Drank with shrimp dinner with salsa verde and cilantro with Cajun spices. Color is golden. Wonderful nose of apple and lime. Palate is apple, grapefruit, honey, mint and lime. Great finish. This is typical of the fantastic Rhone blancs from Sine Qua Non. This is in its prime, but could also last at least another 5-7 years.
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even my wife liked it. interestingly we had it poured initially in a large cab glass and when we switched to a normal size white glass it was much improved.
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Drank the rest from a btl Coravin end 2 months ago. Darker, almost almond color, good weight on the palate. A real treat. Drink/Hold and could buy more.
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Opened by Allred. The 2nd time I have had this wine. Flourescent yellow color. Notes of resin, vanilla wafer and cherries. Seems to have filled out and added depth since I last had this in 2014. Full bodied with a buttery finish. 92 points.
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Our final bottle, popped & poured. Deep color. Tangerine, chamomile and orange zest notes. Deep and complex. Vanilla, citrus, cherry and melon flavors. Long finish.
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Initially showing a hint of dustiness but thankfully this faded. A little metallic, a bit of flint, with caramelized sugar, bubblegum, and tropical fruits. Ripe on the palate, naturally. Later on toasty popcorn showed up. Drinking beautifully.
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Medium-gold color. Peaches and floral notes in the bouquet. Viscous texture. Still possesses very fresh fruit, but it’s mature. Modest acidity. Concentrated yellow fruit flavor. Lactic undertaste. Refreshing, long finish. The Moment is made from: 57% Roussanne, 17% Chardonnay, 19% Petit Manseng, and 7% Viognier. Delicious now, though should hold several more years.
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Fabulous deep gold colour and viscous legs. Heady, penetrating nose, so rich and exotic. Incredibly rich on the palate yet finishes with a touch of austerity before lingering with that exotic range of flavours for ages, so persistent. I can't argue with the assortment of exotic flavours noted by other tasters. Brilliant. On further reflection, it reminds me of a Guigal Condrieu 2016 with the volume turned up!
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of orange rind, persimmon, nutmeg and wet stones. Flavors of tangerine, lemon, cherry and minerals. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold. I'd lean towards drink.
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We took from the wine cooler and pnp'd. We probably should have decanted for an hour to let all the flavors intergrate and shine through. Stone fruit on the nose. Color of golden yellow. The palate was a marriage of apricot and orange marmalade with hints of melon. The finish was long and lingering. Served with our dinner of crab stuffed flounder.
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Decanted 90 minutes prior, drunk from Riedel Vinum Sauvignon Blanc stemware. Vastly superior to bottle consumed couple months ago. No hint of oxidation despite deep yellow coloration. Just enough minerality to balance cornucopia of citrus and stone fruit notes.
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The bouquet is a bit locked a and at the same time showing some yellow fruits and quite complex. On the palate a very tasty wine with a pleasant touch of sweetness, good acidity and minerals, an enormous length. Beautiful and mouth filling wine.
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Rather dark gold in color when decanted. No nose to speak of. Initial palate showed only touches of lemon and stone, but with outsized acidity. Not much change after 30 minutes in the decanter. I'm thinking this bottle was in the advanced stages of oxidation, and so will not rate.
The whites from SQN are not always my favorites but I really enjoyed this one. Obviously rich but it handles it well. Certainly the mouthfeel and taste are all about the rhone. Drink up but has no evidence of decline currently
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This was drank at a local restaurant after chilling and without decanting. The wine was clear and mid golden in colour with a nose of honey and some butterscotch. In the glass was a very smooth and balanced wine with some citrus flavours mixed with butter and honey flavours. No flavours were particularly in the forefront here but it had a fairly long finish. This was a pleasant bottle that seems to be in a good drinking window now.
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Utterly unique white. Rich, ripe honeysuckle, opulent apricot jam fruit. There is a underlying savory note that gives this some mystery. Absolutely impossible to guess the varietals involved, and I’d guess many would guess red in blinded tasting. Crazy and mind blowing.
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Sine Qua Non dinner (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner, VA): The ripest nose of the flight. Very sweet and ripe nose displaying apricot, orange marmalade, lychee, meyer lemon and steel. Excellent concentration, dense and oily, bright acidity and a long dense apricot and orange marmalade driven finish with a hint of lychee and steel at the end. There is also a hint of alcohol. Drinking almost like a dessert wine.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over 24 hours.
Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lychee, apricot, peach and sea foam. Flavors of apricot core, Golden Crisp apple and lemon curd. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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Heritage Blind Tasting in Vegas (Jean-Georges Restaurant, Aria Hotel Las Vegas): Actually not half bad--Chard and no wonder: 57% Roussanne, 19% Petit Manseng, 17% Chardonnay and 7% Viognier that spent 16 months in a combination of concrete, new and used barrels, and stainless steel. I was wondering where the oak was! Pretty creamy, not oaky, with a bit of lift, really cool. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.
