Dark yellow to gold color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lychee, apricot, tangerine and white pepper. Flavors of creme fraiche, apricot pit and ginger. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink over the short term.
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Bought at auction, in my cellar for about 6 years. Opened for Val and CharlotteTo celebrate Eric's "virtual wedding", in need of something special. Nicely chilled, slow oxed for 20 minutes, drank over an hour.
Deep gold/brass color. Nose showed Meyer lemon, apricot and slight must. Palate was baked orchard fruit, "yellow liqueur", creme brûlée, orange peel. Picked up slight botrytis. Carmel, buttery through the mid palate. Viscous texture, long finish.
The group thought is was good...a lot going on with this wine. I would put this in the "interesting" category. I liked it but not sure it has broad appeal. Would drink up, the wine may go towards a tertiary phase in a few years (IMO).
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has integrated a bunch over time...thick, oily viscus heavy chard with a bit of floral edge of an obvious different grape. If I tasted this blind with an Italian white I had earlier in the year (2015 Elena Walch Beyond the Clouds) I probably couldn't tell them apart. Funny think is the Elena Walch was $25 on auction. anyway both Cool integrations, but not something I'd drink in place of a rhone white or a chard.
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It seems this is either a love it or hate wine. My first white from SQN and I wasn't sure where I would stand on this. I was pleasantly surprised that this was an extremely well made wine. For the price, I would agree with the naysayers that you could find wine of similar quality for much cheaper, but when I rate a wine, I try to measure it on the quality of the wine with no relationship to the price. I may state that I think it is a good QPR, but I don't feel the rating should be based on that. For this wine, I loved it, though not sure I would pay would I did again. Upon opening the nose was explosive with honey, flowers and apricots, but then calmed down almost immediately. After a little while more it opened up again. The palate was thick and juicy and powerful, A great experience that I am happy to have enjoyed, but just not sure that I would spend the $ for it again.
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Popped and poured last nite at Kittle House. This is a blend of Roussanne, Viognier, Chardonnay and Marsanne from three vineyards, of which two are estate vineyards and one sourced. 15% alcohol was noticeable but not off-putting. Def a big, round oily wine that is a a bit sweet at times (finished it with my dessert and it was a great match). A powerful, rich, creamy and fat wine, tho not particularly elegant. Lots of honeysuckle, as well as pears here. This is a food wine and not for the feint of heart.
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Dark color, viscous mouthfeel, big fruit but not flabby. Great wine for pairing foods that don’t ordinarily go with white wine, as in today’s case smoked brisket. This is fun and different, would be happy to drink again.
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Opened to white flowers and peach on the nose. The palate was peach, apricot, tangerine and some macadamia nut. The finish was of moderate length. We had it with sushi, I liked it hence the 92, my wife and her friends did not like this wine most likely because it is totally different than what they are used to. Well there was more for me.
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Aromatic nose of white flowers, apricot, clover, peach, orange peel and hazelnut. Apricot, citrus, hazelnut with a hint of malolactic butteriness on the palate. Leads to a long, soft dry finish. Distinctive. Served with a seafood boil.
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Dayglow yellow, super viscous feeling in the mouth. Thought there were tartaric crystals in the bottle, but they’re a tightly bunched brown sediment. Marzipan and overripe pineapple. Guava. Maybe a hair of petrol. Pretty hot, agree with below note that it could use a little more acid. Drink up in the next couple.
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Thick and oily on palate, this shows nice tropical notes, guava, nectarine, honey. There’s a white pepper note on the med(+) finish that I quite liked. Could use more acid to balance out the weight on this. Still very youthful, but unclear where it will go.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Graham crackers, apricots and kumquats. Flavors of apricots and persimmon over an earthy frame. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink over the short term.
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Livermore AVA + Wente Dinner with a ton of other wines: Rich and viscous, with a deep amber/gold hue. On the palate, heavier notes of honey, barbecue lemon, burnt citrus peel, lamp oil, and some dried apricot. A bit reductive and overall displaying past its prime, The Monkey showed best in the concentration and unctuous categories, but was on the back end of the bell curve in terms of freshness and energy; finished a little clumsy on the back end. Drink now...as in, right now...cuz you're already a little too late.
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This wine was clear and a deep golden colour with a nose of some honey and citrus. In the glass was a smooth white with flavours such as lemons, oranges, and some butter. I found it to be slightly thin tonight with a bit of a sour finish. It wasn't a horrible bottle by any stretch but I've had better.
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Opened with dinner celebrating the engagement of Miss TLV. Deep color with plenty of spice and white fruit notes. Rich texture; long finish. In a really good place.
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Tasted from the dining room of the lovely SS Legacy, thanks to generous passengers who see fit to bring their own favorite bottles along on a wine cruise. Sine Qua Non’s white Rhône-inspired blend dubbed The Monkey 2010 proved to be a honey-hued showstopper. Rife with peach pit, apricot kernel, orange pastille, smoke, buddha’s hand lemon, and warm spice. It’s a compact, fleshy, decadently creamy wine. Slightly hot on the finish, ending with flourish candied orange peel and mineral undertones.
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This clear and deep golden wine was poured at home without decanting. Very citrus in both bouquet as well as tastes with smells and tastes of lemon, apricot and oranges. A bit sour on my palette but pretty good overall.
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This bottle was drank at home using the Coravin system. The wine was mid gold in colour with a nose of mixed citrus including lemons, pineapple as well as some butter. When tasting, I got flavours of oranges, nectarine, as well as some vanilla. Although not bad at all, this wine had quite a smooth and long finish but didn't seem to have it all "together" like some other SQN whites that I have had.
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Sine Qua Non Dinner (Formento's - Chicago IL): Too tropical, certainly disjointed. Third time I've tried this wine and it has never shown anything seriously or remotely interesting.
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Just for kicks, stood upright for a week, carefully decanted. What did the last ounce carry? Just a dark thread about two inches with the last ounce. The bottle had a small pile of crystals in the bunt, rinsed, rebottled. First sip, thick and palate coating, dry, touch of banana than peach. Everyone kept asking for more, classic great wine.
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Deep golden yellow. Expressive, explosive on the nose. Concentrated fruit, honeysuckle, flowers, tropical fruit, orange peel, hints of caramel. Very rich, very intense. On the palate a little waxy, again lots of concentration and weight. Spicy and intense. The alcohol was sticking out a little for me and I didn't like the bitter note towards the finish. Very long. Drink or keep. 90-92
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Served slightly above cellar temperature. Aromatic bouquet of honeysuckle, apricot, peach, tangerine, brioche and straw. Pear, stone fruit, citrus, hazelnut, rock and a hint of malolactic butteriness on the palate. Long, soft, dry finish. Well balanced. Beautiful wine with complexity that evolved throughout the evening. Paired with lemon shrimp, feta cheese and orzo.
