Had this (blinded) side-by-side the '07 Janasse VV (which I brought as a ringer). Haha, fate had it that the friend who brought the SQN actually mistook it for its Syrah counterpart and brought the Grenache bottling instead. What a nice contrast (actually I thought they had more similarities) between the Old-World vs. this New-World. Must say that the SQN showed better with immaculate wine-making. Both high-octane wines, the SQN had no "stewed notes" whereas the Janasse VV had. However, I thought the Janasse had more freshness/lift. Anyway, this was about "packaging" ripe/concentrated fruits, liqueur, meat in the most balanced/velvety texture possible. Nice!
5 hour S/O in cellar, drank over 2 days. Concentrated yet very balanced, red fruits, candied cherries, rose petals, forest floor; initial grippy tannins softened an hour after first pour. 45 second velvety finish.
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My note from 5 years ago unfortunately still applies. It is seemingly still closed and hardly budged over several hours. It remains a world class wine but my feeling is that it is still holding back its best. Keep at least another 5 years imho, if you still have some
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Decanted briefly. Bold and intense black cherry and copious herbs on the full palate, relaxing into a long finish that becomes garrigue. Still excellent but I preferred it younger and I don't know if it will improve from here.
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Decanted for two hours and enjoyed over the next four hours. It got better as the night progressed. I would let this one sit a little longer as it still showed a lot of tannin even after 6 hours from open.
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Originally slow ox'd 4+ hours and decanted over nother 4-6. Did not float my boat. Seemed tight and tannic.....and not ready for prime time. I questioned Jen as to whether or not we 'missed' it's best window somehow?
She bottled me 4 oz in a tightly sealed glass bottle with no air space and placed it in the fridge til tonight when it was removed and promptly dumped into my glass. I let it warm slightly in the glass and right from the start it was an immense improvement over last nights wine. A slight 'green-grapey' component on the nose and palate with smoky dark red silky smooth and medium weighted fruit. Today it had the creamy palate experience of the other SQN grenache vintages from yesterday. Alc seemed still to be slightly elevated on the nose and in the mouth but with fruit this strong it was shoved to the back of the bus. With more time came sweet strawberry rhubarb pie to the front side. This is so much better the 2nd day! Jen, looks like the "DQ" was right after all........
Wineapolooza in Atlanta; 5/21/2021-5/23/2021 (My house): Like the 2013, this one needed a long decant. It stayed closed up for over 24 hours but drank beautifully the next day. I will hold my other bottles for a looonnnngg time
Four hour slow ox, followed by a six hour decant. Deep dark garnet ruby color. Dark chocolate and cherry Ludens on the nose. Dry, velvety, full bodied palate, with great, lingering acidity. Full tannins on the long finish.
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My first time with a Sine Qua Non. Huge ripe plum, ripe blackberries, and black cherries. Palate is similar - very ripe plums, very ripe black cherries, a bit of alcohol and chocolate. Big, viscous palate. Finishes with very ripe fruit, chocolate, and bark. No overt heat on the finish. Well made but just too big and ripe for me. Just not my thing.
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Consumed over two nights without notes... in part because it was just so joyful and warm that I couldn’t fathom turning on the left brain. My first experience with SQN in the chunky bottles (estate) and I won’t let it be the last. From opening, my sense was that this was at a very generous spot in its maturity, giving from the first sip. Have to be careful b/c of the near-16 alc, which is well-integrated/balanced with the fruit. A gregarious wine that doesn’t make you think too hard, but has depth of its own.
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Did not perform up to expectations even after a three hour decant. Beautiful nose and front section but muted in the middle and finish. Still nice red fruit, dried herbs, earth and mineral. Very mellow showing. Hold another few years.
