my top SQN experiences
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Wow! Best bottle I've had, almost perfect. Took about 2 hours to open up, and then it was gone in about 30 minutes. Smooth silky tannins with a hint of pepper. Long long finish. This was still young, but should be perfect in another 3 or 4 years.
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Initially gave it a couple hours of slow ox and then another couple hours in the decanter. Really good once it received a lot of air, but ideally this would be allowed to age a bit. Probably my favorite SQN Syrah from the last handful of vintages. 95-96+
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Decanted and poured back into the bottle 10 hours before drinking. 79% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvedre, 3.5% Touriga Nacional, 2.6% Viognier, 1.6% Chardonny, and 0.3% Muscat. Deep blackish red. 15.5% alcohol. As expected a behemoth of a wine. Notes of charcoal, cassis, smoke and black tea. Bitter edge on the finish which lessened as the night went on. Powerful tannins. The alcohol was not overpowering. 94 points by the end of the night.
Inky, dark in color, with layers of sweet, ripe, juicy, dense, opulent, black and blue fruits, smoke, licorice, vanilla and espresso notes. Silky lush, tannins that feel great, and a long, luscious, mouth filling finish are the hallmarks of this wine. The wine was made from a blend of Rhone and Portuguese grapes; 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga National and 3.5% Viognier.
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Had this as part of a mini SQN night with the 2011 Dark Blossom alongside this 2013 Male. Both pretty young, this one was very young but a fun exercise nonetheless. Drank over a couple of hours. Very rich wine, dark fruits, dark cherries, lots of spices. Well balanced even at 15.5% alcohol. Certainly could use some time in the bottle to develop but even over a couple of hours it came along nicely.
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Similar to first bottle, drinks well now for the age, amazing purity and concentration, super silky mouthfeel, meats, dark red and blue fruits, milk chocolate sweet cooking spices. Just amazing. Gets better with air as to be expected.
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Rich and viscous, packed with flavor, but winds up being seamlessly smooth on the palate. Leather, spice, and black fruit. Long finish with an unexpected lightness given the alcohol content.
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Pre-Tasting Lunch (Prairie Grass - Northbrook IL): Tasted double blind. Clearly seemed like SQN to me with its powerful black fruit and intense spice, and the rare ability to maintain balance at this octane level. 94 points for now, much better than the first time I tasted this 4 months ago, but upside from here.
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Fantastic nose of flowers, bacon, tree bark, asphalt and dark fruit notes. Amazing texture in the mouth, medium to full bodied. The complete package wine. Great nose, amazing mouth-feel and long finish and this will improve with more time. Decanted 4 hours and consumed over 5. Delicious!
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Quite the experience! Lots of acidity and intense flavor. For all of the underlying extraction, the mouthfeel is balanced, not heavy. Overt heat on the palate and finish. A fun change of pace from the traditionalist Old World wines I usually prefer.
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Way too primary right now, this was super tight. Dark, dark purple, almost black. Nice body, with a somewhat reticent nose mostly of dark fruit and oak. Not jammy, but super bright blue/black fruits, a bit of spice and hints of vanilla. Good, with potential for being super good, but right now just an extremely fruit forward wine not wanting to give anything away.
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Dark inky purple. Hints of green tones on the nose. Palate is huge explosion of black fruits and plumbs. Finish is smooth and long. A really special wine my first sqn and I can see why it so highly regarded.
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PnP, explosive nose, dark red fruits, cooking spices, pomegranate, beef blood, beef jerky, sour cherry, great length and intensity, extracted yet very well balanced. One of the better regular SQN's over the past many years. Needs 2-3 years to start drinking really well but drinks well now with a couple hour decant.
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Drank side by side with the Grenache at a steak dinner. This paired much better with the steak and I think was my WOTN (although not sure the Grenache wouldn't have taken it if the food hadn't been involved). Similar to the Grenache it was very young and primary. We'll be letting our bottle rest for a number of years. A bit of the 'in the rocks' flavors, good funk characteristics, more savory. Very enjoyable. Although almost half of the table claimed to prefer the Grenache, this is the wine we ended up needing a second bottle of.
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A little restrained on the nose, still showing layers of ripe, slightly stewed cherries and dark fruit, sweet spices, flowers, bacon fat, smoke. Despite its youth pretty much seamless on the palate - incredibly well rounded tannins, lots of acidity, masses of ripe, generous fruit. Very harmonious, lively, not heavy at all. Incredible persistence to the finish. Hold. 96-97+
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Sine Qua Non Dinner (Formento's - Chicago IL): Open and decanted many hours, I still found this so primary and raw that it was tough to enjoy tonight as a dinner wine, despite clear and pronounced great raw materials.
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This was drank at a local steakhouse after decanting for 6 1/2 hours. The wine was very deep purple in colour and clear. The nose when opening had a slight yeast tinge to it but that left after approximately 2 hours and then I found a bouquet of dark cherries, black currant and some chocolate. These same flavours were found when tasting the wine although I did not get any chocolate at all. The wine was a bit heavy on the alcohol but quite light on the spices. I actually remarked that I might not have known that it was a syrah. The tannins and acidity were there but not overly strong and each sip had a long finish. This bottle is probably my favourite young SQN that I have tried.