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Initially cloudy in the glass with a nice golden hue. Rubber on the nose with hints of stone fruit. Vicious and minerally on the palate - I get honey, grapefruit and rum spice. Sweet, medium finish. The Roussanne stood out in the beginning but you could really taste the Viognier towards the end of the night. This wine seems to be aging more slowly so it would be interesting to see where it goes in a few years.
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First time I've had a younger version of this wine and I really liked it. The acidity is pretty prevalent here and the wine is incredibly balanced. Glycerin, honey, some lime, butterscotch. Beautiful. Always evolving. Will be interesting to see what it does in a few years too.
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poured for me, grapy and stemmy character, somewhat reminiscent of a grappa just not as harsh. might make a good food pairing under the right circumstance, but certainly nothing to store in long term memory
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Memphis SQN Dinner (Erling Jensen, Memphis, TN): Deep color with terrific floral overtones- the Viognier really stands out at this point. Rich texture with orchard fruit, spice and floral qualities but seems just a little flat compared to the others. I revisited this at the end of the night and it had really opened up and becomes more vibrant and lively. Give this a couple of hours in a decanter.
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Drank this along with In The Abstract and On The Lamb. This was a little more contemplative and relaxed than the Abstract and had a little clearer secondary notes. Relatively bright with peach and pear tones to go along with a deep mineral vein. The palette was viscous and concentrated with enough acidity to give some balance. The finish was buttery, smokey and long. While not as full as the previous wine, still a very full bodied wine by other standards. 9-19-9-8
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Interesting wine. Extreamly viscous with big palate. Honey, lemon, and melon. Creamy finish with plenty of minerality. Still very young. Needs several more years.
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A little stinky on the nose with some yellow fruits in the background. The palate is thick and delicious with intense pear and even a little Apple. Some butter notes. Long, smooth and delicious. No heat.
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Not one of my most favorite sqn whites…second time i've had this one, and I think it needs a lot more time….still a little edgy and showing some heat fumes……pretty good dose of lemon/grapefruit citrus acidity…rich apricot, peach, pear fruit….hot buttered rum spice, smoked vanilla bean, peach tea…..wonderful honeysuckle, lemon blossom florals. Heat is still aggressive…and is in need of calming. Flavors are there…we just need that SQN balance magic! Try again in 5 yrs. +pts
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This was drank with friends at a local steakhouse and it began a great evening of wines. When first poured, it was slightly cloudy at but then cleared up nicely after a short time in the glass. It was deep gold in colour. I still don't have a ton of knowlegde or experience with dry white wines but I really enjoyed this bottle. It had strong flavours of honey mixed with some orange citrus and a bit of caramel. It was very smooth and not as dry as other SQN whites that I have had. I would make the statement that this wine had a number of sweet dessert wine traits but ratcheted down a few notches.
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Served blind. Some people thought Chenin, as this had that waxy/wooly notes, others thought Marsanne and/or Roussanne. There's even Gewurtz-like baked apricot flavors. But to my palate, way too sharp, lacking in elegance and the 15% alcohol is noticeable. Sarah and Jonathan's sausage fest.
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Historic as this is my first ever Sin Qua Non wine. I waited at least 8 years to get on the mailing list and have let this sit for a couple of years. Deep yellow color and a boitris nose like a Sauternes. Let sit open for at least 2 hours and consumed over a few hours. waxy consistency, vanilla, pears, kiwi...integrated, viscous, long....very white rhone like on steriods. Nice.
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Return to San Antonio II (Barbaro): Yes I went into this biased looking for the heat on a 15% white. There really isn’t much, it’s very concentrated, viscous on the palate, showing hints of roussanne and chardonnay (I didn't get much viognier like others). Long finish. I found it rather tiring though and hard to finish my half glass. Not sure what I would pair with this, but it would need to be rather rich fair.
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Had this alongside Guigal Ex-voto blanc 2010, and Chave Hermitage Blanc 2010.
Notse of ripe, stone fruit, tropical fruit, mango, passion fruit, big apricot notes, peach, slight gas/rubber aspect, honey, vanilla, lemon custard, ripe melon. Palate is ripe peach, honey, mango, lemon curd, pithy citrus peel. Slightly flabby? Can't help but feel its lacking a bit in acidity to balance the ripe and sweet fruit. Palate feels a bit dialed down vs. nose. Slightly oily on palate, some exotic spices.
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Great wine. Big, broad and expansive flavors explode in the mouth. Maybe a touch low on acidity for my taste but a bit of bitterness and spice in the end lifts the wine and it is not flat at all. Almost coating the mouth, peach, honey and a touch of grapefruit peel. Very long aftertaste. Excellent food wine.
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Decanted. Golden, honeyed color- so much darker in the decanter than the other two that I worried it might be oxidized. One whiff and all worries melted away. Notes of apricot, marmalade, and stone give way to white peach, orchard fruit and florals...the viognier really shines through. Rich texture, with flavors of stone fruit, wax and wet stone. Lengthy finish. 92-93 pts.
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4th Saturday group, tasted blind. 2nd time I've had this, and time has been kind. No noticeable oak this time around. Acid not an issue this time. Consistent notes otherwise. This is a beautiful dark golden color not often seen outside a bottle of jam or preserves. Lovely.
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Began drinking after only an hour decant, would benefit from significantly earlier decanting as harsh edges softened and bouquet opened up quite beguilingly over the two hours we consumed.
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Really interesting wine. Initially a little tart but as the wine opened up it revealed a lot of character. The finish was short which was a disappointment, but in the end we all really enjoyed it . Certainly a unique wine.
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A Small Athens wine event (Spondi , Athens): Tasted blind. We thought it was 90s well aged chapoutier Rhone white! As it evolved it started to show more and more Viognier side with a lot more exotics, light banana. As always with SQN wines it's never a dull moment! Lacks a bit of acidity and sort of dies away sooner than we would expect from a wine of this caliber. 92
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Yellow color with a bouquet and flavor of honey, vanilla, and pineapple. Seamless wine with great balance and nuance, and a long finish. A wine to remember.
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Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of light herbal notes, brown spices, flowers, mixed yellow fruits and wet stones. Flavors of yellow pears, sweet apples, brown spices and minerals. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Lots of Grenache, Syrah and more with friends (Downtown Cleveland): Nice showing for this. Sometimes these wines can need some age. Much better than a bottle I opened a year or so ago in NYC. Golden in color, deeper than the Marcassin. The nose is nice with grapefruit and lemons. With air, a honey/waxy quality emerges. Nice acidity. No signs of alcohol (which the prior bottle had). No hurry and will probably improve with cellaring, but very nice tonight.
