Very ripe and tropical fruit that is maturing nicely, just slightly short of acidity. This came across very Rhone-like, but short on the energy to pull that off very successfully. Haven't had this wine in years and I preferred it younger.

This bottle was very tired and past its peak, vs another bottle from earlier this year which was fresher and very enjoyable.

Came across as very ripe and lush with surprisingly very prominent Gewurztraminer aromatics that I didn't really enjoy and certainly didn't understand for a Roussanne/ Chardonnay/ Viognier blend.

Lots of apple and pear with Meyer lemon hints, all with very good concentration. Seems the youngest in the flight of 02/03/04, also showing the greatest Chardonnay character.

Forward fruit with lemon and lemon curd. Soft, rounded edges with moderate depth and intensity. Very good now, this seemed the oldest in the 02/03/04 vertical flight.

Very long and linear with lots of lemon, lemon peel and apple. Bright and well textured. Not quite as exciting as the 02 in this flight, but longer and more cellarworthy than the 03.

Open, decanted approx 90 minutes before serving. Lots of black fruit with hints of starting to mature, well supported with great savory spice and floral charms. Very powerful but with exceptional balance. Another taste from decanter was just as good 3 hours later.

Rich and powerful fruit, very powerful and concentrated. Also well balanced, but less nuanced than Papa or In Flagrante in this flight. Slightly one dimensonal, although it was a darn good dimension.

Another exceptional showing for this wine. Black berries and plum come across slightly sweet to start, but this wine seems to change three times while you are tasting it, becoming savory, spicy, clearly showing good textures with very good balance. Long and impressive. My WOTN.

Dense black fruit aromas with floral tones, dried herbs and licorice. Powerful black fruit again on palate, sweet spice to start, getting more savory and nuanced from middle to end. Expanding finish. Great structure.

Firm black fruit with lots of spice aromas and prominent cassis character. Most prominent tannins in the flight for right now, I didn't find this as well balanced as most others, but this was one of the youngest wines tonight. My first time tasting both the SQN 2008 Grenache cuvees. Both need more time.

Very fun, but this same across as hedonistic chocolate cake tonight. Lush, ultra ripe black fruit with lots of clove, allspice and black pepper. Very powerful, just needs to reach a more calm equilibrium. I expect this will be much more elegant in another year or three. My first time tasting both the SQN 2008 Grenache cuvees. Both need more time.

Meaty black fruit aromas with lots of black pepper. Firm and powerful black fruit again on palate, with both black pepper and some Asian five spice that comes through best on finish. Good length.

Odd performance for this wine tonight, I've typically enjoyed it considerably more. Tonight it came across as extremely ripe with lots of liqueur aromas and flavors most notably on finish. Odd bottle or developing awkwardly right now?

Like most SQNs, I find this starts emerging from a shell at age 5+. Black berries and cherries with some interesting red cherry notes as well. This is starting to show real elegance. I preferred this tonight vs the Duel Syrah also from 2008, but I don't think the group consensus tonight was with me.

Very similar to the B20 in the next glass but I found this more focused on vanilla and chocolate aromas and flavors, less on the nuance and concentration of the fruit itself. Others disagreed and referred this.

Dense, firm black fruit aromas and flavors that are still a bit monolithic today but showing signs of emerging elegance with great raw materials. Preferred vs Five Shooter Syrah in next glass. I typically find these wines start hitting their stride at 5+ years, so expect this really shine a year from now.

Came across as very powerful with great potential, even if backward today and even slightly too jammy. No question on the quality of raw materials here. Preferred the Five Shooter Grenache in next glass. I typically find these wines start hitting their stride at 5+ years, so expect this really shine a year+ from now.

I always find it challenging to taste and fully appreciate SQN this close to release. Served alongside the Syrah Dark Blossom, I preferred this Grenache. Lush and powerful in every way, slightly sweet. Good length with some faint hints of nuance on finish.

I always find it challenging to taste and fully appreciate SQN this close to release. Served alongside the Grenache Dark Blossom, which I preferred to this Syrah. Both were every ripe and lush, this slightly more so and also seemingly more monolithic. Slightly less structural elegance, but I am still confident this will emerge as very exciting in another year+.

Tropical fruit with some dried apricot. Sweet, simple, very fun, but not the botrytis and nuanced character I would hope this would provide.