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Showed better on day 2, just coming out of the Roussanne's dead phase. Impressive aromas but a bit oily and thick on the palate at times. Hold 1+ year.
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Beautiful golden color with a closed-up bouquet and flavor not at all reminiscent of other SQN whites that I have had. Difficult to pinpoint exact aromas and tastes. Quite mono-dimensional now and a bit steely. I agree with other tasters who felt that this might be too young.
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Dark-ish gold color. It almost reminds me of a big CA Chard, such as a Marcassin or the like, except this doesn't seem to have the underlying minerality that I find in some of those wines. Certainly well made, but not my favorite style - I don't seem to enjoy the SQN whites/roses nearly as much as the reds. Saved a glass for tomorrow night and will update note, if warranted.
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Deep yellow in color with some apricot and lemon on the nose. In the mouth this is unctuous and very smooth with a long aftertaste that was entirely pleasant. Drank very cold on a very hot day with some strong cheeses and was terrific.
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Tried at Hedonism Wines in London. Haven't had a ton of 'younger' SQN whites, but I find I really like them at this stage too. This one felt a bit lighter than others (perhaps because of the cooler 2011 growing season). Great acidity. Lime, white flowers, very delicious. I think maybe a bit too young. If we had a bottle I'd give it a few more years to grow into itself.
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A wow wine for sure. Deep golden color and exotic fruit nose. Each sip brings something different - apricot, mango, citrus, candle wax, honeysuckle - and the wine evolves over the course of the evening. Coconut and caramel on the back end. Finishes with a little heat - slight detraction from the overall deliciousness of this wine.
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Light golden color. Fresh nose with ripe pit fruits and lime zest notes. Somewhat oily texture and flat out huge flavor profile. Too much for me but fun to taste. Mellowed somewhat with air but a big mouthful of wine. (?)
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Over a year since I've had a Moment. Color is golden, wine is clear, did upright over night. First sip, very smooth, coats the palate and demands your attention. Alcohol there I'm sure, but you feel no burn. The cascade of exotic fruits excite as the flavors are not all identifiable, but I love them. Another sip, another sip, I can picture the barrel room, casks of fancy french oak lined up. Every sip is telling me a different story, loving this wine.
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Sine Qua Non's on a Saturday afternoon (Loretta Paganini School fo Cooking): Its funny, this wine is outstanding but on SQN terms, perhaps not so much. Golden in color. The nose has vanilla and lemon curd. Its a fat wine. Lots of body. The palate has the lemon curd with a rich texture. Some heat on the finish.
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Yellow color with a very toasty, buttery bouquet and flavor, with hints of pear apple. Very nice acidity. Should become even better with aging, increasing its definition. Another win for SQN.
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A baby. Hold these for at least another 5 years before drinking. Having said that this was beautiful. Deep golden color. An amazing nose of with layers and layers of complex notes. Signature SQN smooth. A very long finish that is mouth coating. This is great now but will be even better with time. Have 5 more and will not try the next one until 2020.
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Sauterne like gold color and viscosity in the glass. Waxy oily texture with a balanced but not over the top palate of butterscotch, toasty oak, and mixed tropical fruits. Opened a few hours prior to drinking. Expensive but great summer wine. Ready now or in 5 years.
Stunning, deep golden hay color. Full of tropical fruits (mango, peach, pineapple), toasty oak, baking spices and white flowers that last on the palate for 60+ seconds. So full bodied, unctuous, and waxy. The blend is 55% Roussane, 19% Chardonnay, 19% petit Manseng and 7% Viognier. The Viognier really gives a great lifted floral note, plus ripe apricots. At 15.5% a.b.v, it's massive, but so well integrated and balanced! This will be a long-lived white wine.
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This was drank at a local steakhouse with friends. The wine was a mid level yellow in colour and very slightly cloudy when poured. The nose on this consisted of honey, caramel and oranges. These same flavours were in the glass along with a noticeable amount of petroleum. When first poured, there was some fizziness to it but this seemed to go away after 15 minutes. The wine is quite strong in alcohol (over 15%) but you would never know it as it was very smooth. I also found this bottle to be quite sweet for a dry white wine and that made it very enjoyable.
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Drank with friends over Indian food at Chakra in a Beverly Hills. Wine paired perfectly with spicy chicken, lobster curry and saag paneer. White peach, flowers, citrus on the nose. Peach and orange notes on the palate, nice tension and long, long finish. Enjoyed immensely.
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Nice floral and white peach notes. Some smoky flint notes. Beautiful viscous mouthfeel with a touch of the rhone-ish waxiness. Some nuttiness. Touch of heat on the otherwise beautiful medium+ length finish. This is really drinking well, but I know these age well, so will continue to check in every year or two on remaining bottles. Forced myself to save a glass for tomorrow to check on how it may age.