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The Monkey was fresh, fragrant, and delicious. Tasting it, I thought it was very true to its blend. The wine started very much like a chardonnay, with a little limoncello, lemon zest, tropical and citrus notes, and proceeded to a very Voignier-like floral mid-palate of jasmine and honeysuckle. The finish reminds me more of a sauvignon blanc, even though none is included in this blend. Subtle mineral notes of wet stones. A very hedonistic style, yet I found it surprisingly though-provoking as well.
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Rich golden hue with brown highlights, reminiscent of apple juice in the glass. The pronounced nose presents an captivating melange of scents, from bananas, to butterscotch, to spicy cloves. Definitely full bodied and viscously thick, the acid stops this wine from feeling heavy. Interesting Rhone like variation. There is wonderful funk from Roussanne, and the unusual addition of the Chard lends a palpable presence that somehow extends the body and the mid palate, providing a nice canvas for the other tropical, wood, and spice notes to play across. Big and wide at times, yet nicely detailed and nuanced simultaneously. Engaging and pleasant. It was the perfect accompaniment to crab and sunchoke salad.
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Delightfully rhone style wine. Opened up after about an hour of breathing. Multidimensional, smooth, almost but not completely dry. No flaws. 15 percent alcohol not apparent. Everything in balance.
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My first SQN white. Drank this with two other whites and shocked how dark yellow the wine was. Looked like a really old wine at first glance. My first sip of this was it was a rather strange wine. Had a lot of spice on the nose. I got the impression there might be a lot of Viognier in the blend but it only had 23%. Got some more spice on the palate with some tropical fruit and there was a very high acidity to the wine. It might have needed more time or to warm up but the funny thing was the wine went perfect with the appetizer we had of figs stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. Like a totally different wine. The acidity balanced out the sweetness in some weird way. I thought it would clash. What a super pairing!
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Lots of juicy fruit but this one seemed I bit heavier than I remember at this point and beyond my preference. It was lacking the crispness and snap I enjoy in most white wines. Still good just out of my style preference I think
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Decanted but not sure for how long. Full of peach, pear and honey with some hint of spice layered in. This had great balance and a long, creamy finish.
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Tasting right out of the gate, I notice how viscous the wine is... First impression is of great acidity... Peach, orange, honeysuckle... Acacia lollipops, a super wine... The structure of the wine keeps everything else in balance... Not cloying, not oaky... Just impressive balance. This is the type of dry white that complements and cuts blue cheese and then a pan seared duck breast with orange sauce... Tonight it did both...
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Light to medium gold. Peaches, honey, spice and melon on the nose. Medium to full body, slightly viscous/oily palate feel but not as oily, creamy or big as a lot of SQN whites. Oak is there but nicely integrated, balance a bit more on the acid side than prior efforts but plenty of ripe fruit, medium finish. Should continue to drink well for many years, but no need yo wait. Excellent.
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At first the oak was a bit much, but this got better with air. Lots of tropical fruit and a big wine for sure, though pretty darn tasty. My first SQN white - not sure what the aging curve will be on this.
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Drank at Blanco's beach house. Very rich, golden color. Feint tropical fruit nose. Big, round and viscous wine, though not buttery or oaky. Very long, very spicy but lacking in complexity and interest. Definite bitterness at the end. Howard not impressed, felt just a big, indefinite mishmosh. I like the wine but not worth the price.
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When posting at CT I see some notes below from disappointed sippers. So sad, those that drink the good stuff and don't know it. This is one of those stealth whites, your second glass will be gone and your still puzzled as to how to describe it. Myself, I like that when a wine slides down like a mosquito bite, almost unnoticed. What's not to like, easy on the palate, oak is tucked in tight, flavors are faint but distinguishable. Like that perfect white with out the acid or big in your face moment, understated but very smooth.
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Drank over 2 nights with notes focused on night #2. Nose is full scaled and effusive but unfocused. Huge notes of rich waxy white fruit, honey and melon. Palate is large scaled with more waxy white fruit. Again - great stuff - but lacking definition. A lot of brute force on the palate. Plenty of stuffing and reasonably balanced with sufficient acid. Good upside.
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Berserker Fest Friday Dinner - SQN Table (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago, IL): Very young and tight overall. Dark gold color. Super buttered popcorn. Spicy and zesty. Unique sweet corn quality. Touches of sulfur and funk. Big and extracted like all SQN whites. After tasting the '08 and '09 next to this '10 you can see how nicely these tend to come around in as short as a year or two.
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Chicago Berserkerfest Dinner (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago IL): I almost always find SQN whites better after a year+ in cellar. This came across tonight as really over-the-top and slightly unbalanced, despite clearly exceptional fruit quality and concentration. Better in 2014-2015 I imagine.
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With a color of intense gold the 2010 The Monkey certainly does not provide a primate experience. As usual with Manfred Krankl's wines, the first is impression is one of massiveness and as some would say profoundness. There is a super concentrated compact tone of honey glace, exotic fruits with lychee and mango as main components. The palate offers an immense balance, but is also as big as the nose. At first it appears a bit closed, but it starts to deliver during the evening. Still there is a need for more time in the cellar. It is very obvious this effort will turn into greatness in a few years.
Having said this, it is important to point out that this wine is not delivering what you would expect from a Roussanne / Viognier / Chardonnay blend. But it is certainly delivering what you would expect from a very nice Sine Qua Non white. In that way it is simply an amazing effort, even though I was surprised about the Viognier component. I would have guessed the wine was a blend of Roussanne and Marsanne. But this is part of the thrill of Sine Qua Non. You have to accept these wines for what they are and if you do, they will provide a huge amount of pleasure! This Monkey is certainly not an ape to me... (score is 94+)
(Served in a flight with 2006 Kongsgaard Viorous, 2009 Domaine Giraud Les Gallimardes Blanc and 2010 Denner Viognier)
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Deep golden yellow hue, tropical notes on the nose. Nice full bodied and viscous on the palate without any detectable heat noticeable. Nice but somewhat clipped finish which improved significantly toward the end of the evening.
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non blind. initially served too cold - right out of the ice bath. no way to evaluate at that time. after warming significantly, this really opened up. floral and gourd-like fruit that really showed thru on the nose and palate. nice and viscous on the palate with really nice mouthfeel. finishes with some lemon oil and honeysuckle. i think needs some time to come around a bit more and will be better.
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TN: Syrahs, Chards, and Turkish food in NYC +; 1/25/2013-1/26/2013 (Sip Sak): I need to quit drinking the SQN wines young as I invariably like them better with age. The nose is very nice; waxy with honey and lemons. On the palate, the alcohol is prevalent. It drinks hot and a bit bitter. At the same time, there is a nice depth here. I went back toward the end of the evening and this was much better. I have no doubt that it would be even better today. The bottle was only half drained, so I suspect that others agreed. As I said though, I also think in 3 to 5 years or a lot longer, this will sort itself out and be a much better wine.