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My first bottle of this. 77% Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier from the Eleven Confessions vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills.. Decanted 9 hours before drinking. From a supposedly weaker vintage but this shined. Deep purple black color. This was more open than I expected and for a SQN rather feminine in style. Aromas of burnt oak and forest floor. The tannins were not overpowering. On the palate there was kirsch, blackberries and tar. Full bodied with a long soft finish. 96 points
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Spicy berries attack the nose promising a good time to come. First sip, She's got balance, burst of rich flavors with traces of violets and dark berry smeared leather. No heat, cool as spring water on the palate. easy 99pts
Sleeping. Deeply. Decanted for about 4 hours, should have done much more. As expected, deep, dark, dense fruit. Lots of presence, just not saying anything at the moment. Will wait many years for the next.
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Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar donkerrood met een dunne rand zonder zichtbare verkleuring. Aroma / bouquet: Direct na opening lijkt deze wijn - zeker voor een SQN - een beetje gesloten. De volgende dag geeft deze EBA (Extended Barrel Aged, dus 33 maanden in nieuw Frans eiken, Grenache met 22% Syrah en 1% Viognier) zich beter prijs. In dit stadium nog een beperkte complexitit en vooral aroma's van donker fruit en donkere chocola en accenten van kruiden en leer. Smaak / Afdronk: Direct na opening presenteert deze SQN Grenache zich in de neus wat gesloten. In de mond is deze wijn indrukwekkend. Enerzijds zacht, vriendelijk en aangenaam, zacht frisse zuren, boterzachte tannnines met een bovengemiddeld lange afdronk. Maar direct na opening nog niet groots. De volgende morgen aanmerkelijk gelaagder en complexer. Donker fruit, aangename en licht-droppige tannines. Mondvullende en sappige wijn. Lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Indrukwekkende SQN met een lange toekomst voor zich. Mooi, maar in dit stadium van ontwikkeling nog nèt niet de SQN-wijn die me 'van mijn sokken blaast'. Mijn gevoel: pas openen na 2022 / 2023. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100"
Google Translate:
Color: Deeply impenetrable dark red with a thin edge with no visible discoloration. Aroma / bouquet: Immediately after opening, this wine appears to be a bit closed, certainly for an SQN. The following day this EBA (Extended Barrel Aged, 33 months in new French oak, Grenache with 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier) shows itself better, at this stage still a limited complexity and especially aromas of dark fruit and dark chocolate and accents of spices and leather. Taste / Aftertaste: Immediately after opening, this SQN Grenache presents itself somewhat closed in the nose, in the mouth this wine is impressive, on the one hand soft, friendly and pleasant, soft fresh acids, buttery tannnines with an above-average aftertaste, but not immediately after opening The next morning considerably more layered and complex. Dark fruit, pleasant and slightly-drunk tannins. Mouth-filling and juicy wine. Long finish. General / potential: Impressive SQN with a long future ahead. Nice, but not yet at this stage of development the SQN wine that 'blows me off my socks'. My feeling: only open after 2022 / 2023. 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Taste / Aftertaste: 17 + General / potential: 8 = 91/100
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Slow ox for 8 hours. Still developed throughout the night as the last glass was the best. Silky and sexy, this beauty still has a nice life ahead of it.
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This was drank with a 8 course tasting after opening for 7 hours. It was my first bottle of Patine and it did not disappoint. The wine was clear and deep red in colour. Originally there was a bit of a funk to the nose but that went away over 2 hours to reveal a bouquet of dark berries some chocolate. These same tastes were in the glass along with some cherries and the wine did have a slight spiciness to it. What surprised me was how balanced the tannins and acidity were. For a wine that is still quite young, this was the most approachable youthful SQN wine that I have ever recalled.
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77% Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier...this is more tame, feminine style sqn than I'm use to...and I dig it! No ooze monster fruit here...although still a full bodied type, it's more subtle, bright and pretty with layers of cake spice, red licorice, cherry cordials, strawberry shortcake...smooth and somewhat elegant tannins...it does darken up with kirsch liqueur, smoked herbs, graphite powder, dusting of white pepper. But everything is throttled back...well balanced and integrated...more savory and nuanced...sexy red headed woman! A style I'd like to see more often in their wines.