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Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of sulfur, spice, orange peel and mango. Flavors of creme, lemon, yellow pears and yellow apples. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink over then next five years plus or minus a year.
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Deep gold color and bright color. The smells are spice, butterscotch, honey, toast, and saline notes. This is tight and needs air. The tastes are similar to the smells and there is some weight and the finish is salty and modestly zingy.
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Very interesting style, more of a sweetness and Viognier vs chard domination. A lot of viscosity and a sparkling crisp amber color. Good under lying elements.
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There's No Place Like Rhone (M&R's): Served blind as a warm up at the Rhone varietal tasting. Aromas of lemon chiffon cake, florals, pear and white fruit. Lemon on the palate, followed by butterscotch and citrus. Rich, unctuous texture with a long finish.
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Crushed rocks, lemon curd, lanolin, honey, and stone fruits form a delineated, and clear-cut nose. With time a little orange peel comes into play; on the palate there is phenomenal concentration, tension, and the finish is rather long; the fruit unfolds layer, after layer, and the finish is a saliva-inducing mix of bitter orange marmalade, minerality, citrus essence, and a savoury aspect. Beautiful!
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Just from the 6mos from the last bottle…this has started to integrate nicely! More smoky creamed tropical/pit fruit…..and less intense acid, but still plenty alive with verve. The right temp brings out wonderful rich Cali Rhone flavors of hazelnut butter, white honey, match strike, honeysuckle florals, lemon wax, peach skin……SO tasty, balanced, and a joy to drink! Even better in a Zalto Bord glass….worth an extra point!
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This is a massive white wine. Rich and extracted, with a waxy edge to its caramelized orchard fruit and sweet citrus. Spiced honey, white flowers, and roated nuts add complexity. Full bodied, low acidity, and quite a bit of heat on the spicy finish. Not really in line with our preferences, and was enjoyed more thoroughly by others in the group.
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I really liked this bottling. Lemon oil, beeswax, lanolin and peach aromas. Rich texture, but light and racy at the same time. Flavors of lemon oil, lanolin and orchard fruit with a lingering finish.
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Opened by Allred at Sun Wah. Beautiful blend of honeyed apricot with a hit of pineapple. Not what I expected, but these wines always seem to zig when you expect them to zag.
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The 2nd SQN opened by Allred at the Sun Wah dinner. 55% Roussanne, 19% Chardonnay, 19% Petit Manseng and 7% Viognier. A serious white which you would expect from SQN. Straw yellow color. Notes of licorice, spiced fruit and white pepper. Full bodied with a long finish. Never been a huge fan Of SQN's white wines but liked this well enough. It was not overdone in my opinion. Add some points to my score if this is your style. 90-91 points.
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Held up strong over two days. Big nose of apricot, tropical fruit and honey. Palate is full bodied with round fruit and medium acidity. Spicy with an exotic note on the palate. Medium finish. A big wine and a good winter white.
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Citrus elements with a hint of butter on the nose. Some lychee notes as well. The palate is unctuous and mouth coating. Apricot pit and more butter on the palate with just a hint of herbs. Not the most complex Sqn white I've had but delicious. Goes on forever.
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57% Roussanne, 19% Petit Manseng, 17% Chardonnay and 7% Viognier …really dark metallic gold with green tinge color….nose of grilled peach, exotic white honey butter, lemon wax, honeysuckle. This is a different bird here for sqn white! Dark and creamy pit fruit as well as bright and tangy fresh acidic citrus. Again a great balance here…you have the richness of butter, wax, wood smoke, marmalade(apricot,peach) fruit…..but the freshness of tingly lemon, grapefruit, salty minerals. I guess the Petit Manseng is really mixing things up here? Killer tea spice, white flowers, long waxy and spicy finish. SUPER cool wine…and fun to drink!
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A great white wine. Tremendous depth and breadth of flavors. There is a real meatyness with some honey and spice. Very long finish. The mouth feel is extremely smooth and almost creamy despite the flavor profile, which seems more likely to generate a harsher feel. My son, whose tasting notes are usually no deeper than "good" or "I like it," asked for a second glass (I told him I had finished the bottle myelf) came up to me a few minbutes later as we were working on the potato latkes for Thanksgiving dinner and said, "You know, that white wine that you said you didn't know what was it it was really good."
If the Professor is right, the wine is 55% Roussane with a good dose of Viognier and Chard with a bit of Petit Manseng. Seems to fit with the flavor profile.
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Wines on A Saturday Afternoon (Charlie's): Light gold/green in color. The nose is very tight with a waxy component. Lemons come out with air. Oily texture. Very smooth and easy to drink. Full bodied but not over the top in any way. Should age well.