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Väldigt mörkt och kompakt med lila ton. Väldigt fruktdrivet med hög alkohol och mycket ek. Men på något konstigt sätt så blir det ändå gott och kul att dricka
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Decanted abut 7 hours ahead of dinner. Opaque inky purple color with notes of incense, cassis and black fruit, florals, roasted game and coffee. There's just a subtle hint of VA here too. Black fruit, brown sugar and violets. Long finish.
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Opened by Allread at Anvil for Domino's birthday. I believe it was decanted for five hours before dinner and was open for another couple before and during dinner. This is my favorite SQN to date as there are so many layers of complexity here. A real treat. Thanks Allred and happy birthday Domino.
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Decanted for 5 hours and drank over several more. Currently disjointed with a lot of its complexities slightly out of harmony. Still enjoyable as it didn't come off harsh or hot. Pretty typical young SQN taste but with a surprising amount of minerality and a unique touch of coconut. Still more approachable now than the 2012 Stock was at the same age.
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Really showing stunning already! On a mixed night with German, Burgundy and RRV Zinfandel you could easily see, that this is from the warmest climate by a lot! Surely within the boundaries of where world class wine production is possible, but close to the border;-) Decanted for about three hours and served slightly chilled. Deep, deep dark opaque, intensely pronounced nose of blackberries, blackberry liqueur, black currants and Cassis liqueur, bit of licorice, oozing notes of woodsmoke, roast'n'toast, pine wood, cloves spice, vanilla beans, chocolate, freshly ground coffee/espresso roast and just this feeling of 'surplus'. Really a luxurious nose - not for the faint of heart! Taste fully delivers and mirrors the nose. The mouthfeel is thick and rich, yet has a weightlessness that is mightily impressive given the proportions, and the tannins are sooo soft and smooth it is almost unbelievable! American through and through - perhaps not a Grand-Vin-Du-Terroir showing more of the warm climate than soil, but isn't temperature part of the terroir as well - and who cares, when it is this balanced, tasty and just fantastic?
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This was terrible. Ive drank a lot of SQN, and have a lot in the cellar, and I don't know what this wine is doing. The other tasters apparently had a completely different wine. No time to pull punches. What?
Open in bottle for 6hrs….Dark inky purple color….fantastic nose of liqueured berries, creme de cassis, olive tapenade, chocolate covered espresso bean, white pepper, peach florals ala viognier. Might sound like a broken record….amazing yada yada yada……but there is something here more amazing than I've seen in the last few regular syrah……this wine is CRAZY rich and velvety smooth right out of the gate……WAY more flavors and extracted fruit packed in there than I've ever seen before! Drinks more like the eba wines! Gushing liqueured berry fruit….perfect sweetness and dryness with crushed graphite, rocks, dusty white pepper spices…..licorice, cocoa bean, smoked cherry wood…..and super pretty florals…showing the viognier and maybe other rhone whites ala Cote Rotie. Just delish right out of the gate……scary to think this will probably get better! The best "reg" sqn syrah to date.
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Want something, sometimes you have to do it yourself. Truck dropped the load today. Opened hours ago. At first, it was sound asleep. Now, the glass is two feet away and its perfume is filling the room. First sip, Drumroll Please...... (Rat-a-tat-tat) Tart leather, my palate is drooling from the taste. Second sip, smoother, taste buds have shook off the initial shock and awe and are calibrating to the massive burst of flavors. Sour cherry, leather, and pepper.
Time for some dinner, will sip more latter Dinner was some lump crab cakes, home made of course, and angel hair pasta, I'm stuffed.
Back to the wine Nose is hinting at morning bacon. Has that thin watery palate feel, you know, not heavy. The sour cherry has faded into dark black unsweetened currants, faint vanilla on the close. Does not have the silky panty remover quality of some prior vintages The style reminds me of Northern Rhône, call it M's, Ode to Hermitage.
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4/29/2024 - wine-eau Likes this wine: 94 Points
A huge wine, typical of SQN, with years of life left, but drinking well now. Blackberry, hoisin sauce, olive, black pepper. Delicious!
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3/14/2024 - Troon wrote: 95 Points
Bottle decanted for an hour. The wine still showed some tannins. It is absolutely exquisite right now with hints of smoked meat and berries. A big finish and plenty of time left to enjoy. No need to be in a rush to drink this one.
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12/22/2023 - jcstip wrote: 96 Points
Nice balance ready now but has legs for 10 years mot. Spices that are more white pepper with good chocolate tones and smoke like mole and the light mushroom undertones. A great texture on the tongue. Great tenderloin wine
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12/15/2023 - d.f.c Likes this wine: 93 Points
Syrah varietal is not my cup of tea. Even though a lot of people praise SQN's Syrah as some of the best, but I personally find the taste of this particular wine a bit off. Not that it was spoiled, just I don't appreciate the soy sauce flavor (almost a bit salty to the taste).
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10/30/2023 - kohada Likes this wine:
Ripe, big fruit, vanilla and milk chocolate sweetness, smooth tannins yet with enough acid to hold it together and keep it from being goopy. Would never have blinded as Syrah.
And you know what, you know what you're getting into when you're drinking this wine so why not enjoy it? Do you complain about Mickey Mouse when you're going to Disneyland?
A delicious wine that I would have any day -- but perhaps not every day.
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9/7/2023 - jeffmudd Likes this wine: 95 Points
Though I don’t think it’s a top SQN, still a great wine. Served to a few people who’ve never had the opportunity to drink a Manfred wine all thought it was spectacular.