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Decanted for 4 hours. Pepper, meat, earth are dominant first impressions. Kept evolving in glass. This had a different flavor profile from the first sip vs. the last sip two hours later. Consistent pepper notes throughout, but also had dark red/black fruit, leather, rubber, some bramble, earth. The evolution and combination of flavors in the glass is what makes this interesting. Looking forward to seeing how it evolves over the next few years.
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Drank from a magnum. Opened in bottle for a few hours and finished in a decanter for a few more. The palate was on full display from the start with only a few sharp alcoholic edges persisting throughout the night. Medium plus body of both baked and syrupy red fruit. A intense combination of vanilla, kirsch, anise, dried herbs, milk chocolate... Heavy hitting but definitely has a purity and airiness to it. Reminded me of a Saxum James Berry. Needs 2-3 more years.
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The unreal mid-palate depth played well with the athletic drive that catapulted the flavors, finishing with a notable intensity that carried the finish on for over a minute; this is a wine that lingers on your palate memory forever. Even still, I feel there’s more to come with this wine. Obviously drinking great now, but perhaps an even more optimal drinking window to be had after 2020. 97-98+ points, with upside in a year or two.
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Decanted over cocktails and served. Nose of polished garrigue, then after some time a stunningly sexy musk developed, then on to a lush, soft garrigue. On the palate stunningly layered, mouth-filling black and blue fruit with touches of Christmas spice. Finish longer than a minute with tongue-coating dried fruit, hints of chocolate and coffee, and some acacia on the end. Amazing wine.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Aromas of raspberry garnacha, boysenberry, bacon fat and white pepper. Flavors of raspberry garnacha, pepper, boysenberry, dark cherry and a touch of iron. Ends with a huge 45 second finish with raspberry chocolate notes. Even from what some would consider a lesser vintage, Sine Qua Non still remains strong. Always an event drinking on of these. Might not always be the best wine on the table but you always know it will be interesting.
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2011 Sine Qua Non "Patine - Eleven Confessions Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Grenache 97 points WA / 97 Vinous
Bought upon release. 750ml. Decanted 5 hours+ This wine comes from SQN’s Eleven Confessions vineyard site in Santa Rita Hills. A Grenache with 77% of Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier. The Patine was aged for 2 years, 9 months in oak barrels. Color of dark blackberry. Nose of white pepper, deep blackberry and a herbaceous full body aroma. I love how concentrated the initial fruit is and its very well integrated, round mouth fill. The finish on this wine is gorgeous and feminine like most of Manfred’s Grenaches. I still cannot get over the fruit on this – wonder if that’s the whole clusters showing through? I would give this another 10-15 years and please remember to decant at cellar temperatures for about 4-5 hours and you’ll be very happy. (March 31, 2018) 96 points
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Misc US Rhone wines (Palaegade): Lots of potential and intensity but overall it didn't impress as much as expected. A decent wine but it should deliver at a higher level!
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Opened in the bottle for a few hours. Still very primal and dominated by slightly harsh red fruit and white peppercorns. Glycerin, menthol, dark chocolate, baking spices, and black currant start to really emerge with time. Needs 5 more years cellaring.
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Opened and poured into decanter. This was not giving anything, which I initially wrote off as it just needed more time in the decanter. However, I ultimately detected a slight bit of cork taint. A heartbreaker.
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Smoked meats, rhubarb, strawberry, black raspberry, anise, sweet spices, good extraction with impeccable balance. The finish has a very nice and unexpected chocolate milk component. Drinks well now, will improve for 3-5 years.
