Dark yellow/golden in appearance On the nose it has a perfumed floral note and touch of sweetness. (reminiscent of a white rhone varietal)
Rich and deep on the palate, spicy, intense. oiliness. Full-bodied. Touch of heat on the finish.
Bit of time, and warming up, starting to get a broader more unctuous character on the palate. Burnt caramel on the end/finish. Like the burnt sugar on a crème brûlée.
An intellectual experience. Not my preferred style, but unique. Strange to think this is even Chardonnay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a storied release in minute quantities and a first all chard from SQN. Thoroughly beguiling, it starts in the glass with soft crushed white flowers, delicate stone, light toast with fresh butter drippings. It also gave off a distinct hint of rousanne, sweet and gamey, but the label says it’s a mono. Over time, this does fade away, and it returns on nose to its chard profile, giving off stronger flavours of honeysuckle, spring flowers, some granite.
On the palette it’s not as big as other SQN whites, which many quarters will welcome. It continues honey, white rose, almonds and toast, but with almost gossamer lightness, fragility. It has real lift, belying the high alcohol in the wine. Acidity is super super fresh and zesty, leaning it towards a spectrum of lemon, lemon peel notes too.
Alongside Twisted and Bent, this is a baby, but approachable for those who enjoy full throttled high octane vitality. The all chard composition in comparison to its sibling gave it more elegance and refinement.
Over the course of the evening, it remained in this sweet spot of freshness and bright lively notes. Probably, with much aging, it will develop a profile of secondary flavours which will stun us - but this remains its secret for now, to be rewarded with much, much patience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was poured with minimal decanting at a local restaurant. The wine was clear and deep gold in colour. As this was my first bottle of Pearl Clutcher, I don't have any base for comparison. Although I know it is 100% chardonnay, it had some flavours of some rousanne in the blend. That being said, this was a very smooth wine with a nose of butter as well as some orangey citrus and some apple notes. These were also the flavours of the wine in the glass. I really enjoyed this rare treat.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual Chicago winos visit - Pearl Clutcher, coche, drc, rousseau, D'Yquem and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): This is a big scale Chardonnay. As a matter of fact, it is so big that I would not recognize this as a Chardonnay if tasted blind, more like a top Chapoutier hermitage blanc cuvee. Expressive nose displaying white peach, bubble yum, a hint of lemon curd, scented soap and raw Vidalia onion. Unbelievable concentration, oily texture and very noticeable alcohol at the end. I believe most folks like this a lot more than Burgundy Al and me.
Wine Dinner Extravaganza (Rosewood Hotel Dining Room - Washington DC): I certainly liked this wine, but not nearly as much as others did tonight, or even as much as I wanted to like it. What I liked: Rich and unctuous with a buttered popcorn character I found slightly reminiscent of good Corton-Charlemagne. Very impressive concentration at the start. What I didn't like: Is this really Chardonnay? Some thought it more like Riesling, I thought it had some northern Rhone character. Moderate+ length with faint signs of heat on finish. Probably my favorite SQN white ever, and easily worth the release price, but not worth a fraction of its current aftermarket price.