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Yes the bottle is cool, another classic First sip, pure simplicity. Not a blast of acid like a Burg, no wooden paddle like a Chard. Smooth flow of rich golden colored liquid. Flavors registering, off peach, smell of pineapple, that exotic fragrance of fruit bin Lots going on just below the surface, looking forward to my next encounter
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Just shipped to Chicago this week, so perhaps a little shaken up. Slightly tropical fruit, very rich and spicy with some intriguing white pepper and clove. Served slightly too warm, several degrees above cellar temp, so this came across as slightly more alcoholic than if served cooler.
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Popped and poured at lunch - Rich, honeyed and a long textured finish. I agree with Jeb of a distinct marmalade mid palate. I think this wine has a long evolution ahead of it, similar in some respects to the outstanding Hoodoo Man.
If Marcassin and Beaucastel Vielles Vignes had a moment together, this wine would be it's love child!
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Color = Lovely deep honey gold, translucent. Decanted for a couple hours, brought up to about 65 degrees, where it began to finally open up. Nose is kind of primary pineapple and lemon, a little cream, some lanolin essence and a drift of honeysuckle. Is there Roussanne in this? Mouth isn't as opulent or oily as I was expecting given Manfred's description and critical acclaim. It seems a bit raw and leesy, like an Aubert Chard that hasn't been careful decanted off the lees. The finish is again reminiscent of that kind of Aubert Chard. Loads of lemon on the finish, some marshmallow, but then it turns to beer. Not my fav SQN white by a long shot. I have no idea if this will improve with age. Tastes a little like an old Burgundy. I'm bummed because I really wanted to love this, and I've been looking for a special white. Sorry Manfred.
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1/6/2024 - AP MD Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank with shrimp dinner with salsa verde and cilantro with Cajun spices. Color is golden. Wonderful nose of apple and lime. Palate is apple, grapefruit, honey, mint and lime. Great finish. This is typical of the fantastic Rhone blancs from Sine Qua Non. This is in its prime, but could also last at least another 5-7 years.
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1/6/2024 - Ex-Ray wrote: 85 Points
Very dry Southern Rhone style but losing fruit, past its prime.
Ric
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12/9/2023 - lesz Likes this wine: 93 Points
even my wife liked it. interestingly we had it poured initially in a large cab glass and when we switched to a normal size white glass it was much improved.
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4/14/2023 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank the rest from a btl Coravin end 2 months ago. Darker, almost almond color, good weight on the palate. A real treat. Drink/Hold and could buy more.
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10/5/2022 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Opened by Allred. The 2nd time I have had this wine. Flourescent yellow color. Notes of resin, vanilla wafer and cherries. Seems to have filled out and added depth since I last had this in 2014. Full bodied with a buttery finish. 92 points.
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10/1/2022 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Our final bottle, popped & poured. Deep color. Tangerine, chamomile and orange zest notes. Deep and complex. Vanilla, citrus, cherry and melon flavors. Long finish.
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9/9/2022 - Peech Likes this wine: 95 Points
Initially showing a hint of dustiness but thankfully this faded. A little metallic, a bit of flint, with caramelized sugar, bubblegum, and tropical fruits. Ripe on the palate, naturally. Later on toasty popcorn showed up. Drinking beautifully.
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3/14/2022 - Simply Wine wrote: 95 Points
Drinking marvelously well. Both freshness and depth, richness and cut. Beautiful Roussane driven wine.
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9/11/2021 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium-gold color. Peaches and floral notes in the bouquet. Viscous texture. Still possesses very fresh fruit, but it’s mature. Modest acidity. Concentrated yellow fruit flavor. Lactic undertaste. Refreshing, long finish.
The Moment is made from: 57% Roussanne, 17% Chardonnay, 19% Petit Manseng, and 7% Viognier. Delicious now, though should hold several more years.
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7/21/2021 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
Darker amber color. roussanne and viognier dominated nose. Good finish, just a different but exciting style.
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9/3/2020 - chrisdgsmith@hotmail.co.uk Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fabulous deep gold colour and viscous legs. Heady, penetrating nose, so rich and exotic. Incredibly rich on the palate yet finishes with a touch of austerity before lingering with that exotic range of flavours for ages, so persistent. I can't argue with the assortment of exotic flavours noted by other tasters. Brilliant.
On further reflection, it reminds me of a Guigal Condrieu 2016 with the volume turned up!
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7/30/2020 - G_H wrote: 94 Points
Apricot, yellow plums, slightly floral, honey, unripe papaya, pineapple, opulent and rich, medium length
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6/3/2020 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of orange rind, persimmon, nutmeg and wet stones. Flavors of tangerine, lemon, cherry and minerals. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold. I'd lean towards drink.