1990 Bordeaux dinner with Latour, Beausejour Duffau, Montrose and etc (Capital Grille Tysons, VA): This is the second time having this wine and it just is not my cup of tea. This bottle seems a bit darker than the first and the nose reflects that. The first note once again is lychee then orange peel, tropical fruits and tea. Quite chewy, a hint of sugar and noticeable heat as the end note. I have no clue whether this will improve with time.
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No formal notes as this was with dinner out...that said this wine seemed noticeably fatter than last years On the Lam. This doesnt really play into my style of preference, but I still think the wine is exceptional and Im sure even more so should you like the style. There is some oak and some definite weight to the wine, light is not of the order. That said its not in the order I find offensive at all (and Im fairly sensitive), enough acid to keep it alive on the palate. Doesnt seem like a short term ager to me...drink it fresh or let it ride and see what happens?
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Opened by Allred. 52% Roussanne, 23% Viognier, 19% Chardonnay, and 5% Marsanne. A full bodied white wine. Notes of creamy pear, smoke and toasted oak. Spicy finish. Was worried that this would be too over the top but did not think it was in that category. 91 points.
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Rick's 50th birthday notes and my 10,000th post!; 11/24/2012-11/27/2012 (Chateau Rick): wow absolutely joke of a wine. Fat oaky vanilla with peach and and honey. Sounds like my type of ice cream. The oak is just so obvious on this wine which with the minerality on the finish, gives it this really weird tingling sensation.. almost like Novocaine.
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Dinner with xhoser (Topaz Cafe, Burr Ridge): 52% Roussanne, 23% Viognier, 19% Chardonnay and 5% Marsanne. Golden color. Aromas of butter, vanilla, apple and toast. Full-bodied, with a rich, oily texture and flavors of pear, apple and new oak with a hint of lemon. Long finish. The Chardonnay really stands out at first. A lemon oil aroma develops w/air. I kept some in my glass for the entire night, and by the end of dinner it was much more expressive and soft and the oak was toned down quite a bit. Drink now with a healthy decant or hold for a couple of years. 92-93 pts.
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Opened by Allred at Topaz with CWM and xhoser. Initial nose blasted oak, but this quickly blew off. Floral notes and honey. Score would be higher with more acidity.
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Jen's Fund Raiser Dinner II (Max's Bistro, Fresno Ca.): Rich and voluptuous with massive amounts of flavor....apricot, creamy pear, honeysuckle, hot buttered rum spice, match strike.....big, but well balanced and lifted with bright citrus acidity...little heat though on the finish. Might need a few years to calm down...but it's all in there!
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A little reticent right now. I think it will fare better with food. Tasted side-by-side an 88 Beaucastel Blanc and the Beaucastel was better on this night, although with time in the glass, and especially the next day, this wine was more expressive. Deeper golden color. Honey, flowers and some waxy fruit. Not as full or concentrated as you would think based on the viscous texture.
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White flowers and lemon zest on the very subdued nose. The palate is extracted with a interesting balance of lemon curd, clean mine reality and salinity. It was starting to open up more, after An hour or so, but for now underperforming.
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Pretty nose although on quiet side, shows pinapple, pear, apricot, stones, Rich fat round, dry edgy quality. Very waxy, showing classic white Hermitage flavors. long rich. Good density and white pepper quality. Impressive finish. Not sure if this is the the of wine that improves, but time will tell.
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The 03 Bordeaux dinner at RIS in DC (RIS Restaurant, Washington DC): The nose reminds me la doriane, first note is lychee then pineapple, mango and other tropical fruits. Unctuous and big, a hint of sugar and noticeable alcohol for me. This is somewhere in between Kongsgaard Roussanne/Viognier and La Doriane. My rating may seem too high for some and too low for others. Not for everyone.
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My first experience with Sine Qua Non. This was not really what I expected. Lots of oak. I might have pegged this as a mid level Chardonnay from California. Given the reputation of the estate, I'm inclined to think this just needs more time in the bottle to integrate and develop complexity.
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4/5/2023 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind.
Dark yellow to gold color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lychee, apricot, tangerine and white pepper. Flavors of creme fraiche, apricot pit and ginger. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink over the short term.
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3/28/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 90 Points
Bought at auction, in my cellar for about 6 years. Opened for Val and CharlotteTo celebrate Eric's "virtual wedding", in need of something special. Nicely chilled, slow oxed for 20 minutes, drank over an hour.
Deep gold/brass color. Nose showed Meyer lemon, apricot and slight must. Palate was baked orchard fruit, "yellow liqueur", creme brûlée, orange peel. Picked up slight botrytis. Carmel, buttery through the mid palate. Viscous texture, long finish.
The group thought is was good...a lot going on with this wine. I would put this in the "interesting" category. I liked it but not sure it has broad appeal. Would drink up, the wine may go towards a tertiary phase in a few years (IMO).
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11/3/2019 - DesMarteau Likes this wine: 92 Points
has integrated a bunch over time...thick, oily viscus heavy chard with a bit of floral edge of an obvious different grape. If I tasted this blind with an Italian white I had earlier in the year (2015 Elena Walch Beyond the Clouds) I probably couldn't tell them apart. Funny think is the Elena Walch was $25 on auction. anyway both Cool integrations, but not something I'd drink in place of a rhone white or a chard.
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3/8/2019 - bablues wrote: 94 Points
It seems this is either a love it or hate wine. My first white from SQN and I wasn't sure where I would stand on this. I was pleasantly surprised that this was an extremely well made wine. For the price, I would agree with the naysayers that you could find wine of similar quality for much cheaper, but when I rate a wine, I try to measure it on the quality of the wine with no relationship to the price. I may state that I think it is a good QPR, but I don't feel the rating should be based on that. For this wine, I loved it, though not sure I would pay would I did again. Upon opening the nose was explosive with honey, flowers and apricots, but then calmed down almost immediately. After a little while more it opened up again. The palate was thick and juicy and powerful, A great experience that I am happy to have enjoyed, but just not sure that I would spend the $ for it again.
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2/21/2019 - cephomer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured last nite at Kittle House. This is a blend of Roussanne, Viognier, Chardonnay and Marsanne from three vineyards, of which two are estate vineyards and one sourced. 15% alcohol was noticeable but not off-putting. Def a big, round oily wine that is a a bit sweet at times (finished it with my dessert and it was a great match). A powerful, rich, creamy and fat wine, tho not particularly elegant. Lots of honeysuckle, as well as pears here. This is a food wine and not for the feint of heart.
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2/16/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
SO'd for 30 min, deep yellow, butter, lemon & honey; delicious & very unique
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1/26/2019 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Dark color, viscous mouthfeel, big fruit but not flabby. Great wine for pairing foods that don’t ordinarily go with white wine, as in today’s case smoked brisket. This is fun and different, would be happy to drink again.
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1/5/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind Rhone Varietals (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind. Very lush and ultra ripe, so clearly New World. Good weight and reasonably balanced.