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This was so closed! I decanted it for several hours and it didn't do a whole lot. Of course, it is a great wine but naturally I hoped for more. It is rather syrah-like - smoke, roast, pine, cloves - with additional candied raspberry and blackberry notes from the Grenache. It didn't have as much lift, energy and freshness as I had hoped, given that it is from a cooler vintage. Keep it tucked away for quite some time still. 94+
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Really nice wine once it opened up - which was only into the second glass, quite unexpected. I tasted this third, with the 1985 Mouton first, followed by the 2001 Araujo Eisele - it seems that was the perfect serving order, this being, not surprisingly, the big boy of that flight. And while I didn't really care for the first glass - some sweet torrefaction was/is a pretty big turn off for me - by the second glass this had really whipped into shape, offering precision, detail and very good purity. IIRC, this saw extended time on oak, yet there's really no sign of it; it's a balanced wine with a good future ahead of it. Not in the epic category for me, but very good > excellent, to be sure. recommended
PnP, served non-blind; suggest an hour of aeration prior to service.
6th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid (Naperville, IL): Part of Christmas Dinner and Cellar Raid, didn't take detailed notes. My first EBA SQN and I was expecting a little more. Don't get me wrong, this was amazing but when drinking up against other top wines this fell a little short. Will see how it evolves as I will give my other one s few more years
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I know it is too soon to appreciate but could not resist checking on this. Unwrapping the tissue revealed an interesting shaped bottle Nose: a gentle but gorgeous aroma hints at possible greatness Eye: syrah-like purple hue but not inky but not as red as a more typical grenach Palate is starts very smooth almost raspberry but not yet that coherent. No heat or sourness from alcohol and a vague medium finish
I do not doubt the top ratings but tonight is too soon for it to unfurl all of its beauties
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4/20/2024 - etyc Likes this wine:
Had this (blinded) side-by-side the '07 Janasse VV (which I brought as a ringer). Haha, fate had it that the friend who brought the SQN actually mistook it for its Syrah counterpart and brought the Grenache bottling instead. What a nice contrast (actually I thought they had more similarities) between the Old-World vs. this New-World. Must say that the SQN showed better with immaculate wine-making. Both high-octane wines, the SQN had no "stewed notes" whereas the Janasse VV had. However, I thought the Janasse had more freshness/lift. Anyway, this was about "packaging" ripe/concentrated fruits, liqueur, meat in the most balanced/velvety texture possible. Nice!
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12/2/2023 - RockinCabs wrote: 93 Points
California Wine Weekend; 12/1/2023-12/3/2023 (Mos Eisley Cantina & Waterhouse Restaurant): Patine has the most elegant approach, and I think the cool weather helped it a lot. Blackberry, licorice candies, sliced bell pepper, rose petal, charcuterie and gravely stone notes.
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11/24/2023 - VoteferPedro wrote:
ti---i--ight!
still not ready
oh well, one more left
need to bury it and forget it
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7/27/2023 - BerkeleyBoy wrote: 89 Points
Nothing special for $238 auction.
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4/21/2023 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 97 Points
5 hour S/O in cellar, drank over 2 days.
Concentrated yet very balanced, red fruits, candied cherries, rose petals, forest floor; initial grippy tannins softened an hour after first pour. 45 second velvety finish.
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7/13/2022 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 95 Points
My note from 5 years ago unfortunately still applies. It is seemingly still closed and hardly budged over several hours. It remains a world class wine but my feeling is that it is still holding back its best. Keep at least another 5 years imho, if you still have some
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4/30/2022 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted briefly. Bold and intense black cherry and copious herbs on the full palate, relaxing into a long finish that becomes garrigue. Still excellent but I preferred it younger and I don't know if it will improve from here.
