Bottle was in great shape. Dead ringer for Northern Rhone Blanc. Also served along side a 1994 Chapoutier Blanc and most people had a hard time picking which was French and which was Cali.
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A Night of SQNs (Direct and Indirect) (Santa Monica, CA): This well-stored bottle was a revelation. Not on the list, but the kind Somm offered it up at the same price as The Petition, which I've enjoyed there several times. Neither fresh nor tired, this was fully resolved and mature, with a viscous texture and rich, complex flavors that continued to emerge as the wine warmed from cellar temperature. The Roussanne seemed most prominent early on, with notes of beeswax and honey -- very Rhone-esque. Over time, though, I sensed the Chardonnay component emerge, evoking a well aged Burgundy with that classic buttered popcorn carmelization. As they say, the last sip was the best.
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To paraphrase Mark Twain, "Rumors of this wine's death have been greatly exaggerated!" To be fair, we tasted two bottles a year apart. The first was likely done years ago. The other, consumed just a few weeks ago, was a shocking treat. At this point, the Roussanne has pushed its way to the forefront with a pleasant waxy texture creating a substantial wine. But there is still lots of spicy melon fruit from the Viognier. A totally enjoyable, and remarkably alive white at 18 years of age.
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Unfortunately, gone. Very oxidized. Dark yellow almost brown. Some interesting notes on the nose but astringent-like on the palate. This one has seen its day......
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S FL WS Group tastes 1988 Bordeaux (and others) (Jupiter, FL): Thick and viscous texture, reserved and fading pear and melon fruit with minerals and crushed stones on the finish. The fading fruit allows the alcohol to come through more as well. Past its prime, but still interesting to drink.
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BYO Californian (Le Sommelier): Amber color. Orange peel, sherry and similar oxidized and sweet impressions on the nose. Similar taste were the oxidized notes dominate and the fruit seem to be gone or lacking. I presume this wine has seen better days, otherwise it was in a closed and dumb phase were air over the next hour or so did not seem to improve on the wine.
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Still has some liffe left in it but not of the same quality as SQN's other whites. The color is dark golden. The fruit has faded a bit and the oak seems to be dominating. A bit too acidic. Not bad but not great. Tasting now like an SV Kistler with age.
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Sine Qua Non Extravaganza (RJ's): I can really taste the Roussanne even though there is more Chardonnay, great tropical fruit with butterscotch and vanilla. There is a lot of power here but is well refined at this stage. Compared to some of their other whites however it does not shine.
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Chicago SQN Postcard Offline (Mel Hill's home - Barrington, IL): This one seems tired and on the down slope. The nose has musty and waxy fruits. In the mouth the fruit lacks vibrancy allowing the oak flavors to over-assert themselves. The fruit is very pure suggesting this wine was likely once something great.
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High pitched aromatics with notes of lemon, lime, petrol and apples. Dense, full bodied. On the palate, sweet, lemony, lime flavors with a spicy quality. Slightly hot finish. This was not a wine I enjoyed. For me, it was too over the top. It had too much of everything. It reminded me a bit of Turley’s White Coat. As a reference point, I liked the Albino much more.
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Seattle Tasting Group does Syrah & Shiraz (Seattle, WA, USA): This was easily the white of the night. Straw colored in the glass, toasty hazelnut and am almost burned nose of buttered toast (most folks kept a glass around and the hazelnut/filbert element gained strength with the evening). On the palate this was silky with a voluptuous mouthfeel and a nice finish that ‘leapt’ in my mouth.
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11/25/2020 - Sennma wrote: 94 Points
Bottle was in great shape. Dead ringer for Northern Rhone Blanc. Also served along side a 1994 Chapoutier Blanc and most people had a hard time picking which was French and which was Cali.
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3/15/2019 - Scheetz wrote:
First time trying. Taking to Zinmans.
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10/27/2018 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
Oxidized but in a gorgeous way. Thick, evolving tremendously in the glass, and complex.
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7/26/2017 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 94 Points
A Night of SQNs (Direct and Indirect) (Santa Monica, CA): This well-stored bottle was a revelation. Not on the list, but the kind Somm offered it up at the same price as The Petition, which I've enjoyed there several times. Neither fresh nor tired, this was fully resolved and mature, with a viscous texture and rich, complex flavors that continued to emerge as the wine warmed from cellar temperature. The Roussanne seemed most prominent early on, with notes of beeswax and honey -- very Rhone-esque. Over time, though, I sensed the Chardonnay component emerge, evoking a well aged Burgundy with that classic buttered popcorn carmelization. As they say, the last sip was the best.