I really liked this wine and now see what all the fuss is about. However, it was quite unusal. Popped and poured at about 50 degrees. The right temp for this wine in my opinion. Except for oily almond aromas this was fairly shy on the nose with a little bit of sweet peach peaking through. The palate, on the flip side was packed with a very pleasing and rich dense dominating waxy quality that showed a flavor profile of butter pecan, popcorn, and citrus oil. My guess largely from the oak treatment. Finished big and long with a distinct bitter lemon rind quality. A fascinating, highly enjoyable wine that comes across more like a semillion meets rousanne much more so then a classic Chardonnay. In fact, I highly doubt anyone would have guessed Chardonnay as the fruit profile was well hidden. I rated it 95 points and was not sure if it had the stuffing for old bones as this was a soft round wine with a low fruit profile, but what a great treat to try a few glasses. So curious now on the Petite Sirah, may have to open mine soon.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
SQN White Birthday Weekend tasting in Vegas (Private Residence - Las Vegas, NV): This was my contribution to Duncan Bastin's SQN weekend of whites & reds. This was my second time ever enjoying this 100% chardonnay from Manfred Krankl of SQN with the same group of SQN enthusiasts and dear friends. While ideally this SQN would have many more years of cellaring , it is just too over the top delicious (it's uber hedonistic) to resist drinking this gorgeous white wine. Scarcity (800 bottles?) and crazy auction prices aside, the joy of drinking this SQN white with dear friends made it all worth it. I was blown away by the overall balance of this wine. The nose after over an hour plus decant was full of Aubert-like aromas - ripe apple orchards, grilled peaches, fresh lemons, with just a small hint of "bread notes". It was tantalizing to enjoy the aroma before imbibing. Upon first sip, I got very deep, full bodied, round mouthfuls of fruit ... unctuous in the glass. The texture of the wine clearly hints at it's aging potential and I observed the bold, sexy "wine legs" you expect out of an age-worthy white. I love the finish on the Pearl Clutcher - it just sings on and on. This is a massive Chardonnay that will be in prime drinking spot in 2018-2020, but I still love it now! As I shared when tasting "Pearl Clutcher sings in the glass like an island full of Sirens!" It was a pleasure to share this wine with friends.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
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): This has been open for a day and stored overnight in the fridge when I got to it. I suspect it was better on day 2 but I don't know for sure. It is a great Chard. The nose has lemons, caramel and toast and a really interesting pine note that was enjoyable if different. Full bodied. I found a significant amount of oak, but at least on day 2, there is enough other stuff to support it. Seemed to me to be the best side of classic Cal Chard. it reminds me somewhat of The Judge. Not sure if I will ever get to try this again, so it was a real treat!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a thrill to taste this beauty! The nose delivers honey, fresh citrus rind and floral characteristics with a hint of vanilla. Intensely concentrated, yet perfectly balanced. Unctuous, with that unique oily texture, the wine is fresh, vibrant and packed with layers of sweet, perfectly ripe citrus fruits and the right amount of lift. There is no sensation of heat in the 15.3% lingering finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/31/2024 - TheUsualSuspects wrote: 91 Points
Dark yellow/golden in appearance
On the nose it has a perfumed floral note and touch of sweetness. (reminiscent of a white rhone varietal)
Rich and deep on the palate, spicy, intense. oiliness. Full-bodied. Touch of heat on the finish.
Bit of time, and warming up, starting to get a broader more unctuous character on the palate. Burnt caramel on the end/finish. Like the burnt sugar on a crème brûlée.
An intellectual experience. Not my preferred style, but unique. Strange to think this is even Chardonnay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2017 - bengti Likes this wine: 94 Points
SQN Big Guns Night, Beefbar HK. SQN In Extremis.
This is a storied release in minute quantities and a first all chard from SQN. Thoroughly beguiling, it starts in the glass with soft crushed white flowers, delicate stone, light toast with fresh butter drippings. It also gave off a distinct hint of rousanne, sweet and gamey, but the label says it’s a mono. Over time, this does fade away, and it returns on nose to its chard profile, giving off stronger flavours of honeysuckle, spring flowers, some granite.
On the palette it’s not as big as other SQN whites, which many quarters will welcome. It continues honey, white rose, almonds and toast, but with almost gossamer lightness, fragility. It has real lift, belying the high alcohol in the wine. Acidity is super super fresh and zesty, leaning it towards a spectrum of lemon, lemon peel notes too.
Alongside Twisted and Bent, this is a baby, but approachable for those who enjoy full throttled high octane vitality. The all chard composition in comparison to its sibling gave it more elegance and refinement.