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11/19/2021 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 97 Points
Kleur: Diep robijnrood. Aroma / bouquet: Verleidelijk bouquet. Donker fruit. Chocola, kersen. Smaak / Afdronk: Dik. Mondvullend. Royale vulling. Bittere chocola, kersenbonbons. Algemeen / potentieel: Slapende reus.... Gesloten… Maar met een ongekend potentieel. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 14 + Smaak / Afdronk: 19 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 97/100
Colour: Deep ruby red. Aroma / bouquet: Seductive bouquet. Dark fruits. Chocolate, cherries. Taste / Aftertaste: Thick. Mouth filling. Generous filling. Bitter chocolate, cherry bonbons. General / potential: Sleeping giant.... Closed... But with unparalleled potential. 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / Bouquet: 14 + Taste / Aftertaste: 19 + General / Potential: 9 = 97/100
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11/1/2021 - Troon wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours and enjoyed over the next four hours. It got better as the night progressed. I would let this one sit a little longer as it still showed a lot of tannin even after 6 hours from open.
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5/23/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Originally slow ox'd 4+ hours and decanted over nother 4-6. Did not float my boat. Seemed tight and tannic.....and not ready for prime time. I questioned Jen as to whether or not we 'missed' it's best window somehow?
She bottled me 4 oz in a tightly sealed glass bottle with no air space and placed it in the fridge til tonight when it was removed and promptly dumped into my glass. I let it warm slightly in the glass and right from the start it was an immense improvement over last nights wine. A slight 'green-grapey' component on the nose and palate with smoky dark red silky smooth and medium weighted fruit. Today it had the creamy palate experience of the other SQN grenache vintages from yesterday. Alc seemed still to be slightly elevated on the nose and in the mouth but with fruit this strong it was shoved to the back of the bus. With more time came sweet strawberry rhubarb pie to the front side. This is so much better the 2nd day! Jen, looks like the "DQ" was right after all........
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5/22/2021 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wineapolooza in Atlanta; 5/21/2021-5/23/2021 (My house): Like the 2013, this one needed a long decant. It stayed closed up for over 24 hours but drank beautifully the next day. I will hold my other bottles for a looonnnngg time
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5/22/2021 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Four hour slow ox, followed by a six hour decant. Deep dark garnet ruby color. Dark chocolate and cherry Ludens on the nose. Dry, velvety, full bodied palate, with great, lingering acidity. Full tannins on the long finish.
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2/27/2021 - James Kim wrote: 83 Points
My first time with a Sine Qua Non. Huge ripe plum, ripe blackberries, and black cherries. Palate is similar - very ripe plums, very ripe black cherries, a bit of alcohol and chocolate. Big, viscous palate. Finishes with very ripe fruit, chocolate, and bark. No overt heat on the finish. Well made but just too big and ripe for me. Just not my thing.
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1/25/2021 - Acohen Likes this wine: 97 Points
Dark rich and mysterious with dark fruit, bacon, spice and continually evolved over the evening. Demanded attention and was worth it
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12/20/2020 - Jahull03 wrote:
Consumed over two nights without notes... in part because it was just so joyful and warm that I couldn’t fathom turning on the left brain. My first experience with SQN in the chunky bottles (estate) and I won’t let it be the last.
From opening, my sense was that this was at a very generous spot in its maturity, giving from the first sip. Have to be careful b/c of the near-16 alc, which is well-integrated/balanced with the fruit. A gregarious wine that doesn’t make you think too hard, but has depth of its own.
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8/23/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Did not perform up to expectations even after a three hour decant. Beautiful nose and front section but muted in the middle and finish. Still nice red fruit, dried herbs, earth and mineral. Very mellow showing. Hold another few years.
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8/21/2020 - Vino Me wrote: 96 Points
My first bottle of this. 77% Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier from the Eleven Confessions vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills.. Decanted 9 hours before drinking. From a supposedly weaker vintage but this shined. Deep purple black color. This was more open than I expected and for a SQN rather feminine in style. Aromas of burnt oak and forest floor. The tannins were not overpowering. On the palate there was kirsch, blackberries and tar. Full bodied with a long soft finish. 96 points
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8/8/2020 - shadow wrote: 99 Points
Spicy berries attack the nose promising a good time to come.