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8/30/2023 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby/inky in color with a short purple rim.
Full bodied and bold, rich and extracted.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with medium acidity.
Showing black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, light vanilla, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, earth and peppercorn.
This beautiful 10 year old Syrah from California is drinking very nicely now, although still young.
Needed 3 hours in the decanter, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
Robert Parker 98 points.
Inky and teeth staining. In your face kind of kind of wine, and not for everyone.
A blend of 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvedre, 4% Viognier and 3% Touriga Nacional. Aged in (65% new) French oak barrels for 25 months.
15.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$275.
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8/18/2023 - Papies wrote: 94 Points
Le petit sommelier de Paris (Le petit sommelier de Paris , Paris): Every now and then we come across a bible of a wine list and tucked away towards the end you have these SQNs at release prices just because nobody will take them. The Ledbury in London is one and this time it was at Le Petit Sommelier, Paris.
Served in Sydonios Subtils this was as expected an intense experience. True to SQN style it’s big and muscular and juicy and a beast of war but also in balance and in an elevated state of harmony. Rich fruit, big on the alcohol and still very much driven by fruit. Maybe not the most elegant SQN we have ever tried but still a proper wine to finish on. 93-95 for now
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3/17/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another late night coravin pour from host, KenK. Needed 20-30 min in the glass to begin to reveal itself, much like the '08 Chave did. This slowly unfurled into a gentle bacon fat on the nose and palate. It's quite soft and silky in the mouth. Less earthy/dirt nose than the Chave, more uprfront dark fruit on the nose instead. Would have been nice to see how it evolved over a full day. Yummy, and I'm not THE biggest Syrah guy on here! Bordering on a 94 for me at the end, just not enough time! Thanks, Ken!
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3/12/2023 - Jzboxtas Likes this wine: 96 Points
Delicious. Shared with parents and in laws.
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1/26/2023 - Romol Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2+ hours. This is in a really good spot right now. 2 hours in the decanter were perfect. Ready to drink. 94. pts. at the moment.
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2/26/2022 - leadpencil wrote: 94 Points
Purple, full bodied. Blackberry, Asian spice
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11/20/2021 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Soft and exceptionally smooth. Nice acidity and spice on the finish. Drank along side the Grenache. I thought the 2013 Grenache was slightly more interesting.
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11/19/2021 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 96 Points
Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Explosief bouquet. Donker fruit, mint, laurier, gedroogd fruit, verfijnd hout. Smaak / Afdronk: Jeugdig. Frisse zuurgraad, prominente tannines met een prettige ‘bite’, stevig, een wijn om van de genieten bij een mooi diner. Subliem lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Super krachtige wijn maar met jeugdiger en fris-kruidige accenten, vooral mint en laurier. Ook de tannines doen nog ‘jonger’ aan. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 14 + Smaak / Afdronk: 19 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 96/100
Colour: Deep impenetrable ruby red Aroma / bouquet: Explosive bouquet. Dark fruit, mint, laurel, dried fruit, refined wood. Taste / Aftertaste: Youthful. Fresh acidity, prominent tannins with a pleasant bite, firm, a wine to enjoy with a nice dinner. Sublimely long finish. General / potential: Super powerful wine but with more youthful and fresh-spicy accents, especially mint and laurel. The tannins also feel even younger. 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / Bouquet: 14 + Taste / Aftertaste: 19 + General / Potential: 8 = 96/100
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9/15/2021 - A&C Likes this wine: 96 Points
Patience pays off. This was a tremendous wine in a night of super wines. My wine group did a Syrah tasting and the two best wines were the SQN and the 2010 Alban. Better than the rest of the flight. Paired great with steak, egg pasta, and a blue-cheese green salad with fried scallots. This wine has amazing fruit, is layered and is ready to drink now. Did not do a long decant. Popped and poured. Delicious. Such a treat.
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7/7/2021 - maxima wrote: 92 Points
Grosse étiquette, le nom joue pour pas mal ici.
C'est super bon mais au prix demandé et surtout
quand on peut en avoir, ça me laisse un peut sur mon apétit!
Puissant, long, dense et extrait, c'est tout de même
approchable.
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6/1/2021 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
The sun finally came out. I slow ox'd this wine for 5 hours and then we went to the club for the Memorial Day BBQ. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was blackberry, plum, leather, tree bark and spices. The finish was very long. A great bottle of wine.
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5/28/2021 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout.. Nose of cocoa powder, roasted meat and currants. Flavors of black raspberries, cherries, plums and currants. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink now with a little air or continue to hold.
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5/24/2021 - peternelson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big, rich, full of flavor, black and blue fruits, expensive oak, high alcohol, not my style but somehow very appealing. :)
Peninsula Hotel Yarom event
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4/1/2021 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 90 Points
I always love reviewing a SQN wine - the CT scores are off the charts and HEY - I can't blame you - you waited so long to get on his mailing list and then paid so much for the privilege of obtaining a bottle that you just have to rate it 90-high +++ something -- just for your own psychic satisfaction to confirm that you didn't make a mistake! BUT, I contend that if you tasted this blind against wines that cost many hundreds less, sure it would be a contender, but by no means a clear winner. And my point? OVERPRICED.
My bottle was a heavily over extracted ripe California Syrah. It was all fruit, all BIG fruit, punch you in the face fruit, with some gravel, sweet oak (way too much IMHO) and vanilla, a piece of meat soaked in the vat, a dollop of tannin and a dash of acid. True, it was nicer and a little more together the second day (I would score it a 92) but who opens a wine a day or two ahead of time "just in case"?! I guess some of you do based on the tasting notes.....
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3/10/2021 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 98 Points
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!
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12/25/2020 - Neras Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dense. Good, but I am sorry to say, not extraordinary as one should expect at this price level.
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11/12/2020 - Sanlucar Likes this wine: 97 Points
Smokehouse scents of cured meats and beef blood with mild spices and black pepper. Dark chocolate flavors (like 80% cocoa) and rich plum cake, prune & black fig paste. The word “Massive” only begins to scratch the surface of this little monster; it was unapproachable for the first couple of hours. Lesson learned: uncork at breakfast time in anticipation of consumption with dinner. This wine is still a baby, but it was consumed for my 55th birthday. Happy birthday to me!
Paired with duck confit & wild rice, but the best marriage was with the cheeses (Spanish goat cheese and aged Manchego). I believe the master producers of the northern Rhone would have been jealous of this astounding artwork of Syrah. Bravo Manfred!
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10/24/2020 - andolini wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured -- served a bit too cold. Nose and flavors muted at first (probably due to the temperature) but really opened up over three hours. Chewy, plums, pepper, meaty, leather notes. Finish was a bit short and not a WOW showing for SQN, but certainly a solid crowd pleaser.
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10/17/2020 - tbabes wrote: 98 Points
Another spectacular showing! A dark and youthful appearance, with exotic and complex notes of roasted meat, black cherry, blackberry, tobacco, campfire, and hints of espresso and crushed stones. Full bodied, with great concentration, incredible depth, ripe and velvety tannins, and a finish that goes on and on. Hedonists rejoice!
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10/2/2020 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding! What we always want our modern Chateauneufs to taste like. More intense than previous grenache based SQN's we have had.
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7/20/2020 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of savory and fruit, tart blueberries on the palate. A bitter finish which disappeared by day 3 and became creamier and rounder. I think this will get better with some cellar time. I had high expectations after the SQN female Grenache we had a few weeks ago which was amazing after 12 hours. Perhaps an unfair comparison but this couldn’t get there despite the air time. I have another bottle that I will leave to develop.
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5/29/2020 - Beezc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful wine. Drinking well now but I imagine it has a long life ahead if you choose to hold.
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5/19/2020 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 98 Points
80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga Nacional, 3.5% Viognier, 28% whole clusters...this has always been one of my fav sqn syrah's of all-time...the plushness and cool like Prince in a velvet suit, the rich and extracted, perfectly ripe dark liqueured berry fruits...such intensity, yet elegance and grace. The years have polished the already perfectly balanced wine to a radiant sheen...the fruit is gushing with perfect sweetness to dryness...liqueured berries, creme de cassis, olive tapenade, licorice...crazy intoxicating florals and spices...white pepper, smoked cherry wood/asphalt, cocoa bean, sweet tobacco, viognier pretties, and violet flowers...I can go on and on! Damn near perfection in every way!
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5/8/2020 - tcosgriff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep garnet color with a bouquet and flavor of plums, a touch of raspberry, and black pepper, quite typical of Syrah. Very good balance, with considerable depth and a long finish. This is a wow wine. Another win for SQN.
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4/22/2020 - G_H wrote: 95 Points
Still closed off initially and needs time to open up, but then it Comes with a creamy, fine structure, greath length and balance. Chestnut puree, blackcurrant, very nice.
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4/1/2020 - tbabes wrote: 98 Points
Double decanted an hour before dinner. A dark purple core with no signs of age. Notes of blackberry, violets, spice box, roasted meat; hints of campfire and espresso. Powerful on the palate, with a lush mouthfeel, amazing concentration, but in perfect balance; great delineation and depth, with a long and heady finish. Amazing stuff!
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3/31/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Not quite as good as previous bottles, not sure if it was an off bottle, but was still good overall.
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3/20/2020 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Kleur: Diep opaak donkerrood met zelfs na 7 jaar nog een paarsige vleug en opvallende 'tranen' aan de rand van het glas. Aroma / bouquet: Het bouquet van Syrah dat kenmerkend is voor een beperkt aantal briljante wijnmakers. Een explosie van donker fruit, bramen, zwarte bessen. Daarnaast gedroogd fruit. En vervolgens zacht zoete kruiderij en verfijnde tonen van chique hout. Smaak / Afdronk: Een 'bek vol wijn', sublieme concentratie. Zachte zuurgraad, een brilijante vulling boordevol krachtige maar verfijnde tannines. Serieus alcoholisch. Een lange en zacht zoetige, iets alcoholische finale. Algemeen / potentieel: Bijzondere blend van 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga Nacional en 3.5% Viognier. Dcg 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 16 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 92/100
Color: Deep opaque dark red with a purplish hint even after 7 years and striking 'tears' at the edge of the glass. Aroma / bouquet: Syrah's bouquet that characterizes is for a limited number of brilliant winemakers. An explosion of dark fruits, blackberries, black currants. In addition, dried fruit. And then soft sweet condiment and sophisticated notes of chic wood. Taste / Finish: A 'mouth full of wine', sublime concentration. Soft acidity, a gorgeous filling full of powerful but refined tannins. Seriously alcoholic. A long and softly sweet, slightly alcoholic finish. General / potential: Special blend of 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga Nacional and 3.5% Viognier. Dcg 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 16 + General / potential: 9 = 92/100
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2/9/2020 - DesMarteau Likes this wine: 97 Points
had alongside a saxum James berry....this was a bit better....multi dimensional with floral edges. deep blue fruits, cherry, violets. amazing how dark it is and how light it is.