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12/2/2018 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened to white flowers and peach on the nose. The palate was peach, apricot, tangerine and some macadamia nut. The finish was of moderate length. We had it with sushi, I liked it hence the 92, my wife and her friends did not like this wine most likely because it is totally different than what they are used to. Well there was more for me.
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8/25/2018 - hoservin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aromatic nose of white flowers, apricot, clover, peach, orange peel and hazelnut. Apricot, citrus, hazelnut with a hint of malolactic butteriness on the palate. Leads to a long, soft dry finish. Distinctive. Served with a seafood boil.
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7/27/2018 - deviousrhesus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dayglow yellow, super viscous feeling in the mouth. Thought there were tartaric crystals in the bottle, but they’re a tightly bunched brown sediment. Marzipan and overripe pineapple. Guava. Maybe a hair of petrol. Pretty hot, agree with below note that it could use a little more acid. Drink up in the next couple.
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6/17/2018 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
Thick and oily on palate, this shows nice tropical notes, guava, nectarine, honey. There’s a white pepper note on the med(+) finish that I quite liked. Could use more acid to balance out the weight on this. Still very youthful, but unclear where it will go.
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6/16/2018 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Graham crackers, apricots and kumquats. Flavors of apricots and persimmon over an earthy frame. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink over the short term.
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4/7/2018 - Naplesgolfer wrote: 91 Points
low acid. Very pleasant carmel and peach pit . Drink now.
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1/13/2018 - csimm wrote: 89 Points
Livermore AVA + Wente Dinner with a ton of other wines: Rich and viscous, with a deep amber/gold hue. On the palate, heavier notes of honey, barbecue lemon, burnt citrus peel, lamp oil, and some dried apricot. A bit reductive and overall displaying past its prime, The Monkey showed best in the concentration and unctuous categories, but was on the back end of the bell curve in terms of freshness and energy; finished a little clumsy on the back end. Drink now...as in, right now...cuz you're already a little too late.
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12/29/2017 - Rosengoo wrote: 88 Points
This wine was clear and a deep golden colour with a nose of some honey and citrus. In the glass was a smooth white with flavours such as lemons, oranges, and some butter. I found it to be slightly thin tonight with a bit of a sour finish. It wasn't a horrible bottle by any stretch but I've had better.
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9/4/2017 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Opened with dinner celebrating the engagement of Miss TLV. Deep color with plenty of spice and white fruit notes. Rich texture; long finish. In a really good place.
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7/6/2017 - Christine Havens Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted from the dining room of the lovely SS Legacy, thanks to generous passengers who see fit to bring their own favorite bottles along on a wine cruise. Sine Qua Non’s white Rhône-inspired blend dubbed The Monkey 2010 proved to be a honey-hued showstopper. Rife with peach pit, apricot kernel, orange pastille, smoke, buddha’s hand lemon, and warm spice. It’s a compact, fleshy, decadently creamy wine. Slightly hot on the finish, ending with flourish candied orange peel and mineral undertones.
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4/18/2017 - Rosengoo wrote: 90 Points
This clear and deep golden wine was poured at home without decanting. Very citrus in both bouquet as well as tastes with smells and tastes of lemon, apricot and oranges. A bit sour on my palette but pretty good overall.
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4/4/2017 - Rosengoo wrote: 90 Points
This bottle was drank at home using the Coravin system. The wine was mid gold in colour with a nose of mixed citrus including lemons, pineapple as well as some butter. When tasting, I got flavours of oranges, nectarine, as well as some vanilla. Although not bad at all, this wine had quite a smooth and long finish but didn't seem to have it all "together" like some other SQN whites that I have had.
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2/2/2017 - Pquaker wrote: 90 Points
I kept this for too long. Little flat. Beautiful color. Sherry like, syrupy, malolactic acid coating
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8/23/2016 - Escalus wrote: 94 Points
Despite initial skepticism, managed to compliment a lemon and chicken dish quite well.
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7/25/2016 - Minnesota wrote: 88 Points
For SQN, this wine a disappointment. Likely I should rate lower.
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5/25/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Sine Qua Non Dinner (Formento's - Chicago IL): Too tropical, certainly disjointed. Third time I've tried this wine and it has never shown anything seriously or remotely interesting.
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5/14/2016 - shadow wrote: 99 Points
Just for kicks, stood upright for a week, carefully decanted.
What did the last ounce carry?
Just a dark thread about two inches with the last ounce.
The bottle had a small pile of crystals in the bunt, rinsed, rebottled.
First sip, thick and palate coating, dry, touch of banana than peach.
Everyone kept asking for more, classic great wine.
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4/16/2016 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
Deep golden yellow. Expressive, explosive on the nose. Concentrated fruit, honeysuckle, flowers, tropical fruit, orange peel, hints of caramel. Very rich, very intense. On the palate a little waxy, again lots of concentration and weight. Spicy and intense. The alcohol was sticking out a little for me and I didn't like the bitter note towards the finish. Very long. Drink or keep. 90-92
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3/25/2016 - hoservin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Served slightly above cellar temperature. Aromatic bouquet of honeysuckle, apricot, peach, tangerine, brioche and straw. Pear, stone fruit, citrus, hazelnut, rock and a hint of malolactic butteriness on the palate. Long, soft, dry finish. Well balanced. Beautiful wine with complexity that evolved throughout the evening. Paired with lemon shrimp, feta cheese and orzo.
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3/19/2016 - gunnm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Initially cloudy in the glass with a nice golden hue. Rubber on the nose with hints of stone fruit. Vicious and minerally on the palate - I get honey, grapefruit and rum spice. Sweet, medium finish. The Roussanne stood out in the beginning but you could really taste the Viognier towards the end of the night. This wine seems to be aging more slowly so it would be interesting to see where it goes in a few years.
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3/5/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
First time I've had a younger version of this wine and I really liked it. The acidity is pretty prevalent here and the wine is incredibly balanced. Glycerin, honey, some lime, butterscotch. Beautiful. Always evolving. Will be interesting to see what it does in a few years too.
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11/11/2015 - soyhead wrote:
poured for me, grapy and stemmy character, somewhat reminiscent of a grappa just not as harsh. might make a good food pairing under the right circumstance, but certainly nothing to store in long term memory
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10/29/2015 - Geoff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Spectacular nose with balance, voluptuous flavors and mouthfeel. Seductive and yet powerful. Fantastic wine!
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10/10/2015 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Memphis SQN Dinner (Erling Jensen, Memphis, TN): Deep color with terrific floral overtones- the Viognier really stands out at this point. Rich texture with orchard fruit, spice and floral qualities but seems just a little flat compared to the others. I revisited this at the end of the night and it had really opened up and becomes more vibrant and lively. Give this a couple of hours in a decanter.
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10/10/2015 - CO_Roots13 wrote: 95 Points
Drank this along with In The Abstract and On The Lamb. This was a little more contemplative and relaxed than the Abstract and had a little clearer secondary notes. Relatively bright with peach and pear tones to go along with a deep mineral vein. The palette was viscous and concentrated with enough acidity to give some balance. The finish was buttery, smokey and long. While not as full as the previous wine, still a very full bodied wine by other standards.
9-19-9-8
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9/10/2015 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 96 Points
Interesting wine. Extreamly viscous with big palate. Honey, lemon, and melon. Creamy finish with plenty of minerality. Still very young. Needs several more years.
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5/29/2015 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
A little stinky on the nose with some yellow fruits in the background. The palate is thick and delicious with intense pear and even a little Apple. Some butter notes. Long, smooth and delicious. No heat.
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5/1/2015 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not one of my most favorite sqn whites…second time i've had this one, and I think it needs a lot more time….still a little edgy and showing some heat fumes……pretty good dose of lemon/grapefruit citrus acidity…rich apricot, peach, pear fruit….hot buttered rum spice, smoked vanilla bean, peach tea…..wonderful honeysuckle, lemon blossom florals. Heat is still aggressive…and is in need of calming. Flavors are there…we just need that SQN balance magic! Try again in 5 yrs. +pts
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3/15/2015 - Rosengoo wrote: 94 Points
This was drank with friends at a local steakhouse and it began a great evening of wines. When first poured, it was slightly cloudy at but then cleared up nicely after a short time in the glass. It was deep gold in colour. I still don't have a ton of knowlegde or experience with dry white wines but I really enjoyed this bottle. It had strong flavours of honey mixed with some orange citrus and a bit of caramel. It was very smooth and not as dry as other SQN whites that I have had. I would make the statement that this wine had a number of sweet dessert wine traits but ratcheted down a few notches.
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2/28/2015 - Pknut wrote:
Served blind. Some people thought Chenin, as this had that waxy/wooly notes, others thought Marsanne and/or Roussanne. There's even Gewurtz-like baked apricot flavors. But to my palate, way too sharp, lacking in elegance and the 15% alcohol is noticeable. Sarah and Jonathan's sausage fest.
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2/16/2015 - DesMarteau Likes this wine: 94 Points
Historic as this is my first ever Sin Qua Non wine. I waited at least 8 years to get on the mailing list and have let this sit for a couple of years. Deep yellow color and a boitris nose like a Sauternes. Let sit open for at least 2 hours and consumed over a few hours. waxy consistency, vanilla, pears, kiwi...integrated, viscous, long....very white rhone like on steriods. Nice.
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1/19/2015 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Return to San Antonio II (Barbaro): Yes I went into this biased looking for the heat on a 15% white. There really isn’t much, it’s very concentrated, viscous on the palate, showing hints of roussanne and chardonnay (I didn't get much viognier like others). Long finish. I found it rather tiring though and hard to finish my half glass. Not sure what I would pair with this, but it would need to be rather rich fair.
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1/14/2015 - PT insurgent wrote:
Had this alongside Guigal Ex-voto blanc 2010, and Chave Hermitage Blanc 2010.
Notse of ripe, stone fruit, tropical fruit, mango, passion fruit, big apricot notes, peach, slight gas/rubber aspect, honey, vanilla, lemon custard, ripe melon.
Palate is ripe peach, honey, mango, lemon curd, pithy citrus peel.
Slightly flabby? Can't help but feel its lacking a bit in acidity to balance the ripe and sweet fruit.
Palate feels a bit dialed down vs. nose. Slightly oily on palate, some exotic spices.
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1/2/2015 - phenricsson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great wine. Big, broad and expansive flavors explode in the mouth. Maybe a touch low on acidity for my taste but a bit of bitterness and spice in the end lifts the wine and it is not flat at all. Almost coating the mouth, peach, honey and a touch of grapefruit peel. Very long aftertaste. Excellent food wine.
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1/1/2015 - RMundell Likes this wine: 95 Points
Love SQN whites
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12/30/2014 - rdsboca Does not like this wine: 79 Points
Muted nose, flat, some fruit. Ordinary.
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12/7/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
A day of lots of SQN and a few more!; 12/7/2014-12/9/2014 (Loretta Paganini School of Cooking and the Woods of Newbury): Golden in color. The nose has a lot of vanilla, some smoke and some lemon cream. Full bodied. Nice back bone of acidity. Slightly bitter. I have had this a bunch of times now and it always seems like it is skipping a beat but with a bit more time will get there. I would hold these and wait at this point.
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11/22/2014 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Decanted. Golden, honeyed color- so much darker in the decanter than the other two that I worried it might be oxidized. One whiff and all worries melted away. Notes of apricot, marmalade, and stone give way to white peach, orchard fruit and florals...the viognier really shines through. Rich texture, with flavors of stone fruit, wax and wet stone. Lengthy finish. 92-93 pts.
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11/22/2014 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
4th Saturday group, tasted blind. 2nd time I've had this, and time has been kind. No noticeable oak this time around. Acid not an issue this time. Consistent notes otherwise. This is a beautiful dark golden color not often seen outside a bottle of jam or preserves. Lovely.
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10/20/2014 - Minnesota wrote: 93 Points
Began drinking after only an hour decant, would benefit from significantly earlier decanting as harsh edges softened and bouquet opened up quite beguilingly over the two hours we consumed.
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10/3/2014 - bobwire Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really interesting wine. Initially a little tart but as the wine opened up it revealed a lot of character. The finish was short which was a disappointment, but in the end we all really enjoyed it . Certainly a unique wine.
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9/18/2014 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
A Small Athens wine event (Spondi , Athens): Tasted blind. We thought it was 90s well aged chapoutier Rhone white! As it evolved it started to show more and more Viognier side with a
lot more exotics, light banana. As always with SQN wines it's never a dull moment! Lacks a bit of acidity and sort of dies away sooner than we would expect from a wine of this caliber. 92
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9/10/2014 - tcosgriff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Yellow color with a bouquet and flavor of honey, vanilla, and pineapple. Seamless wine with great balance and nuance, and a long finish. A wine to remember.
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9/8/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind.
Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of light herbal notes, brown spices, flowers, mixed yellow fruits and wet stones. Flavors of yellow pears, sweet apples, brown spices and minerals. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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8/2/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful.
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6/20/2014 - MLwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific white rhone blend. The SQN whites have been consistently complex and interesting, while still pairing very well with food. Well done.
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5/26/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Lots of Grenache, Syrah and more with friends (Downtown Cleveland): Nice showing for this. Sometimes these wines can need some age. Much better than a bottle I opened a year or so ago in NYC. Golden in color, deeper than the Marcassin. The nose is nice with grapefruit and lemons. With air, a honey/waxy quality emerges. Nice acidity. No signs of alcohol (which the prior bottle had). No hurry and will probably improve with cellaring, but very nice tonight.
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3/25/2014 - Jonathan T wrote: 93 Points
The Monkey was fresh, fragrant, and delicious. Tasting it, I thought it was very true to its blend. The wine started very much like a chardonnay, with a little limoncello, lemon zest, tropical and citrus notes, and proceeded to a very Voignier-like floral mid-palate of jasmine and honeysuckle. The finish reminds me more of a sauvignon blanc, even though none is included in this blend. Subtle mineral notes of wet stones. A very hedonistic style, yet I found it surprisingly though-provoking as well.
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3/22/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Another Casual Burgundy Dinner...Followed by Sine Qua Non (Paris Club - Chicago IL): Exotic and tropical fruit, massively scaled. I certainly understand people liking this wine, it's just not my preferred style.
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2/20/2014 - mwanasheria wrote: 94 Points
Full-bodied and creamy, yet light on its feet. Notes of honey, liquorice, anise seed. Nice.
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1/28/2014 - G_H Likes this wine: 93 Points
Super rich and opulent, quite open already, pretty interesting wine, hard to guess that it is that young still
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1/22/2014 - PDX-S wrote:
Rich golden hue with brown highlights, reminiscent of apple juice in the glass. The pronounced nose presents an captivating melange of scents, from bananas, to butterscotch, to spicy cloves.
Definitely full bodied and viscously thick, the acid stops this wine from feeling heavy. Interesting Rhone like variation. There is wonderful funk from Roussanne, and the unusual addition of the Chard lends a palpable presence that somehow extends the body and the mid palate, providing a nice canvas for the other tropical, wood, and spice notes to play across. Big and wide at times, yet nicely detailed and nuanced simultaneously. Engaging and pleasant. It was the perfect accompaniment to crab and sunchoke salad.
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12/7/2013 - fisk15 wrote: 92 Points
Deep, rich dark golden color. Rich tropical flavours, oily texture with a slightly oxidized nose.
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12/6/2013 - Geoff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delightfully rhone style wine. Opened up after about an hour of breathing. Multidimensional, smooth, almost but not completely dry. No flaws. 15 percent alcohol not apparent. Everything in balance.
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11/17/2013 - slywka7 wrote: 92 Points
My first SQN white. Drank this with two other whites and shocked how dark yellow the wine was. Looked like a really old wine at first glance. My first sip of this was it was a rather strange wine. Had a lot of spice on the nose. I got the impression there might be a lot of Viognier in the blend but it only had 23%. Got some more spice on the palate with some tropical fruit and there was a very high acidity to the wine. It might have needed more time or to warm up but the funny thing was the wine went perfect with the appetizer we had of figs stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. Like a totally different wine. The acidity balanced out the sweetness in some weird way. I thought it would clash. What a super pairing!
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11/13/2013 - Ekoostik wrote:
Lots of juicy fruit but this one seemed I bit heavier than I remember at this point and beyond my preference. It was lacking the crispness and snap I enjoy in most white wines. Still good just out of my style preference I think
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10/17/2013 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted but not sure for how long. Full of peach, pear and honey with some hint of spice layered in. This had great balance and a long, creamy finish.
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9/20/2013 - jonnyoro wrote: 95 Points
Tasting right out of the gate, I notice how viscous the wine is... First impression is of great acidity... Peach, orange, honeysuckle... Acacia lollipops, a super wine... The structure of the wine keeps everything else in balance... Not cloying, not oaky... Just impressive balance. This is the type of dry white that complements and cuts blue cheese and then a pan seared duck breast with orange sauce... Tonight it did both...
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9/16/2013 - dbg wrote:
Light to medium gold. Peaches, honey, spice and melon on the nose. Medium to full body, slightly viscous/oily palate feel but not as oily, creamy or big as a lot of SQN whites. Oak is there but nicely integrated, balance a bit more on the acid side than prior efforts but plenty of ripe fruit, medium finish. Should continue to drink well for many years, but no need yo wait. Excellent.
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8/27/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
wish I had a few more of these beauties!
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8/4/2013 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
At first the oak was a bit much, but this got better with air. Lots of tropical fruit and a big wine for sure, though pretty darn tasty. My first SQN white - not sure what the aging curve will be on this.
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7/27/2013 - cephomer wrote: 90 Points
Drank at Blanco's beach house. Very rich, golden color. Feint tropical fruit nose. Big, round and viscous wine, though not buttery or oaky. Very long, very spicy but lacking in complexity and interest. Definite bitterness at the end. Howard not impressed, felt just a big, indefinite mishmosh. I like the wine but not worth the price.
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6/16/2013 - shadow wrote: 97 Points
When posting at CT I see some notes below from disappointed sippers.
So sad, those that drink the good stuff and don't know it.
This is one of those stealth whites, your second glass will be gone and your still puzzled as to how to describe it.
Myself, I like that when a wine slides down like a mosquito bite, almost unnoticed.
What's not to like, easy on the palate, oak is tucked in tight, flavors are faint but distinguishable.
Like that perfect white with out the acid or big in your face moment, understated but very smooth.
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5/27/2013 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
Drank over 2 nights with notes focused on night #2. Nose is full scaled and effusive but unfocused. Huge notes of rich waxy white fruit, honey and melon. Palate is large scaled with more waxy white fruit. Again - great stuff - but lacking definition. A lot of brute force on the palate. Plenty of stuffing and reasonably balanced with sufficient acid. Good upside.
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5/26/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
Consistently enjoyable and one of my favorite SQN whites of all time
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5/17/2013 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Berserker Fest Friday Dinner - SQN Table (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago, IL): Very young and tight overall. Dark gold color. Super buttered popcorn. Spicy and zesty. Unique sweet corn quality.
Touches of sulfur and funk. Big and extracted like all SQN whites.
After tasting the '08 and '09 next to this '10 you can see how nicely these tend to come around in as short as a year or two.
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5/17/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 86 Points
Chicago Berserkerfest Dinner (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago IL): I almost always find SQN whites better after a year+ in cellar. This came across tonight as really over-the-top and slightly unbalanced, despite clearly exceptional fruit quality and concentration. Better in 2014-2015 I imagine.
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4/13/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
My favorite domestic white of the year
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4/11/2013 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
With a color of intense gold the 2010 The Monkey certainly does not provide a primate experience. As usual with Manfred Krankl's wines, the first is impression is one of massiveness and as some would say profoundness. There is a super concentrated compact tone of honey glace, exotic fruits with lychee and mango as main components. The palate offers an immense balance, but is also as big as the nose. At first it appears a bit closed, but it starts to deliver during the evening. Still there is a need for more time in the cellar. It is very obvious this effort will turn into greatness in a few years.
Having said this, it is important to point out that this wine is not delivering what you would expect from a Roussanne / Viognier / Chardonnay blend. But it is certainly delivering what you would expect from a very nice Sine Qua Non white. In that way it is simply an amazing effort, even though I was surprised about the Viognier component. I would have guessed the wine was a blend of Roussanne and Marsanne. But this is part of the thrill of Sine Qua Non. You have to accept these wines for what they are and if you do, they will provide a huge amount of pleasure! This Monkey is certainly not an ape to me... (score is 94+)
(Served in a flight with 2006 Kongsgaard Viorous, 2009 Domaine Giraud Les Gallimardes Blanc and 2010 Denner Viognier)
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4/5/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Liking more and more each time
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3/30/2013 - RMundell Likes this wine: 95 Points
wow
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2/19/2013 - vinocerus wrote:
Deep golden yellow hue, tropical notes on the nose. Nice full bodied and viscous on the palate without any detectable heat noticeable. Nice but somewhat clipped finish which improved significantly toward the end of the evening.
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2/19/2013 - jc-mmb Likes this wine: 92 Points
non blind. initially served too cold - right out of the ice bath. no way to evaluate at that time. after warming significantly, this really opened up. floral and gourd-like fruit that really showed thru on the nose and palate. nice and viscous on the palate with really nice mouthfeel. finishes with some lemon oil and honeysuckle. i think needs some time to come around a bit more and will be better.
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2/11/2013 - Carl Thoma wrote: 92 Points
It drinks best as a cold red because at 55 degrees better than 40 degrees. I agree with Parker's rating and would rate a 92.
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1/25/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 Points
TN: Syrahs, Chards, and Turkish food in NYC +; 1/25/2013-1/26/2013 (Sip Sak): I need to quit drinking the SQN wines young as I invariably like them better with age. The nose is very nice; waxy with honey and lemons. On the palate, the alcohol is prevalent. It drinks hot and a bit bitter. At the same time, there is a nice depth here. I went back toward the end of the evening and this was much better. I have no doubt that it would be even better today. The bottle was only half drained, so I suspect that others agreed. As I said though, I also think in 3 to 5 years or a lot longer, this will sort itself out and be a much better wine.
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1/18/2013 - dcwino wrote: 89 Points
1990 Bordeaux dinner with Latour, Beausejour Duffau, Montrose and etc (Capital Grille Tysons, VA): This is the second time having this wine and it just is not my cup of tea. This bottle seems a bit darker than the first and the nose reflects that. The first note once again is lychee then orange peel, tropical fruits and tea. Quite chewy, a hint of sugar and noticeable heat as the end note. I have no clue whether this will improve with time.
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12/25/2012 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
Consistent
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12/12/2012 - Ekoostik wrote: 92 Points
No formal notes as this was with dinner out...that said this wine seemed noticeably fatter than last years On the Lam. This doesnt really play into my style of preference, but I still think the wine is exceptional and Im sure even more so should you like the style. There is some oak and some definite weight to the wine, light is not of the order. That said its not in the order I find offensive at all (and Im fairly sensitive), enough acid to keep it alive on the palate. Doesnt seem like a short term ager to me...drink it fresh or let it ride and see what happens?
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11/29/2012 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
Opened by Allred. 52% Roussanne, 23% Viognier, 19% Chardonnay, and 5% Marsanne. A full bodied white wine. Notes of creamy pear, smoke and toasted oak. Spicy finish. Was worried that this would be too over the top but did not think it was in that category. 91 points.
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11/27/2012 - clayfu wrote:
Rick's 50th birthday notes and my 10,000th post!; 11/24/2012-11/27/2012 (Chateau Rick): wow absolutely joke of a wine. Fat oaky vanilla with peach and and honey. Sounds like my type of ice cream. The oak is just so obvious on this wine which with the minerality on the finish, gives it this really weird tingling sensation.. almost like Novocaine.
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11/26/2012 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with xhoser (Topaz Cafe, Burr Ridge): 52% Roussanne, 23% Viognier, 19% Chardonnay and 5% Marsanne. Golden color. Aromas of butter, vanilla, apple and toast. Full-bodied, with a rich, oily texture and flavors of pear, apple and new oak with a hint of lemon. Long finish. The Chardonnay really stands out at first. A lemon oil aroma develops w/air. I kept some in my glass for the entire night, and by the end of dinner it was much more expressive and soft and the oak was toned down quite a bit. Drink now with a healthy decant or hold for a couple of years. 92-93 pts.
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11/26/2012 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Opened by Allred at Topaz with CWM and xhoser. Initial nose blasted oak, but this quickly blew off. Floral notes and honey. Score would be higher with more acidity.
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11/15/2012 - Mrbuzz wrote: 94 Points
Jen's Fund Raiser Dinner II (Max's Bistro, Fresno Ca.): Rich and voluptuous with massive amounts of flavor....apricot, creamy pear, honeysuckle, hot buttered rum spice, match strike.....big, but well balanced and lifted with bright citrus acidity...little heat though on the finish. Might need a few years to calm down...but it's all in there!
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11/10/2012 - jrobs7777 wrote:
A little reticent right now. I think it will fare better with food. Tasted side-by-side an 88 Beaucastel Blanc and the Beaucastel was better on this night, although with time in the glass, and especially the next day, this wine was more expressive. Deeper golden color. Honey, flowers and some waxy fruit. Not as full or concentrated as you would think based on the viscous texture.
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11/10/2012 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 90 Points
White flowers and lemon zest on the very subdued nose. The palate is extracted with a interesting balance of lemon curd, clean mine reality and salinity. It was starting to open up more, after An hour or so, but for now underperforming.
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11/6/2012 - KenK wrote: 93 Points
Pretty nose although on quiet side, shows pinapple, pear, apricot, stones,
Rich fat round, dry edgy quality. Very waxy, showing classic white Hermitage flavors. long rich. Good density and white pepper quality. Impressive finish. Not sure if this is the the of wine that improves, but time will tell.
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11/1/2012 - dcwino wrote: 91 Points
The 03 Bordeaux dinner at RIS in DC (RIS Restaurant, Washington DC): The nose reminds me la doriane, first note is lychee then pineapple, mango and other tropical fruits. Unctuous and big, a hint of sugar and noticeable alcohol for me. This is somewhere in between Kongsgaard Roussanne/Viognier and La Doriane. My rating may seem too high for some and too low for others. Not for everyone.
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10/25/2012 - thenapalist wrote: 96 Points
Drinking beautifully in it's youth. Laser like focus on the chard with the sweet melon dimension of the Rousanne. Best SQN white in quite some time.
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9/12/2012 - mikecase00 wrote:
My first experience with Sine Qua Non. This was not really what I expected. Lots of oak. I might have pegged this as a mid level Chardonnay from California. Given the reputation of the estate, I'm inclined to think this just needs more time in the bottle to integrate and develop complexity.
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