First sip, She's got balance, burst of rich flavors with traces of violets and dark berry smeared leather.
No heat, cool as spring water on the palate.
easy 99pts
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11/29/2019 - cadamson Likes this wine:
Sleeping. Deeply. Decanted for about 4 hours, should have done much more. As expected, deep, dark, dense fruit. Lots of presence, just not saying anything at the moment. Will wait many years for the next.
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9/29/2019 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 91 Points
Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar donkerrood met een dunne rand zonder zichtbare verkleuring. Aroma / bouquet: Direct na opening lijkt deze wijn - zeker voor een SQN - een beetje gesloten. De volgende dag geeft deze EBA (Extended Barrel Aged, dus 33 maanden in nieuw Frans eiken, Grenache met 22% Syrah en 1% Viognier) zich beter prijs. In dit stadium nog een beperkte complexitit en vooral aroma's van donker fruit en donkere chocola en accenten van kruiden en leer. Smaak / Afdronk: Direct na opening presenteert deze SQN Grenache zich in de neus wat gesloten. In de mond is deze wijn indrukwekkend. Enerzijds zacht, vriendelijk en aangenaam, zacht frisse zuren, boterzachte tannnines met een bovengemiddeld lange afdronk. Maar direct na opening nog niet groots.
De volgende morgen aanmerkelijk gelaagder en complexer. Donker fruit, aangename en licht-droppige tannines. Mondvullende en sappige wijn. Lange afdronk.
Algemeen / potentieel: Indrukwekkende SQN met een lange toekomst voor zich. Mooi, maar in dit stadium van ontwikkeling nog nèt niet de SQN-wijn die me 'van mijn sokken blaast'. Mijn gevoel: pas openen na 2022 / 2023. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100"
Google Translate:
Color: Deeply impenetrable dark red with a thin edge with no visible discoloration. Aroma / bouquet: Immediately after opening, this wine appears to be a bit closed, certainly for an SQN. The following day this EBA (Extended Barrel Aged, 33 months in new French oak, Grenache with 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier) shows itself better, at this stage still a limited complexity and especially aromas of dark fruit and dark chocolate and accents of spices and leather. Taste / Aftertaste: Immediately after opening, this SQN Grenache presents itself somewhat closed in the nose, in the mouth this wine is impressive, on the one hand soft, friendly and pleasant, soft fresh acids, buttery tannnines with an above-average aftertaste, but not immediately after opening
The next morning considerably more layered and complex. Dark fruit, pleasant and slightly-drunk tannins. Mouth-filling and juicy wine. Long finish.
General / potential: Impressive SQN with a long future ahead. Nice, but not yet at this stage of development the SQN wine that 'blows me off my socks'. My feeling: only open after 2022 / 2023. 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Taste / Aftertaste: 17 + General / potential: 8 = 91/100
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6/23/2019 - Acohen Likes this wine: 96 Points
Intense rich fruit with raspberry, blueberry, some bacon and great rich finsih
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3/3/2019 - wcooper Likes this wine: 96 Points
Slow ox for 8 hours. Still developed throughout the night as the last glass was the best. Silky and sexy, this beauty still has a nice life ahead of it.
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2/16/2019 - Rosengoo wrote: 95 Points
This was drank with a 8 course tasting after opening for 7 hours. It was my first bottle of Patine and it did not disappoint. The wine was clear and deep red in colour. Originally there was a bit of a funk to the nose but that went away over 2 hours to reveal a bouquet of dark berries some chocolate. These same tastes were in the glass along with some cherries and the wine did have a slight spiciness to it. What surprised me was how balanced the tannins and acidity were. For a wine that is still quite young, this was the most approachable youthful SQN wine that I have ever recalled.
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1/19/2019 - travelme Likes this wine: 97 Points
HPRPHF nailed the notes. Terrific bottle shared with a wonderful group of friends. Thanks Ron! Wish I was on the list. Still waiting.