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2/2/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Similar to previous bottles.
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1/19/2020 - bubbachumps wrote: 96 Points
Very complex nose with notes of bbq spice, lavender, smoked meats, blackberry and some smoke. Seamless on the palate, flavors explode and have some nice precision. Delicious wine that should improve with more time in the bottle.
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1/17/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
not blind
powerful but evrything is balanced, a bit alcoholic. 94-95
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12/6/2019 - Jmigliano5 Likes this wine: 96 Points
My first SQN and really wish I waited or decanted longer. The fruit, texture and length improved seemingly minute to minute. Wonderful wine
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11/27/2019 - canan wrote: 95 Points
BYO (Anarki): Didn't get it decanted enough. It was extremely young and it was not possible to approach and get a lot of excitement out of.
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11/23/2019 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Consistent to my previous notes, need to find more!
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11/2/2019 - Teknsteel Likes this wine: 96 Points
Opaque. Asphalt, aniseed and cured meat on the nose. Dark fruits and iodine on the palate. This has evolved beautifully since my last visit and is a real pleasure to drink now. Not my first SQN, but my first glimpse of Manfred’s greatness. Wonderful.
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10/17/2019 - Backdoctor wrote: 97 Points
Opened 2.5 hours before dinner. Decanted for 1.5 hours. Kept opening up, and as usual, the last sip was the best. Manfred is a genius.
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10/17/2019 - dbg wrote:
Cellared since release, perfect cork and fill. Dark inky purple to rim. Intense nose of ripe dark fruits, spices, oak. Full bodied, lush layered ripe fruit, good balancing acidity but needs more time for the oak to integrate better, long finish. I’ll leave these alone for 3-5 years. Excellent with upside potential.
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9/11/2019 - tcosgriff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep garnet color with a bouquet and flavor quite typical of Syrah with a lot of plum, a little cherry, and a very peppery finish. Generally good balance with nice nuance and depth. The finish was quite long. Lovely wine drunk on the beautiful Emerald Coast of Florida.
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9/7/2019 - corkcork wrote: 90 Points
Totally discombobulated, oak was overbearing; I don’t think it will improve with time.
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8/10/2019 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Not sure how it happened but this was a PnP when a friend came over. Dark purple, very young. Feral wine with dark berry, hints of stewed meats that I believe will become more prevalent with time, a little bacon but mostly fruit. It's starting to turn the corner to secondary notes. Heavy, weighted, tannins with a little grip to them but well balanced and integrated. Another winner for Manfred.
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7/26/2019 - Rosengoo wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for one hour prior to drinking, this clear wine was deep garnet red in colour with a nose of dark berries and a slight amount of mustiness which only lasted for about 45 minutes. These berries were also tasted along with a good amount of ground spices. Both the tannins and acidity were not overly strong and I did find a noticeable sour aftertaste.
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6/29/2019 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 97 Points
Opened in the bottle for 3-5 hours. Loads of ripe almost sticky cherry that’s really blossoming right now. This reminds me more of Grenache character here as I wasn’t picking up any savory/meaty elements. Anise, sage, flowers, vanilla, and minerals accent the fruit. More integrated and elegant than I was expecting but still some heat on the finish. I personally like a little bite and drinking these on the younger side.
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4/21/2019 - madeiradog Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for about an hour, this wine is seamless. Strong hint of black pepper on the nose, silky and ripe blackberry dominates the palate with notes of pepper and a touch of sweet allspice. Just enough acidity to keep this from being over the top. Not as complex as other SQN syrahs but still a fun, very pleasurable wine to enjoy.
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3/15/2019 - edwardochu wrote:
decanted for 7 hrs, really had nothing to show for. good acidity but surprisingly lacks fruit.
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2/25/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Rich, luscious, opulent boatloads of fruit hit the spot. Delicate? Perhaps not. But pleasing to the palate, absolutely! The fruit is perfectly ripe, black, juicy and with smoke, licorice, jam, vanilla, and black cherries. Mouth-fill and teeth staining, but also not hot, over-done or out of proportion. This is drinking really well today.
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1/12/2019 - Rosengoo wrote: 87 Points
I've had this wine a number of times in the past and always really enjoyed it. That being said, tonight's bottle just wasn't there. It was certainly clear and garnet red in colour with no noticeable flaws to be seen or smelled. The wine had flavours of cherries and dark berries but there was a sourness that lingered at the end of each sip. As well, I thought the spices were quite a bit too hot for my liking. I'm sure the bottle suffered from lack of decanting but I didn't expect to have the tasting that I did. I can only hope (and expect) that this was a quirky bottle.
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12/15/2018 - Fid wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hours. I think it needs a day. Quite closed. Maybe a phase? While it was still drinkable, it wasn’t charming at all.
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11/4/2018 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 95 Points
2hr decant. Fantastic wine that is unique to SQN, but didn't get quite as much out of my second bottle as the first. Give it 3 more years at least before drinking the next bottle.
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7/27/2018 - zimmy07 Likes this wine:
very young wine but showing well. still massive amount of oak with chocolate and bing cherry. needs at least 5 more years to round out some edges but this wine is superbly built with a taste profile that goes on for 30 seconds. tannin is well balanced at this early age
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7/20/2018 - robertek wrote: 96 Points
I don't know how he does it. From day 1 his wines are approachable and always in balance. Full of fruit and delicious charm but still a back bone that shows it presence and signals "serious wine". I love how you don't have to buy these and forget them for 10 years - -you can instead drink a case over 10 years. Not sure mine will last that long but I like the concept :)
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7/14/2018 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 98 Points
Decanted for an hour. The goal when critiquing is to find the flaw(s). In this case it was challenging, yet there were two: one point for the palate and one for the finish. What an honor to enjoy such a velvety, layered Syrah. Lavished in oak, but in no way obnoxious. Cassis, French onion soup, kirsch, used coffee grounds and braised lamb. The finish is long and delicious. Still very much an infant, this illustrious goddess will age for many, many years. Drink 2021 -.
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7/1/2018 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
WX Blind Pinot Noir Tasting (Danny Aliaga's House): YES! Culty plums, smoke, meat, cassis. So SQN, so creamy and pleasing to the senses. Limited notes but this was a winner.
Tasted after blind Pinots.
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6/27/2018 - Rosengoo wrote: 95 Points
This was opened at a local bar with and drank with no decanting. It was deep garnet red in colour and clear. The wine had a nose and flavours or ripe cherries, some caramel and dark chocolate. Tannins and acidity were quite balances and the heat level of the spices was also very nice. This was a very good bottle even without the benefit of pre decanting.
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6/27/2018 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Good but not great right out of the bottle. After an hour it started to really open up. Very good now that it's had time to breathe, but I do think there are many better options at this price point as this doesn't bring the wow factor I'm looking when drinking a $350/bottle of new world style wine. Drank side by side with a 2013 Kathryn Hall Cabernet, which I thought was slightly better.
Sine Qua Non at its best can be truly exceptional, but otherwise it can feel very expensive for what it is, in my opinion.
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6/16/2018 - bubbachumps wrote: 96 Points
Consistent with my prior notes. Amazing texture to this wine!
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4/1/2018 - Gestalted wrote: 90 Points
A one dimensional Syrah. Big and jammy with a notable hot brick finish. Just not very interesting or complex.
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3/18/2018 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark purple color.
Spicy, blackberry, tobacco, sweet plum, cinnamon on nose. The spiciness is more like cinnamon than pepper. The alcohol is a bit high on this one, but not enough to really bother.
Weight heavy. Nice unique syrah.
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2/22/2018 - Rosengoo wrote: 93 Points
This clear and dark garnet red wine was poured with 45 minutes decanting at a local restaurant. With a nose and flavours of ripe cherries, dark berries, pepper and some ground spices, this wine was smooth from the get go but continued to open up and get smoother as time progressed. It had a long finish with a good balance to both the tannins and acidity. On this bottle, I did however find it a bit hot with regards to the spices.
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1/21/2018 - Teknsteel Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opaque. Dark fruits, sweet spices and a note of dill on the nose. Dark fruits and a dense core of black pepper, asphalt and licorice on the palate. Grippy tannins. Long finish. Long life ahead. My best SQN to date. Hats off!
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12/2/2017 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 97 Points
6 hour decant. Drank blind against 2003 La Turque. Easy to pick out the SQN, and was the better of the two wines despite less than half the price. Possibly the WOTN.
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11/23/2017 - 2thdoc wrote:
231 per bottle
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11/18/2017 - englishman's claret wrote: 86 Points
Goodness; this is more science experiment than wine. One of the more extracted wines I've ever drunk, this is also extraordinarily hot. Clearly, this is made with the intent to impress - and looking at the notes here, I see that it sometimes does. My reaction, however, falls short of "shock and awe" - really just shock. Where is the sophistication? Where is the appeal? This is so overblown, ungainly, and top-heavy. Specious at best and not very enjoyable at that. I can't imagine actually sitting down and drinking this. One of the more off-putting wines I can recall drinking.
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11/12/2017 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
At my daughters birthday dinner at Park Avenue Autumn in NYC. They decanted the wine for us and we let it sit for an hour. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was blackberry, charred meat, mocha and dried spices. The finish was long and full. A great bottle of wine.
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10/24/2017 - cadamson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quite a bit better than a year or so ago. A bit more open. Large in scale, with beautiful black fruit and herbs, a very nice mouthfeel and finish. Luxurious in texture, mouthwatering (fine acidity for such a large scale wine).
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9/19/2017 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Opened by Allred. 2nd time I have had this with similar notes. 93 points.
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9/15/2017 - thunberg wrote: 89 Points
@BYOB blind tasting
Old model train engine, caramel, dark berries, high concentrate, trace of sweet oakiness, tannins +. A bit too massive for me.
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9/15/2017 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark ruby color. More red and blue fruits than I had expected: raspberry, black cherry and boysenberry mostly. Dense, rich, opulent fruit, with occasional whiffs of VA. Somewhat formless and lacking definition. I may have caught this too early. The score is based mainly on the sheer density of fruit; it may one day yield more complexity and style.
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9/1/2017 - Niagara wrote: 95 Points
i am really coming to believe that if SQN were the only wines I could drink ever again, I'd be perfectly fine with that.
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7/14/2017 - bablues wrote: 98 Points
Incredible bottle of wine. Nose was muted at first but after a couple of hours the floral scents came out. The palate was rich and concentrated bit not over the top. Boysenberries and other dark fruits were evident and the finish was long and lush. One of my top SQN experiences
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6/24/2017 - redpine42 wrote: 99 Points
Wow! Best bottle I've had, almost perfect. Took about 2 hours to open up, and then it was gone in about 30 minutes. Smooth silky tannins with a hint of pepper. Long long finish. This was still young, but should be perfect in another 3 or 4 years.
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5/19/2017 - Neskers86 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very light and fruitful wine. Had at Stoehr's house for TWS dinner
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2/19/2017 - B Paul wrote: 96 Points
Initially gave it a couple hours of slow ox and then another couple hours in the decanter. Really good once it received a lot of air, but ideally this would be allowed to age a bit. Probably my favorite SQN Syrah from the last handful of vintages. 95-96+
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2/10/2017 - Vino Me wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and poured back into the bottle 10 hours before drinking. 79% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvedre, 3.5% Touriga Nacional, 2.6% Viognier, 1.6% Chardonny, and 0.3% Muscat. Deep blackish red. 15.5% alcohol. As expected a behemoth of a wine. Notes of charcoal, cassis, smoke and black tea. Bitter edge on the finish which lessened as the night went on. Powerful tannins. The alcohol was not overpowering. 94 points by the end of the night.
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1/23/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Inky, dark in color, with layers of sweet, ripe, juicy, dense, opulent, black and blue fruits, smoke, licorice, vanilla and espresso notes. Silky lush, tannins that feel great, and a long, luscious, mouth filling finish are the hallmarks of this wine. The wine was made from a blend of Rhone and Portuguese grapes; 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga National and 3.5% Viognier.
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12/24/2016 - TokyoLunch Likes this wine:
Had this as part of a mini SQN night with the 2011 Dark Blossom alongside this 2013 Male. Both pretty young, this one was very young but a fun exercise nonetheless. Drank over a couple of hours. Very rich wine, dark fruits, dark cherries, lots of spices. Well balanced even at 15.5% alcohol. Certainly could use some time in the bottle to develop but even over a couple of hours it came along nicely.
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11/26/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to first bottle, drinks well now for the age, amazing purity and concentration, super silky mouthfeel, meats, dark red and blue fruits, milk chocolate sweet cooking spices. Just amazing. Gets better with air as to be expected.
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11/23/2016 - andolini wrote: 93 Points
Rich and viscous, packed with flavor, but winds up being seamlessly smooth on the palate. Leather, spice, and black fruit. Long finish with an unexpected lightness given the alcohol content.
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10/8/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Pre-Tasting Lunch (Prairie Grass - Northbrook IL): Tasted double blind. Clearly seemed like SQN to me with its powerful black fruit and intense spice, and the rare ability to maintain balance at this octane level. 94 points for now, much better than the first time I tasted this 4 months ago, but upside from here.
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8/20/2016 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Decanted about two hours- domsistent with prior note, though no noticeable VA. A rich, fun mouthful of wine.
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8/19/2016 - bubbachumps wrote: 96 Points
Fantastic nose of flowers, bacon, tree bark, asphalt and dark fruit notes. Amazing texture in the mouth, medium to full bodied. The complete package wine. Great nose, amazing mouth-feel and long finish and this will improve with more time. Decanted 4 hours and consumed over 5. Delicious!
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8/13/2016 - bpj87 wrote:
Quite the experience! Lots of acidity and intense flavor. For all of the underlying extraction, the mouthfeel is balanced, not heavy. Overt heat on the palate and finish. A fun change of pace from the traditionalist Old World wines I usually prefer.
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8/7/2016 - cadamson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Way too primary right now, this was super tight. Dark, dark purple, almost black. Nice body, with a somewhat reticent nose mostly of dark fruit and oak. Not jammy, but super bright blue/black fruits, a bit of spice and hints of vanilla. Good, with potential for being super good, but right now just an extremely fruit forward wine not wanting to give anything away.
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7/17/2016 - jnocera Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark inky purple. Hints of green tones on the nose. Palate is huge explosion of black fruits and plumbs. Finish is smooth and long. A really special wine my first sqn and I can see why it so highly regarded.
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7/16/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 97 Points
PnP, explosive nose, dark red fruits, cooking spices, pomegranate, beef blood, beef jerky, sour cherry, great length and intensity, extracted yet very well balanced. One of the better regular SQN's over the past many years. Needs 2-3 years to start drinking really well but drinks well now with a couple hour decant.
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6/28/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Drank side by side with the Grenache at a steak dinner. This paired much better with the steak and I think was my WOTN (although not sure the Grenache wouldn't have taken it if the food hadn't been involved). Similar to the Grenache it was very young and primary. We'll be letting our bottle rest for a number of years. A bit of the 'in the rocks' flavors, good funk characteristics, more savory. Very enjoyable. Although almost half of the table claimed to prefer the Grenache, this is the wine we ended up needing a second bottle of.
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6/14/2016 - SlimShaney wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous BOYSnberry. Talc and a little tobacco.
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6/2/2016 - rossi.wine wrote: 97 Points
A little restrained on the nose, still showing layers of ripe, slightly stewed cherries and dark fruit, sweet spices, flowers, bacon fat, smoke. Despite its youth pretty much seamless on the palate - incredibly well rounded tannins, lots of acidity, masses of ripe, generous fruit. Very harmonious, lively, not heavy at all. Incredible persistence to the finish. Hold. 96-97+
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5/25/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Sine Qua Non Dinner (Formento's - Chicago IL): Open and decanted many hours, I still found this so primary and raw that it was tough to enjoy tonight as a dinner wine, despite clear and pronounced great raw materials.
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5/21/2016 - Rosengoo wrote: 96 Points
This was drank at a local steakhouse after decanting for 6 1/2 hours. The wine was very deep purple in colour and clear. The nose when opening had a slight yeast tinge to it but that left after approximately 2 hours and then I found a bouquet of dark cherries, black currant and some chocolate. These same flavours were found when tasting the wine although I did not get any chocolate at all. The wine was a bit heavy on the alcohol but quite light on the spices. I actually remarked that I might not have known that it was a syrah. The tannins and acidity were there but not overly strong and each sip had a long finish. This bottle is probably my favourite young SQN that I have tried.
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5/11/2016 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 91 Points
Väldigt mörkt och kompakt med lila ton. Väldigt fruktdrivet med hög alkohol och mycket ek. Men på något konstigt sätt så blir det ändå gott och kul att dricka
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5/10/2016 - AllRed wrote:
Decanted abut 7 hours ahead of dinner. Opaque inky purple color with notes of incense, cassis and black fruit, florals, roasted game and coffee. There's just a subtle hint of VA here too. Black fruit, brown sugar and violets. Long finish.
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5/10/2016 - thelostverse wrote: 97 Points
Opened by Allread at Anvil for Domino's birthday. I believe it was decanted for five hours before dinner and was open for another couple before and during dinner. This is my favorite SQN to date as there are so many layers of complexity here. A real treat. Thanks Allred and happy birthday Domino.
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4/16/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 5 hours and drank over several more. Currently disjointed with a lot of its complexities slightly out of harmony. Still enjoyable as it didn't come off harsh or hot. Pretty typical young SQN taste but with a surprising amount of minerality and a unique touch of coconut. Still more approachable now than the 2012 Stock was at the same age.
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4/14/2016 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 97 Points
Really showing stunning already! On a mixed night with German, Burgundy and RRV Zinfandel you could easily see, that this is from the warmest climate by a lot! Surely within the boundaries of where world class wine production is possible, but close to the border;-) Decanted for about three hours and served slightly chilled. Deep, deep dark opaque, intensely pronounced nose of blackberries, blackberry liqueur, black currants and Cassis liqueur, bit of licorice, oozing notes of woodsmoke, roast'n'toast, pine wood, cloves spice, vanilla beans, chocolate, freshly ground coffee/espresso roast and just this feeling of 'surplus'. Really a luxurious nose - not for the faint of heart! Taste fully delivers and mirrors the nose. The mouthfeel is thick and rich, yet has a weightlessness that is mightily impressive given the proportions, and the tannins are sooo soft and smooth it is almost unbelievable! American through and through - perhaps not a Grand-Vin-Du-Terroir showing more of the warm climate than soil, but isn't temperature part of the terroir as well - and who cares, when it is this balanced, tasty and just fantastic?
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4/1/2016 - wineberg wrote:
This was terrible. Ive drank a lot of SQN, and have a lot in the cellar, and I don't know what this wine is doing. The other tasters apparently had a completely different wine. No time to pull punches. What?
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3/25/2016 - RMundell Likes this wine:
way too young. Lot's of potential.
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3/15/2016 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 98 Points
Open in bottle for 6hrs….Dark inky purple color….fantastic nose of liqueured berries, creme de cassis, olive tapenade, chocolate covered espresso bean, white pepper, peach florals ala viognier. Might sound like a broken record….amazing yada yada yada……but there is something here more amazing than I've seen in the last few regular syrah……this wine is CRAZY rich and velvety smooth right out of the gate……WAY more flavors and extracted fruit packed in there than I've ever seen before! Drinks more like the eba wines! Gushing liqueured berry fruit….perfect sweetness and dryness with crushed graphite, rocks, dusty white pepper spices…..licorice, cocoa bean, smoked cherry wood…..and super pretty florals…showing the viognier and maybe other rhone whites ala Cote Rotie. Just delish right out of the gate……scary to think this will probably get better! The best "reg" sqn syrah to date.
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3/10/2016 - shadow wrote: 100 Points
Want something, sometimes you have to do it yourself.
Truck dropped the load today.
Opened hours ago.
At first, it was sound asleep.
Now, the glass is two feet away and its perfume is filling the room.
First sip, Drumroll Please...... (Rat-a-tat-tat)
Tart leather, my palate is drooling from the taste.
Second sip, smoother, taste buds have shook off the initial shock and awe and are calibrating to the massive burst of flavors.
Sour cherry, leather, and pepper.
Time for some dinner, will sip more latter
Dinner was some lump crab cakes, home made of course, and angel hair pasta, I'm stuffed.
Back to the wine
Nose is hinting at morning bacon.
Has that thin watery palate feel, you know, not heavy.
The sour cherry has faded into dark black unsweetened currants, faint vanilla on the close.
Does not have the silky panty remover quality of some prior vintages
The style reminds me of Northern Rhône, call it M's, Ode to Hermitage.
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