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4/22/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 93 Points
We took from the wine cooler and pnp'd. We probably should have decanted for an hour to let all the flavors intergrate and shine through. Stone fruit on the nose. Color of golden yellow. The palate was a marriage of apricot and orange marmalade with hints of melon. The finish was long and lingering. Served with our dinner of crab stuffed flounder.
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10/21/2019 - Minnesota wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 90 minutes prior, drunk from Riedel Vinum Sauvignon Blanc stemware. Vastly superior to bottle consumed couple months ago. No hint of oxidation despite deep yellow coloration. Just enough minerality to balance cornucopia of citrus and stone fruit notes.
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4/4/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar to prior notes after SO for an hour, deep gold, viscous; very good, had at boys night at my house, nice way to start
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12/27/2018 - tcarter Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really nice but doesn’t hold up to some other recent vintages like the Kolibri IMHO.
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9/2/2018 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
The bouquet is a bit locked a and at the same time showing some yellow fruits and quite complex. On the palate a very tasty wine with a pleasant touch of sweetness, good acidity and minerals, an enormous length. Beautiful and mouth filling wine.
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8/27/2018 - VlgJeff wrote:
Rather dark gold in color when decanted. No nose to speak of. Initial palate showed only touches of lemon and stone, but with outsized acidity. Not much change after 30 minutes in the decanter. I'm thinking this bottle was in the advanced stages of oxidation, and so will not rate.
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8/22/2018 - Geoff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark yellow color, complex nose, great mouthfeel, very compelling with melon, fruits and perfect balance, nice acidity. Very nice wine!
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8/4/2018 - csimm wrote: 92 Points
Sine Qua Non (SQN) Magnum Extravaganza + Bevan, Mike Smith, Sparkling/Champagne, and others (Calistoga): From magnum. Quince, lemon peel, lemon seed, and white rock. Fairly bitter and linear, this wine never fully came around for me, even with hours in the decanter. It was good, but missing some of the “wow” factor I usually associate with SQN’s whites. Stayed in second gear all night.
Hold for another year and hope the fruit still stays fresh enough after 2019/2020.
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5/24/2018 - bonedocnine Likes this wine: 92 Points
The whites from SQN are not always my favorites but I really enjoyed this one. Obviously rich but it handles it well. Certainly the mouthfeel and taste are all about the rhone. Drink up but has no evidence of decline currently
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3/24/2018 - Rosengoo wrote: 91 Points
This was drank at a local restaurant after chilling and without decanting. The wine was clear and mid golden in colour with a nose of honey and some butterscotch. In the glass was a very smooth and balanced wine with some citrus flavours mixed with butter and honey flavours. No flavours were particularly in the forefront here but it had a fairly long finish. This was a pleasant bottle that seems to be in a good drinking window now.
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3/7/2018 - SlimShaney wrote: 93 Points
Concentrated. Golden ....can't write the next word. A bit of petrol? No kerosene.
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3/4/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to prior note; very good
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2/13/2018 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Utterly unique white. Rich, ripe honeysuckle, opulent apricot jam fruit. There is a underlying savory note that gives this some mystery. Absolutely impossible to guess the varietals involved, and I’d guess many would guess red in blinded tasting. Crazy and mind blowing.
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2/10/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
SO'd for a couple of hrs, deep gold, very unique nose & palate of apricot & peach with white flowers, viscous; delicious
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1/26/2018 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Sine Qua Non dinner (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner, VA): The ripest nose of the flight. Very sweet and ripe nose displaying apricot, orange marmalade, lychee, meyer lemon and steel. Excellent concentration, dense and oily, bright acidity and a long dense apricot and orange marmalade driven finish with a hint of lychee and steel at the end. There is also a hint of alcohol. Drinking almost like a dessert wine.
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12/31/2017 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over 24 hours.
Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lychee, apricot, peach and sea foam. Flavors of apricot core, Golden Crisp apple and lemon curd. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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12/23/2017 - Geoff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Has dropped off a bit. Less luscious fruit and seems more acidic. Still, opens in the glass and as it warms up a bit. Still very enjoyable.
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12/2/2017 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Heritage Blind Tasting in Vegas (Jean-Georges Restaurant, Aria Hotel Las Vegas): Actually not half bad--Chard and no wonder: 57% Roussanne, 19% Petit Manseng, 17% Chardonnay and 7% Viognier that spent 16 months in a combination of concrete, new and used barrels, and stainless steel. I was wondering where the oak was! Pretty creamy, not oaky, with a bit of lift, really cool. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.
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7/21/2017 - silton Likes this wine:
Showed better on day 2, just coming out of the Roussanne's dead phase. Impressive aromas but a bit oily and thick on the palate at times. Hold 1+ year.
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4/8/2017 - tcosgriff Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful golden color with a closed-up bouquet and flavor not at all reminiscent of other SQN whites that I have had. Difficult to pinpoint exact aromas and tastes. Quite mono-dimensional now and a bit steely. I agree with other tasters who felt that this might be too young.