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11/17/2018 - hprphf wrote: 97 Points
Acker 2018/11 (Marea): Strawberry, liquor, earth, pepper, meat, baking spices. Fruity, full-bodied with exceptional balance and weight. 97
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11/11/2018 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 97 Points
77% Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier...this is more tame, feminine style sqn than I'm use to...and I dig it! No ooze monster fruit here...although still a full bodied type, it's more subtle, bright and pretty with layers of cake spice, red licorice, cherry cordials, strawberry shortcake...smooth and somewhat elegant tannins...it does darken up with kirsch liqueur, smoked herbs, graphite powder, dusting of white pepper. But everything is throttled back...well balanced and integrated...more savory and nuanced...sexy red headed woman! A style I'd like to see more often in their wines.
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10/15/2018 - andolini Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Pepper, meat, earth are dominant first impressions. Kept evolving in glass. This had a different flavor profile from the first sip vs. the last sip two hours later. Consistent pepper notes throughout, but also had dark red/black fruit, leather, rubber, some bramble, earth. The evolution and combination of flavors in the glass is what makes this interesting. Looking forward to seeing how it evolves over the next few years.
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9/29/2018 - pakabear Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great intensity as usual, ripe cherry, raspberry, rhubarb, saline minerality, silky mouthfeel, this is great stuff!
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9/16/2018 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 96 Points
Drank from a magnum. Opened in bottle for a few hours and finished in a decanter for a few more. The palate was on full display from the start with only a few sharp alcoholic edges persisting throughout the night. Medium plus body of both baked and syrupy red fruit. A intense combination of vanilla, kirsch, anise, dried herbs, milk chocolate... Heavy hitting but definitely has a purity and airiness to it. Reminded me of a Saxum James Berry. Needs 2-3 more years.
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8/4/2018 - csimm wrote: 98 Points
Sine Qua Non (SQN) Magnum Extravaganza + Bevan, Mike Smith, Sparkling/Champagne, and others (Calistoga): From magnum. After about 4-5 hours of decanted air, this wine blossomed into a massively concentrated beast, with sexy, deep kirsch, ripe raspberry, bruised strawberry, soft-warm leather, garrigue, and incense.
The unreal mid-palate depth played well with the athletic drive that catapulted the flavors, finishing with a notable intensity that carried the finish on for over a minute; this is a wine that lingers on your palate memory forever. Even still, I feel there’s more to come with this wine. Obviously drinking great now, but perhaps an even more optimal drinking window to be had after 2020. 97-98+ points, with upside in a year or two.
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7/17/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 99 Points
Decanted over cocktails and served. Nose of polished garrigue, then after some time a stunningly sexy musk developed, then on to a lush, soft garrigue. On the palate stunningly layered, mouth-filling black and blue fruit with touches of Christmas spice. Finish longer than a minute with tongue-coating dried fruit, hints of chocolate and coffee, and some acacia on the end. Amazing wine.
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7/7/2018 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Aromas of raspberry garnacha, boysenberry, bacon fat and white pepper. Flavors of raspberry garnacha, pepper, boysenberry, dark cherry and a touch of iron. Ends with a huge 45 second finish with raspberry chocolate notes. Even from what some would consider a lesser vintage, Sine Qua Non still remains strong. Always an event drinking on of these. Might not always be the best wine on the table but you always know it will be interesting.
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5/8/2018 - afvf wrote: 95 Points
An Explosion in the mouth. Fruit in such an Strom tast it is unique. One knows it is strong but the tast is tantalizing lite. Love it!