Over the course of the evening, it remained in this sweet spot of freshness and bright lively notes. Probably, with much aging, it will develop a profile of secondary flavours which will stun us - but this remains its secret for now, to be rewarded with much, much patience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2017 - Rosengoo wrote: 95 Points
This bottle was poured with minimal decanting at a local restaurant. The wine was clear and deep gold in colour. As this was my first bottle of Pearl Clutcher, I don't have any base for comparison. Although I know it is 100% chardonnay, it had some flavours of some rousanne in the blend. That being said, this was a very smooth wine with a nose of butter as well as some orangey citrus and some apple notes. These were also the flavours of the wine in the glass. I really enjoyed this rare treat.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2017 - hdgroot Likes this wine: 98 Points
very impressive and extraordinary
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2016 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
Annual Chicago winos visit - Pearl Clutcher, coche, drc, rousseau, D'Yquem and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): This is a big scale Chardonnay. As a matter of fact, it is so big that I would not recognize this as a Chardonnay if tasted blind, more like a top Chapoutier hermitage blanc cuvee. Expressive nose displaying white peach, bubble yum, a hint of lemon curd, scented soap and raw Vidalia onion. Unbelievable concentration, oily texture and very noticeable alcohol at the end. I believe most folks like this a lot more than Burgundy Al and me.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/30/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Wine Dinner Extravaganza (Rosewood Hotel Dining Room - Washington DC): I certainly liked this wine, but not nearly as much as others did tonight, or even as much as I wanted to like it. What I liked: Rich and unctuous with a buttered popcorn character I found slightly reminiscent of good Corton-Charlemagne. Very impressive concentration at the start. What I didn't like: Is this really Chardonnay? Some thought it more like Riesling, I thought it had some northern Rhone character. Moderate+ length with faint signs of heat on finish. Probably my favorite SQN white ever, and easily worth the release price, but not worth a fraction of its current aftermarket price.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/10/2016 - KenK Likes this wine: 95 Points
I really liked this wine and now see what all the fuss is about. However, it was quite unusal. Popped and poured at about 50 degrees. The right temp for this wine in my opinion. Except for oily almond aromas this was fairly shy on the nose with a little bit of sweet peach peaking through. The palate, on the flip side was packed with a very pleasing and rich dense dominating waxy quality that showed a flavor profile of butter pecan, popcorn, and citrus oil. My guess largely from the oak treatment. Finished big and long with a distinct bitter lemon rind quality. A fascinating, highly enjoyable wine that comes across more like a semillion meets rousanne much more so then a classic Chardonnay. In fact, I highly doubt anyone would have guessed Chardonnay as the fruit profile was well hidden. I rated it 95 points and was not sure if it had the stuffing for old bones as this was a soft round wine with a low fruit profile, but what a great treat to try a few glasses. So curious now on the Petite Sirah, may have to open mine soon.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2016 - charleshetzel Likes this wine: 100 Points
SQN White Birthday Weekend tasting in Vegas (Private Residence - Las Vegas, NV): This was my contribution to Duncan Bastin's SQN weekend of whites & reds. This was my second time ever enjoying this 100% chardonnay from Manfred Krankl of SQN with the same group of SQN enthusiasts and dear friends. While ideally this SQN would have many more years of cellaring , it is just too over the top delicious (it's uber hedonistic) to resist drinking this gorgeous white wine. Scarcity (800 bottles?) and crazy auction prices aside, the joy of drinking this SQN white with dear friends made it all worth it. I was blown away by the overall balance of this wine. The nose after over an hour plus decant was full of Aubert-like aromas - ripe apple orchards, grilled peaches, fresh lemons, with just a small hint of "bread notes". It was tantalizing to enjoy the aroma before imbibing. Upon first sip, I got very deep, full bodied, round mouthfuls of fruit ... unctuous in the glass. The texture of the wine clearly hints at it's aging potential and I observed the bold, sexy "wine legs" you expect out of an age-worthy white. I love the finish on the Pearl Clutcher - it just sings on and on. This is a massive Chardonnay that will be in prime drinking spot in 2018-2020, but I still love it now! As I shared when tasting "Pearl Clutcher sings in the glass like an island full of Sirens!" It was a pleasure to share this wine with friends.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2014 - Pearls_b4Swine wrote: 97 Points
Fantastic. If this is how E&M do chards, I'm in. Agree down the line with Jeff's comments below.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 96 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): This has been open for a day and stored overnight in the fridge when I got to it. I suspect it was better on day 2 but I don't know for sure. It is a great Chard. The nose has lemons, caramel and toast and a really interesting pine note that was enjoyable if different. Full bodied. I found a significant amount of oak, but at least on day 2, there is enough other stuff to support it. Seemed to me to be the best side of classic Cal Chard. it reminds me somewhat of The Judge. Not sure if I will ever get to try this again, so it was a real treat!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
What a thrill to taste this beauty! The nose delivers honey, fresh citrus rind and floral characteristics with a hint of vanilla. Intensely concentrated, yet perfectly balanced. Unctuous, with that unique oily texture, the wine is fresh, vibrant and packed with layers of sweet, perfectly ripe citrus fruits and the right amount of lift. There is no sensation of heat in the 15.3% lingering finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment