Copenhagen, Denmark
Tasted Saturday, November 20, 2010 by KristianT with 1,052 views
Over the past years I and some friends have managed to collect a few different bottles of the much acclaimed wines from Sine Qua Non. Hence we decided to make a tasting to try these very interesting wines side by side. Some of the attendees we invited to the tasting also had some bottles of Sine Qua Non in their cellars, so we managed to collect an impressive line-up of 18 different bottles. We were only 8 tasters, so we all had a good chance to really taste the different wines.
My tasting notes are fairly brief and does not do these complex wines much justice, but the evening was not only about the wines, but also about the company, so I did not want to spend to much times writing notes as we went along.
The two last vintages of SQN Pinot Noir from Oregon grapes. Both very good wines albeit quite different in style.
The two whites did no shine as brightly as the Whisperin' E we had some years back, but they still managed to impress.
These wines are the main driving force for SQNs claim to fame - and deservedly so. My favourite was Naked Truth with Atlantis Syrah as second. Papa and Midnight Oil both got extra points for their maturity now, but wines like Just For the Love of It will probably outshine them in the years to come.
Admittedly - we were getting a little tired, and having a whole flight of these incredibly concentrated wines were maybe a bit much - nevertheless an amazing opportunity to try the up against each-other. My favourite on the night was the Gewürztraminer "Ice Man", which provided a much need touch of freshness at the right time. On other nights some of the others might very well have stolen the show.
An impressive range of wines and overall an incredible tasting. Luckily no bottles were corked or flawed in any way. The tasting verified the acclaim of Sine Qua Non ranking amongst the very best wines in the world. Not only do they have the wow-factor, but they also show balance, refinement and elegance. Finally - it was good to see that that the older bottles showed nice maturation (but still all with further potential).
All in all a fantastic evening
2002 Sine Qua Non Pinot Noir Hollerin' M 95 Points
USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Surprisingly fresh - no signs of age at all, but not immature or closed. A little restrained initially, but after a few minutes in the glass it opened up very nicely and showed a classic elegant and refined style - more Oregon than Californian. Tasted alongside Omega 2003.
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2003 Sine Qua Non Pinot Noir Omega 94 Points
USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Next to the 2002 Hollerin' M - the Omega was much different. A little darker in colour and much more spicy. The spicy character was very interesting and very forthcoming as soon as it was poured into the glass. A very good Pinot. Unfortunately the very last of the SQN Pinots on Oregon grapes.
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