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4/1/2018 - charleshetzel Likes this wine: 96 Points
2011 Sine Qua Non "Patine - Eleven Confessions Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Grenache
97 points WA / 97 Vinous
Bought upon release. 750ml. Decanted 5 hours+ This wine comes from SQN’s Eleven Confessions vineyard site in Santa Rita Hills. A Grenache with 77% of Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier. The Patine was aged for 2 years, 9 months in oak barrels. Color of dark blackberry. Nose of white pepper, deep blackberry and a herbaceous full body aroma. I love how concentrated the initial fruit is and its very well integrated, round mouth fill. The finish on this wine is gorgeous and feminine like most of Manfred’s Grenaches. I still cannot get over the fruit on this – wonder if that’s the whole clusters showing through? I would give this another 10-15 years and please remember to decant at cellar temperatures for about 4-5 hours and you’ll be very happy. (March 31, 2018) 96 points
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11/30/2017 - bengti Likes this wine: 95 Points
HK Wine Society Tasting and Dinner JW Marriott HK
Rich intense cherry and red fruit nose; noticeably big finish to this wine compared to its siblings and cousins.
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10/22/2017 - canan wrote: 96 Points
Misc US Rhone wines (Palaegade): Lots of potential and intensity but overall it didn't impress as much as expected. A decent wine but it should deliver at a higher level!
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7/4/2017 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
Opened in the bottle for a few hours. Still very primal and dominated by slightly harsh red fruit and white peppercorns. Glycerin, menthol, dark chocolate, baking spices, and black currant start to really emerge with time. Needs 5 more years cellaring.
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4/22/2017 - B Paul wrote: flawed
Opened and poured into decanter. This was not giving anything, which I initially wrote off as it just needed more time in the decanter. However, I ultimately detected a slight bit of cork taint. A heartbreaker.
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4/15/2017 - pakabear wrote: 96 Points
Day 2: More of the same on day 2, it's actually mellowed out a little with a bit more expressive nose. Still an amazing wine!
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4/14/2017 - pakabear Likes this wine: 97 Points
Smoked meats, rhubarb, strawberry, black raspberry, anise, sweet spices, good extraction with impeccable balance. The finish has a very nice and unexpected chocolate milk component. Drinks well now, will improve for 3-5 years.
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2/7/2017 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was so closed! I decanted it for several hours and it didn't do a whole lot. Of course, it is a great wine but naturally I hoped for more. It is rather syrah-like - smoke, roast, pine, cloves - with additional candied raspberry and blackberry notes from the Grenache. It didn't have as much lift, energy and freshness as I had hoped, given that it is from a cooler vintage. Keep it tucked away for quite some time still. 94+
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12/20/2016 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Really nice wine once it opened up - which was only into the second glass, quite unexpected. I tasted this third, with the 1985 Mouton first, followed by the 2001 Araujo Eisele - it seems that was the perfect serving order, this being, not surprisingly, the big boy of that flight. And while I didn't really care for the first glass - some sweet torrefaction was/is a pretty big turn off for me - by the second glass this had really whipped into shape, offering precision, detail and very good purity. IIRC, this saw extended time on oak, yet there's really no sign of it; it's a balanced wine with a good future ahead of it. Not in the epic category for me, but very good > excellent, to be sure. recommended
PnP, served non-blind; suggest an hour of aeration prior to service.
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12/17/2016 - bablues wrote: 96 Points
6th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid (Naperville, IL): Part of Christmas Dinner and Cellar Raid, didn't take detailed notes. My first EBA SQN and I was expecting a little more. Don't get me wrong, this was amazing but when drinking up against other top wines this fell a little short. Will see how it evolves as I will give my other one s few more years
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3/4/2016 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine:
I know it is too soon to appreciate but could not resist checking on this.
Unwrapping the tissue revealed an interesting shaped bottle
Nose: a gentle but gorgeous aroma hints at possible greatness
Eye: syrah-like purple hue but not inky but not as red as a more typical grenach
Palate is starts very smooth almost raspberry but not yet that coherent.
No heat or sourness from alcohol and a vague medium finish
I do not doubt the top ratings but tonight is too soon for it to unfurl all of its beauties
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