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9/21/2016 - TimBWE Likes this wine:
To paraphrase Mark Twain, "Rumors of this wine's death have been greatly exaggerated!" To be fair, we tasted two bottles a year apart. The first was likely done years ago. The other, consumed just a few weeks ago, was a shocking treat. At this point, the Roussanne has pushed its way to the forefront with a pleasant waxy texture creating a substantial wine. But there is still lots of spicy melon fruit from the Viognier. A totally enjoyable, and remarkably alive white at 18 years of age.
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9/15/2016 - clayfu wrote:
Completely oxidized. Dark golden color. Original owner. Surprise the sqn white wines aren't meant to age
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8/14/2016 - Kemo Sabe wrote:
Unfortunately, gone. Very oxidized. Dark yellow almost brown. Some interesting notes on the nose but astringent-like on the palate. This one has seen its day......
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2/23/2013 - vinole wrote: 89 Points
S FL WS Group tastes 1988 Bordeaux (and others) (Jupiter, FL): Thick and viscous texture, reserved and fading pear and melon fruit with minerals and crushed stones on the finish. The fading fruit allows the alcohol to come through more as well. Past its prime, but still interesting to drink.
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12/29/2012 - jc-mmb wrote: flawed
oxidized, over the hill, kaput. no way to rate this bottle unfortunately.
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10/29/2010 - pchubb wrote: flawed
oxidized
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5/8/2010 - pakabear wrote: flawed
Corked...
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5/8/2010 - ews3 wrote: flawed
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 3rd Annual; 5/7/2010-5/8/2010 (Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC): Others thought this was still hanging on, I thought it was far enough gone that it's not worth giving it a score. Oxidized significantly more than the Boot. Hopefully a storage or other issue, as I would hate to see the Boot end up here in two years...
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8/23/2009 - jc-mmb wrote: flawed
aghhhh, the tragedy
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3/28/2009 - ews3 wrote: 89 Points
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 2nd Annual (Le Paradou, Washington DC): my second least favorite of the whites, i found this didn't quite have the complexity and acidity of the others, leaving it a little flabby.
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10/6/2008 - Terkel wrote:
BYO Californian (Le Sommelier): Amber color. Orange peel, sherry and similar oxidized and sweet impressions on the nose. Similar taste were the oxidized notes dominate and the fruit seem to be gone or lacking. I presume this wine has seen better days, otherwise it was in a closed and dumb phase were air over the next hour or so did not seem to improve on the wine.
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7/26/2008 - thenapalist wrote: 88 Points
Still has some liffe left in it but not of the same quality as SQN's other whites. The color is dark golden. The fruit has faded a bit and the oak seems to be dominating. A bit too acidic. Not bad but not great. Tasting now like an SV Kistler with age.
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6/26/2008 - pakabear wrote: 90 Points
Sine Qua Non Extravaganza (RJ's): I can really taste the Roussanne even though there is more Chardonnay, great tropical fruit with butterscotch and vanilla. There is a lot of power here but is well refined at this stage. Compared to some of their other whites however it does not shine.
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3/30/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: flawed
blue-chip boredom (Compass): DOA. Smells and tastes like a premoxed white Burg.
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11/21/2007 - Peech Likes this wine:
This needed some time to warm up before the nose really developed in the glass. The nose was pretty buttery and nice, and typically Viognier.
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4/7/2007 - Eric wrote:
Dumbfounded by Dominus (Kirkland, WA): A faint nose, slightly oxidative. Palate is better, big and oil with nuts intermingled with lemony acidity.
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3/8/2007 - docsdoc wrote: 91 Points
Very nice.
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10/28/2006 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Sine Qua Non "Postcard" Dinner (Chez Hill - Barrington IL): Tired.
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10/28/2006 - Nanda wrote:
Chicago SQN Postcard Offline (Mel Hill's home - Barrington, IL): This one seems tired and on the down slope. The nose has musty and waxy fruits. In the mouth the fruit lacks vibrancy allowing the oak flavors to over-assert themselves. The fruit is very pure suggesting this wine was likely once something great.
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7/10/2004 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
High pitched aromatics with notes of lemon, lime, petrol and apples. Dense, full bodied. On the palate, sweet, lemony, lime flavors with a spicy quality. Slightly hot finish. This was not a wine I enjoyed. For me, it was too over the top. It had too much of everything. It reminded me a bit of Turley’s White Coat. As a reference point, I liked the Albino much more.
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2/9/2003 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
Seattle Tasting Group does Syrah & Shiraz (Seattle, WA, USA): This was easily the white of the night. Straw colored in the glass, toasty hazelnut and am almost burned nose of buttered toast (most folks kept a glass around and the hazelnut/filbert element gained strength with the evening). On the palate this was silky with a voluptuous mouthfeel and a nice finish that ‘leapt’ in my mouth.
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7/23/2002 - dbg wrote:
excellent-outstanding
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5/9/2002 - dbg wrote:
excellent
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5/19/2001 - dbg wrote:
very good-excellent, rich, oily, nice acidic backbone
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