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9/11/2016 - G_H wrote: 93 Points
Extremely rich and opulent, this is WAAAAYY too young right now. It will develop, so patience!
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8/28/2016 - B Paul wrote:
Dark-ish gold color. It almost reminds me of a big CA Chard, such as a Marcassin or the like, except this doesn't seem to have the underlying minerality that I find in some of those wines. Certainly well made, but not my favorite style - I don't seem to enjoy the SQN whites/roses nearly as much as the reds. Saved a glass for tomorrow night and will update note, if warranted.
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8/13/2016 - LSussman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep yellow in color with some apricot and lemon on the nose. In the mouth this is unctuous and very smooth with a long aftertaste that was entirely pleasant. Drank very cold on a very hot day with some strong cheeses and was terrific.
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8/6/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Tried at Hedonism Wines in London. Haven't had a ton of 'younger' SQN whites, but I find I really like them at this stage too. This one felt a bit lighter than others (perhaps because of the cooler 2011 growing season). Great acidity. Lime, white flowers, very delicious. I think maybe a bit too young. If we had a bottle I'd give it a few more years to grow into itself.
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6/23/2016 - Pquaker wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful peach color, smooth, probably waited a year too long. Slight burn on after taste
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5/8/2016 - mike l. Likes this wine: 91 Points
not as wow or complex and seamless has other whites of this era SQN. nevertheless quite tasty.
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4/11/2016 - madeiradog Likes this wine: 92 Points
A wow wine for sure. Deep golden color and exotic fruit nose. Each sip brings something different - apricot, mango, citrus, candle wax, honeysuckle - and the wine evolves over the course of the evening. Coconut and caramel on the back end. Finishes with a little heat - slight detraction from the overall deliciousness of this wine.
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2/9/2016 - dbkitc wrote:
Light golden color. Fresh nose with ripe pit fruits and lime zest notes. Somewhat oily texture and flat out huge flavor profile. Too much for me but fun to taste. Mellowed somewhat with air but a big mouthful of wine. (?)
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12/12/2015 - FranklinSix Likes this wine: 92 Points
Funky for a white
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11/26/2015 - shadow wrote: 98 Points
Over a year since I've had a Moment.
Color is golden, wine is clear, did upright over night.
First sip, very smooth, coats the palate and demands your attention.
Alcohol there I'm sure, but you feel no burn.
The cascade of exotic fruits excite as the flavors are not all identifiable, but I love them.
Another sip, another sip, I can picture the barrel room, casks of fancy french oak lined up.
Every sip is telling me a different story, loving this wine.
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11/7/2015 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
In a wonderful place now; tropical fruit, pear, apple. Nice acidity to give good balance.
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9/26/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Sine Qua Non's on a Saturday afternoon (Loretta Paganini School fo Cooking): Its funny, this wine is outstanding but on SQN terms, perhaps not so much. Golden in color. The nose has vanilla and lemon curd. Its a fat wine. Lots of body. The palate has the lemon curd with a rich texture. Some heat on the finish.
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9/7/2015 - tcosgriff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Yellow color with a very toasty, buttery bouquet and flavor, with hints of pear apple. Very nice acidity. Should become even better with aging, increasing its definition. Another win for SQN.
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8/15/2015 - Naplesgolfer Likes this wine: 92 Points
I think this is young and shut down.
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7/31/2015 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 95 Points
A baby. Hold these for at least another 5 years before drinking. Having said that this was beautiful. Deep golden color. An amazing nose of with layers and layers of complex notes. Signature SQN smooth. A very long finish that is mouth coating. This is great now but will be even better with time. Have 5 more and will not try the next one until 2020.
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5/25/2015 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
Sauterne like gold color and viscosity in the glass. Waxy oily texture with a balanced but not over the top palate of butterscotch, toasty oak, and mixed tropical fruits. Opened a few hours prior to drinking. Expensive but great summer wine. Ready now or in 5 years.
http://www.maxsatisfactionwine.com/post/119909106769
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5/19/2015 - CManthei Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stunning, deep golden hay color. Full of tropical fruits (mango, peach, pineapple), toasty oak, baking spices and white flowers that last on the palate for 60+ seconds. So full bodied, unctuous, and waxy. The blend is 55% Roussane, 19% Chardonnay, 19% petit Manseng and 7% Viognier. The Viognier really gives a great lifted floral note, plus ripe apricots. At 15.5% a.b.v, it's massive, but so well integrated and balanced! This will be a long-lived white wine.
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5/1/2015 - Rosengoo wrote: 93 Points
This was drank at a local steakhouse with friends. The wine was a mid level yellow in colour and very slightly cloudy when poured. The nose on this consisted of honey, caramel and oranges. These same flavours were in the glass along with a noticeable amount of petroleum. When first poured, there was some fizziness to it but this seemed to go away after 15 minutes. The wine is quite strong in alcohol (over 15%) but you would never know it as it was very smooth. I also found this bottle to be quite sweet for a dry white wine and that made it very enjoyable.
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4/22/2015 - Fid Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank with friends over Indian food at Chakra in a Beverly Hills. Wine paired perfectly with spicy chicken, lobster curry and saag paneer. White peach, flowers, citrus on the nose. Peach and orange notes on the palate, nice tension and long, long finish. Enjoyed immensely.
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12/29/2014 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
Nice floral and white peach notes. Some smoky flint notes. Beautiful viscous mouthfeel with a touch of the rhone-ish waxiness. Some nuttiness. Touch of heat on the otherwise beautiful medium+ length finish. This is really drinking well, but I know these age well, so will continue to check in every year or two on remaining bottles. Forced myself to save a glass for tomorrow to check on how it may age.
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12/13/2014 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine:
This is so different than anything I've had before. I lack the words to even describe it beyond "weird" and "good".
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12/7/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 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): I liked this better than most SQN whites. Lighter gold in color. Much cleaner nose. Apricots and marzipan on the nose. A refreshing tartness on the palate. beautiful texture. Slightly waxy turning a lovely and interesting tangerine on the finish. Drinking great now, I wonder if it ever gets better although it will certainly develop.
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10/3/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind.
Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of sulfur, spice, orange peel and mango. Flavors of creme, lemon, yellow pears and yellow apples. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink over then next five years plus or minus a year.
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9/3/2014 - hackey37 wrote: 92 Points
Deep gold color and bright color. The smells are spice, butterscotch, honey, toast, and saline notes. This is tight and needs air. The tastes are similar to the smells and there is some weight and the finish is salty and modestly zingy.
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8/31/2014 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very interesting style, more of a sweetness and Viognier vs chard domination. A lot of viscosity and a sparkling crisp amber color. Good under lying elements.
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8/22/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Terrific. Need to let them be.
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6/22/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
My guests are not worthy of this beauty
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6/21/2014 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
There's No Place Like Rhone (M&R's): Served blind as a warm up at the Rhone varietal tasting. Aromas of lemon chiffon cake, florals, pear and white fruit. Lemon on the palate, followed by butterscotch and citrus. Rich, unctuous texture with a long finish.
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5/16/2014 - fhirsch Likes this wine: 94 Points
Crushed rocks, lemon curd, lanolin, honey, and stone fruits form a delineated, and clear-cut nose. With time a little orange peel comes into play; on the palate there is phenomenal concentration, tension, and the finish is rather long; the fruit unfolds layer, after layer, and the finish is a saliva-inducing mix of bitter orange marmalade, minerality, citrus essence, and a savoury aspect. Beautiful!
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5/15/2014 - Mrbuzz wrote: 96 Points
Just from the 6mos from the last bottle…this has started to integrate nicely! More smoky creamed tropical/pit fruit…..and less intense acid, but still plenty alive with verve. The right temp brings out wonderful rich Cali Rhone flavors of hazelnut butter, white honey, match strike, honeysuckle florals, lemon wax, peach skin……SO tasty, balanced, and a joy to drink! Even better in a Zalto Bord glass….worth an extra point!
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5/6/2014 - RMundell Likes this wine: 95 Points
complex great wine.
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4/28/2014 - Rob and Meg wrote: 84 Points
This is a massive white wine. Rich and extracted, with a waxy edge to its caramelized orchard fruit and sweet citrus. Spiced honey, white flowers, and roated nuts add complexity. Full bodied, low acidity, and quite a bit of heat on the spicy finish. Not really in line with our preferences, and was enjoyed more thoroughly by others in the group.
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3/29/2014 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
I really liked this bottling. Lemon oil, beeswax, lanolin and peach aromas. Rich texture, but light and racy at the same time. Flavors of lemon oil, lanolin and orchard fruit with a lingering finish.
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3/29/2014 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
Opened by Allred at Sun Wah. Beautiful blend of honeyed apricot with a hit of pineapple. Not what I expected, but these wines always seem to zig when you expect them to zag.
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3/29/2014 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
The 2nd SQN opened by Allred at the Sun Wah dinner. 55% Roussanne, 19% Chardonnay, 19% Petit Manseng and 7% Viognier. A serious white which you would expect from SQN. Straw yellow color. Notes of licorice, spiced fruit and white pepper. Full bodied with a long finish. Never been a huge fan Of SQN's white wines but liked this well enough. It was not overdone in my opinion. Add some points to my score if this is your style. 90-91 points.
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3/28/2014 - Geoff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just a fantastic Rhone blend white! No faults.
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2/26/2014 - shadow wrote: 95 Points
Touch of burnt pineapple on the nose.
First sip, get that mix of smokie butter and stoned salty backround with a palate coating blast.
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2/24/2014 - twelch wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic. Really an exceptional bottle of white. Can't wait to see what happens for this wine.
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2/23/2014 - phenricsson wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful, rich golden color. Thick mouthfeel but fresh with some tropical fruit. More lower, darker flavors.
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2/15/2014 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Held up strong over two days. Big nose of apricot, tropical fruit and honey. Palate is full bodied with round fruit and medium acidity. Spicy with an exotic note on the palate. Medium finish. A big wine and a good winter white.
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2/6/2014 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Citrus elements with a hint of butter on the nose. Some lychee notes as well. The palate is unctuous and mouth coating. Apricot pit and more butter on the palate with just a hint of herbs. Not the most complex Sqn white I've had but delicious. Goes on forever.
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12/31/2013 - jrobs7777 wrote:
Solid Rhone blend. Quite smokey. Good viscous texture. Tropical waxy fruits. Good acidity, though a bit on the fat side. Nice finish.
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12/27/2013 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 95 Points
57% Roussanne, 19% Petit Manseng, 17% Chardonnay and 7% Viognier …really dark metallic gold with green tinge color….nose of grilled peach, exotic white honey butter, lemon wax, honeysuckle. This is a different bird here for sqn white! Dark and creamy pit fruit as well as bright and tangy fresh acidic citrus. Again a great balance here…you have the richness of butter, wax, wood smoke, marmalade(apricot,peach) fruit…..but the freshness of tingly lemon, grapefruit, salty minerals. I guess the Petit Manseng is really mixing things up here? Killer tea spice, white flowers, long waxy and spicy finish. SUPER cool wine…and fun to drink!
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12/15/2013 - soyhead wrote:
5th Annual Best of Bordeaux vs Kings of Kalifornia (Yan's China Bistro): wow nose - peach, pit fruit, rich, floral, oil mouthfeel, complex, even heavy. the exact oppose of light and refreshing
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11/28/2013 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 95 Points
A great white wine. Tremendous depth and breadth of flavors. There is a real meatyness with some honey and spice. Very long finish. The mouth feel is extremely smooth and almost creamy despite the flavor profile, which seems more likely to generate a harsher feel. My son, whose tasting notes are usually no deeper than "good" or "I like it," asked for a second glass (I told him I had finished the bottle myelf) came up to me a few minbutes later as we were working on the potato latkes for Thanksgiving dinner and said, "You know, that white wine that you said you didn't know what was it it was really good."
If the Professor is right, the wine is 55% Roussane with a good dose of Viognier and Chard with a bit of Petit Manseng. Seems to fit with the flavor profile.
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11/28/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Only had a sip - loved it. Will let them develop
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11/10/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Wines on A Saturday Afternoon (Charlie's): Light gold/green in color. The nose is very tight with a waxy component. Lemons come out with air. Oily texture. Very smooth and easy to drink. Full bodied but not over the top in any way. Should age well.
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11/10/2013 - shadow wrote: 96 Points
Yes the bottle is cool, another classic
First sip, pure simplicity.
Not a blast of acid like a Burg, no wooden paddle like a Chard.
Smooth flow of rich golden colored liquid.
Flavors registering, off peach, smell of pineapple, that exotic fragrance of fruit bin
Lots going on just below the surface, looking forward to my next encounter
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11/9/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Just shipped to Chicago this week, so perhaps a little shaken up. Slightly tropical fruit, very rich and spicy with some intriguing white pepper and clove. Served slightly too warm, several degrees above cellar temp, so this came across as slightly more alcoholic than if served cooler.
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11/7/2013 - DB77 wrote: 96 Points
Popped and poured at lunch - Rich, honeyed and a long textured finish. I agree with Jeb of a distinct marmalade mid palate. I think this wine has a long evolution ahead of it, similar in some respects to the outstanding Hoodoo Man.
If Marcassin and Beaucastel Vielles Vignes had a moment together, this wine would be it's love child!
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11/1/2013 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Color = Lovely deep honey gold, translucent.
Decanted for a couple hours, brought up to about 65 degrees, where it began to finally open up.
Nose is kind of primary pineapple and lemon, a little cream, some lanolin essence and a drift of honeysuckle. Is there Roussanne in this?
Mouth isn't as opulent or oily as I was expecting given Manfred's description and critical acclaim. It seems a bit raw and leesy, like an Aubert Chard that hasn't been careful decanted off the lees. The finish is again reminiscent of that kind of Aubert Chard. Loads of lemon on the finish, some marshmallow, but then it turns to beer. Not my fav SQN white by a long shot. I have no idea if this will improve with age. Tastes a little like an old Burgundy. I'm bummed because I really wanted to love this, and I've been looking for a special white. Sorry Manfred.
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