Really a beautiful bottle of wine, with an unexpected blend that offered a rich, round, layered and full bodied experience, with a bright lift at the finish, and a pleasant evolution throughout the evening, while being enjoyed with a variety of foods during a multicourse gourmet meal.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of honeysuckle, lemon oil, mineral…nose a little tough to get right next to a char coal grill. Flavors of honeysuckle, tangerine, vanilla, mineral and lemon oil. Ends with a long finish of 40 seconds with quince and mineral notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP. Young in color. Bright and crisp yet with great length. The blend is such that you don't immediately think Chardonnay, which was nice given we paired it with multiple dishes. Apricots, pear, an oily long finish. Really nice and seems to be in a very good place but should be there for a while. A=
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dispensed half the bottle with a Coravin. Burnished golden color. Nose of Granny Smith apples, dried lemon peel, apricot and white flowers. Dense rich palate with waxy/oily texture. Apricots, orange marmalade, tropical fruits, citrus, and wet stones. It has a zippy streak on the layered finish where the acidity and minerality take the forefront.
A tiny bit disjointed right now. I think a bit more time in bottle might smooth out the angles a bit.
Revisited the next day and found the wine to be smoother and less disjointed. Reccomend a short term hold.
This has everything one would want from this style of wine. I rate it a 96 at this time with real potential for improvement in the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful bouquet with ripe tropical fruits. Same on the palate, beautiful and mild acidity, full bodied and tasty with a firm amount of sweetness. Beautiful wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The kitchen-sink white blend is always hard to judge, especially when it’s made in the SQN style. Although I do not worship at the altar of typicity, I kept trying to compare this wine to something. At times, it tasted like an oaky Sauvignon Blanc (viscous but grassy) or a leaner Sauternes (sweet but nervy). As with any SQN, the adjectives come easy: this is thick, flavorful, nutty, energetic, and oily.
Is it good? Sort of, but it's quite messy, especially at this price point (and at the five-year mark). Set aside the rarity and reputation and whatever else: I'd rather spend this money on a Premier Cru Puligny-Montrachet or Aubert Lauren, something more fresh and elegant (as opposed to baked and clunky). Maybe this needs more time, but at the moment it just seems like a fifth-grade point guard dribbling in all directions - lots of motion, but little progress.
The wine is banana yellow in color with a mouthfeel that is half-and-half fulsome. The aromas are somewhat muted, with notes of honeydew, beeswax, and marzipan, and the flavors are integrated, offering apricot, buttered toast, peanut brittle, and lemon rind, with a briny and zingy finish (think orange juice). Blend of 38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 9% Muscat, and 6% Petit Manseng (with some unquantifiable % of WTF). 15.2% alcohol.
Tasty but idiosyncratic, this is less a wine than a cocktail (i.e., a blend of disparate pieces). Perhaps my palate is too small to taste the multitudes; perhaps I unfairly prefer purity over drama; perhaps this is Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3... but right now it sounds like a teenager banging on the piano. 91+ at the moment, but give it another few years.
Shear's 95-100 point tasting (Shear's Grotto): Dark yellow in color, nose of apricot, vanillin, orange peel and powdered white flowers. Incredible power and richness to this Medium to full-bodied white with a creamy and integrated feel on the palate. A delicious wine that is drinking at peak now with some life ahead of it. finished 1 of 2 in the whites flight, my 1 of 2.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 9% Muscat and 6% Petit Manseng...open in bottle for an hour...SUPER unctuous and flat out AMAZING texture in this...oily and waxy EVOO-ish with bright and zippy lemon/grapefruit/tangerine squeeze that totally lifts the rich ripe fruits of apricot, pineapple, peach, dried mango...has a tropical flare to it...pretty honeysuckle, white flower, and lemongrass florals...KILLER spice kick with the extended barrel age...exotics of white honey butter, hot buttered rum spice, 50/50 creamsicle...such a amazing mouthful of pleasure here...but that texture is really blowing me away, and setting this wine apart from other SQN whites. Love this right here...but intrigued what a few more years will bring!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous tropical fruit notes, need a little air to open up and blossom. Seems to be settling down. A little more smooth and unctious. Impressive neutral oad vanillin notes. Very impressive.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What to say about a young wine like this? Most either love it or hate it. The color is almost that of an orange wine, and there is noticeable tannin on the palate. I often wonder how Manfred gets the whole tropical, mango, passion fruit nose out of his whites. Is there a gimmick? Crowd pleaser and always a "wow" wine among California fans. Will open the next one in a decade or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Thanksgiving Wimps 2022 - James Baldwin Table (La Trompette): What a nose! Some discussion of peach or peach stone - this seems right although i'm not sure it's not autosuggestion. Wonderful mouthfeel - this is like a really good (and also utterly fault free) white Chateauneuf. A truly special wine - and a privilege to drink - but unlike the chardonnays which preceded it, a couple of glasses would be enough.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting: Like all wines from Sin Qua Non this is a very special wine. Not as extreme as their red wines, but certainly a white wine with a lot of charachter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
You can argue these are the most impressive and thought provoking domestic white wines produced. I'm aware of NorCal whites and I've had plenty of Oregon and Washington whites as well. I'm troubled to think of more complete American white wine. I'll put Marcassin and Koonsgaard in that conversation. I can compare this to some monopole wines and Rhone producers that compete with this, but nothing is on par with this in the US. Tasting note here repeats to my 6/22 note. I'd be interested to hear what other people prefer to this.
My first SQN white non-dessert wine and it didn’t disappoint. No notes due to running around but was an awesome complex great mouthfeel. Will pay more attention to the next bottle- and one I very much look forward to experiencing again.
Rhone blend we guess and indeed a special wine deserving the hype. Surprisingly well mannered on the oak and the wine owns and carries the oak very well and even more impressive it it not heavy on the ripeness. Just very harmonious and effortlessly expressive. Impressive wine easy 95-96
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark hued yellow. Viscous with the texture of skim milk. A hefty white showing white flower, stone fruit, pit fruit and complimentary tropical fruit in the background. Layered like a flight of stairs and well knitted, it's all together. Thought provoking white that has a lot of time to go.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I collect the SQN reds and every once in a while I get all geared up to get some more whites. And every time, I am less than impressed. They are like the reds, pushing the limits without going over. The reds can handle it better IMO. This was sweet, the components showed through really well, no doubt crafted nicely. You can pick up the different grape types. Thick and rich, viscos, with pineapple, melon, and slate. Bit sweet at this stage. A good wine but I think it needs more time, I don't like the reds young, needs 10+ years, the whites need time as well to calm down. My fualt pening too soon, this will be far better in 5 years IMO
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of honeysuckle, apricot, passion fruit, orange marmalade and lemon. Flavors of apricot, passion fruit, orange marmalade, wet stone and herb. Enda with a 40 second finish with grass and tropical fruit notes. A interesting wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep golden yellow color. Lemon curd, honeysuckle, melon, peach and hints of butterscotch. Flavors of lemon, melon, and caramelized pineapple. Rich texture.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
80's Bordeaux (Friend's house): Been awhile since I've had one of these and maybe there was something about this year or maybe something about the age or I'm not sure what but this came across as being a lot more chardonnay than I remember and really kindof chard dominant. It's very round and full bodied. Vanilla and honey. Not totally my style, but it was fun to check in.
PNP. Should have decanted for several hours - evolved very well in the glass. Nose and color belie Roussanne. On the palate, more chardonnay notes, smooth, intergrated tannins. Balanced structure. Very interesting and fun to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened in the bottle for about five hours. Not picking up and Muscat or Viognier. This seems more caramel/toffee noted than other years. Really just picking up oaked Chardonnay and Roussane. Less waxy tropical fruited than other years. Still very nice structure and actually quite balanced. Needs a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I agree with SQN19 and CSIMM1161 on this one. This wine is drinking great right now, especially with decanting. And the fact that it would improve with cellar time, albeit I'm not sure my other two bottles will last 1 year in my cellar.
The wine changed and evolving over the evening with the various varietals fighting it out over whose characteristics and notes shined through. A fun wine to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
SLDS Decadence 2021: Floral, apricot, smoky with sea spray and a tropical fruit punch to it. Rich and viscous palate but has underlying spice and holds the balance of opulence and flow well. Really enjoyable wine and stood a level above the 2017 SQN Tectumque tonight.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium straw color. Nose does not give up much beyond of honey. Palate is beeswax, lemon curd, and tropical fruits (but not sweet). Mouthfeel is round, but not at all heavy. Good acidity. A very elegant wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Halloween in the Vice Versa Cave: Round number two with the Aperta. I wrote a novella on this a couple of weeks ago on Cellar Tracker, so if you’re bored on the couch waiting for your mom to warm up your leftover Mac & Cheese, feel free to indulge on my TN from October 20th. Otherwise, suffice to say it’s a citrus, ginger, and fruit cup type of concoction that, even in its primary stage, is irresistibly arresting in its flavor profile. Air in the glass turns this bouncing Border Collie into a lively phantasmagoria of dreamy orange and yellow rollercoaster fruit. The undercurrent of tangerine and marmalade flavors are most compelling right now to me. Hold a few years to really flesh-out this soon-to-be triple digit kinetic kid. 98+ points.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An SQN Rhone concoction that Frankensteins a surgical amalgamation of mixed whites, the 2018 Aperta is a provocative fusion of 38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 6% Petit Manseng, and 9% Muscat. The demonstrative brilliance of this wine starts off right away with its beautiful golden hue, at first suggesting a sémillon-stationed creation. It actually smells like a young Sauternes with honey and tangerine aromas that instantly pique the senses. On the palate, strong quince paste and clementine elements surge in advance of the lemon oil, yuzu, satsuma, orange blossom, yellow pear skin, yellow apple flesh, honeydew, fleur de sel, and tangy fresh grated ginger notes (oh, did I mention apricot and pineapple rind, too?!). The initial entry is slightly viscous and weighty, but then the vibrancy skips in and provides an acidic tensity that kicks up the freshness. It does what you want it to do with keen carriage: mouthwatering and saturating layered flavors while also pumping juicy freshness through the heightened purity of fruit. The senses here are all amplified but with that keen Krankl stylishness.
The Aperta volleys back and forth from being full and unctuous to tense and primary at times. It is initially quite spicy, with the ginger note arresting the mélange of citrus flavors. With some swirling and warmer temperature (slightly above cellar temperature), the lemon tangs brawl back and take centerstage. Though there is clearly youthful constriction curtailing a full breadth of flavor expansion at this particular juncture, the strata of complex and pulsating flavors that just can’t wait to detonate are nothing short of exceptional. Take all the things you like about white wine and this little bugger has some semblance of all of them passing through a kaleidoscopic palate prism of delectableness to make for a profile that is almost academically dizzying in terms of trying to identify particular flavor components.
Precise degustation dorking-out aside, this is a curiously enthralling wine that has so much character and charismatic charm that it is instantaneously mesmerizing. The finish doesn’t stop rolling, especially as the honeyed citrus oil and sweet tangerine notes encourage the back end to keep propelling to a ridiculously savory finale. Though this unquestionably needs air to ferret out more of its broader appeal, the first swig on the first pop is just as stimulating as the vacillating profile a few hours in. It certainly seems the extra barrel-down time here has proven to be an effective strategical success. 98+ points, with the likelihood of a perfect numeric with some short-term cellaring. For those on the conservative or earnest side, hold bottles for a few years. For those who can't wait to tear into a bottle the second UPS pulls into your driveway (like me), go full-on game-on and rock out with your bottle out my friends. Who am I to say wait?!
4/5/2024 - JDRFoster wrote: 97 Points
Really a beautiful bottle of wine, with an unexpected blend that offered a rich, round, layered and full bodied experience, with a bright lift at the finish, and a pleasant evolution throughout the evening, while being enjoyed with a variety of foods during a multicourse gourmet meal.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2023 - englishman's claret wrote:
White peach, white pepper, apricot, viscous in the mouth, very alcoholic. Not particularly enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2023 - slywka7 wrote: 95 Points
Aromas of honeysuckle, lemon oil, mineral…nose a little tough to get right next to a char coal grill. Flavors of honeysuckle, tangerine, vanilla, mineral and lemon oil. Ends with a long finish of 40 seconds with quince and mineral notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2023 - jeremy@ wrote: 91 Points
Very expressive nose with apricot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2023 - MC wrote:
PNP. Young in color. Bright and crisp yet with great length. The blend is such that you don't immediately think Chardonnay, which was nice given we paired it with multiple dishes. Apricots, pear, an oily long finish. Really nice and seems to be in a very good place but should be there for a while. A=
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2023 - Peter Z. Likes this wine: 99 Points
Double decant followed by 2 hour wait does wonders
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/3/2023 - Tangeray Likes this wine: 100 Points
Truly an amazing and unique white. Special to savor.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2023 - huntinpagan Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dispensed half the bottle with a Coravin. Burnished golden color. Nose of Granny Smith apples, dried lemon peel, apricot and white flowers. Dense rich palate with waxy/oily texture. Apricots, orange marmalade, tropical fruits, citrus, and wet stones. It has a zippy streak on the layered finish where the acidity and minerality take the forefront.
A tiny bit disjointed right now. I think a bit more time in bottle might smooth out the angles a bit.
Revisited the next day and found the wine to be smoother and less disjointed. Reccomend a short term hold.
This has everything one would want from this style of wine. I rate it a 96 at this time with real potential for improvement in the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2023 - Jzboxtas wrote: 90 Points
Not my favorite, alcohol too pronounced at this point, needs age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2023 - Zweder Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful bouquet with ripe tropical fruits. Same on the palate, beautiful and mild acidity, full bodied and tasty with a firm amount of sweetness. Beautiful wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2023 - msuwine wrote: 91 Points
The kitchen-sink white blend is always hard to judge, especially when it’s made in the SQN style. Although I do not worship at the altar of typicity, I kept trying to compare this wine to something. At times, it tasted like an oaky Sauvignon Blanc (viscous but grassy) or a leaner Sauternes (sweet but nervy). As with any SQN, the adjectives come easy: this is thick, flavorful, nutty, energetic, and oily.
Is it good? Sort of, but it's quite messy, especially at this price point (and at the five-year mark). Set aside the rarity and reputation and whatever else: I'd rather spend this money on a Premier Cru Puligny-Montrachet or Aubert Lauren, something more fresh and elegant (as opposed to baked and clunky). Maybe this needs more time, but at the moment it just seems like a fifth-grade point guard dribbling in all directions - lots of motion, but little progress.
The wine is banana yellow in color with a mouthfeel that is half-and-half fulsome. The aromas are somewhat muted, with notes of honeydew, beeswax, and marzipan, and the flavors are integrated, offering apricot, buttered toast, peanut brittle, and lemon rind, with a briny and zingy finish (think orange juice). Blend of 38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 9% Muscat, and 6% Petit Manseng (with some unquantifiable % of WTF). 15.2% alcohol.
Tasty but idiosyncratic, this is less a wine than a cocktail (i.e., a blend of disparate pieces). Perhaps my palate is too small to taste the multitudes; perhaps I unfairly prefer purity over drama; perhaps this is Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3... but right now it sounds like a teenager banging on the piano. 91+ at the moment, but give it another few years.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/29/2023 - bubbachumps wrote: 98 Points
Shear's 95-100 point tasting (Shear's Grotto): Dark yellow in color, nose of apricot, vanillin, orange peel and powdered white flowers. Incredible power and richness to this Medium to full-bodied white with a creamy and integrated feel on the palate. A delicious wine that is drinking at peak now with some life ahead of it. finished 1 of 2 in the whites flight, my 1 of 2.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2023 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 97 Points
38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 9% Muscat and 6% Petit Manseng...open in bottle for an hour...SUPER unctuous and flat out AMAZING texture in this...oily and waxy EVOO-ish with bright and zippy lemon/grapefruit/tangerine squeeze that totally lifts the rich ripe fruits of apricot, pineapple, peach, dried mango...has a tropical flare to it...pretty honeysuckle, white flower, and lemongrass florals...KILLER spice kick with the extended barrel age...exotics of white honey butter, hot buttered rum spice, 50/50 creamsicle...such a amazing mouthful of pleasure here...but that texture is really blowing me away, and setting this wine apart from other SQN whites. Love this right here...but intrigued what a few more years will bring!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2023 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Gorgeous tropical fruit notes, need a little air to open up and blossom. Seems to be settling down. A little more smooth and unctious. Impressive neutral oad vanillin notes. Very impressive.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2023 - Simoncino wrote: 95 Points
What to say about a young wine like this? Most either love it or hate it. The color is almost that of an orange wine, and there is noticeable tannin on the palate. I often wonder how Manfred gets the whole tropical, mango, passion fruit nose out of his whites. Is there a gimmick? Crowd pleaser and always a "wow" wine among California fans. Will open the next one in a decade or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2022 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Thanksgiving Wimps 2022 - James Baldwin Table (La Trompette): What a nose! Some discussion of peach or peach stone - this seems right although i'm not sure it's not autosuggestion. Wonderful mouthfeel - this is like a really good (and also utterly fault free) white Chateauneuf. A truly special wine - and a privilege to drink - but unlike the chardonnays which preceded it, a couple of glasses would be enough.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2022 - Sundbyberg wrote: 93 Points
Tasting: Like all wines from Sin Qua Non this is a very special wine. Not as extreme as their red wines, but certainly a white wine with a lot of charachter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2022 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
You can argue these are the most impressive and thought provoking domestic white wines produced. I'm aware of NorCal whites and I've had plenty of Oregon and Washington whites as well. I'm troubled to think of more complete American white wine. I'll put Marcassin and Koonsgaard in that conversation. I can compare this to some monopole wines and Rhone producers that compete with this, but nothing is on par with this in the US. Tasting note here repeats to my 6/22 note. I'd be interested to hear what other people prefer to this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
9/24/2022 - SalN wrote: 91 Points
It was just ok. I have had great whites and this doesn’t muster up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/21/2022 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 93 Points
My first SQN white non-dessert wine and it didn’t disappoint. No notes due to running around but was an awesome complex great mouthfeel. Will pay more attention to the next bottle- and one I very much look forward to experiencing again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
7/7/2022 - Papies wrote: 96 Points
Rhone blend we guess and indeed a special wine deserving the hype. Surprisingly well mannered on the oak and the wine owns and carries the oak very well and even more impressive it it not heavy on the ripeness. Just very harmonious and effortlessly expressive. Impressive wine easy 95-96
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2022 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Dark hued yellow. Viscous with the texture of skim milk. A hefty white showing white flower, stone fruit, pit fruit and complimentary tropical fruit in the background. Layered like a flight of stairs and well knitted, it's all together. Thought provoking white that has a lot of time to go.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2022 - zimmy07 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I collect the SQN reds and every once in a while I get all geared up to get some more whites. And every time, I am less than impressed. They are like the reds, pushing the limits without going over. The reds can handle it better IMO. This was sweet, the components showed through really well, no doubt crafted nicely. You can pick up the different grape types. Thick and rich, viscos, with pineapple, melon, and slate. Bit sweet at this stage. A good wine but I think it needs more time, I don't like the reds young, needs 10+ years, the whites need time as well to calm down. My fualt pening too soon, this will be far better in 5 years IMO
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2022 - A&C Likes this wine: 99 Points
This was extraordinary. The layers of flavors. The finish. The complexity. The yummy delicious flavor. The beautiful color. A pure work of art.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2022 - cadamson Likes this wine:
The nose is glorious, a tropical forest of notes. Rich and oily on the palate, with enough acidity to even it out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2022 - sdr Likes this wine:
Not as aggressive or waxy as I feared; actually quite nice and a change from the usual Chardonnay based whites.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2022 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Aromas of honeysuckle, apricot, passion fruit, orange marmalade and lemon. Flavors of apricot, passion fruit, orange marmalade, wet stone and herb. Enda with a 40 second finish with grass and tropical fruit notes. A interesting wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2022 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Deep golden yellow color. Lemon curd, honeysuckle, melon, peach and hints of butterscotch. Flavors of lemon, melon, and caramelized pineapple. Rich texture.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2022 - haldolugr wrote: 91 Points
A rich and full bodied white. Lots of layers of flavor in each sip. Honey notes dominated for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2022 - MC2 Wines wrote:
80's Bordeaux (Friend's house): Been awhile since I've had one of these and maybe there was something about this year or maybe something about the age or I'm not sure what but this came across as being a lot more chardonnay than I remember and really kindof chard dominant. It's very round and full bodied. Vanilla and honey. Not totally my style, but it was fun to check in.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/27/2021 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
PNP. Should have decanted for several hours - evolved very well in the glass. Nose and color belie Roussanne. On the palate, more chardonnay notes, smooth, intergrated tannins. Balanced structure. Very interesting and fun to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2021 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
Opened in the bottle for about five hours. Not picking up and Muscat or Viognier. This seems more caramel/toffee noted than other years. Really just picking up oaked Chardonnay and Roussane. Less waxy tropical fruited than other years. Still very nice structure and actually quite balanced. Needs a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2021 - CRAUBER4242 Likes this wine: 97 Points
I agree with SQN19 and CSIMM1161 on this one. This wine is drinking great right now, especially with decanting. And the fact that it would improve with cellar time, albeit I'm not sure my other two bottles will last 1 year in my cellar.
The wine changed and evolving over the evening with the various varietals fighting it out over whose characteristics and notes shined through. A fun wine to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2021 - CamWheeler wrote: 94 Points
SLDS Decadence 2021: Floral, apricot, smoky with sea spray and a tropical fruit punch to it. Rich and viscous palate but has underlying spice and holds the balance of opulence and flow well. Really enjoyable wine and stood a level above the 2017 SQN Tectumque tonight.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2021 - sqn19 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Medium straw color. Nose does not give up much beyond of honey. Palate is beeswax, lemon curd, and tropical fruits (but not sweet). Mouthfeel is round, but not at all heavy. Good acidity. A very elegant wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2021 - csimm wrote: 98 Points
Halloween in the Vice Versa Cave: Round number two with the Aperta. I wrote a novella on this a couple of weeks ago on Cellar Tracker, so if you’re bored on the couch waiting for your mom to warm up your leftover Mac & Cheese, feel free to indulge on my TN from October 20th. Otherwise, suffice to say it’s a citrus, ginger, and fruit cup type of concoction that, even in its primary stage, is irresistibly arresting in its flavor profile. Air in the glass turns this bouncing Border Collie into a lively phantasmagoria of dreamy orange and yellow rollercoaster fruit. The undercurrent of tangerine and marmalade flavors are most compelling right now to me. Hold a few years to really flesh-out this soon-to-be triple digit kinetic kid. 98+ points.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2021 - csimm wrote: 98 Points
An SQN Rhone concoction that Frankensteins a surgical amalgamation of mixed whites, the 2018 Aperta is a provocative fusion of 38% Chardonnay, 25% Viognier, 22% Roussanne, 6% Petit Manseng, and 9% Muscat. The demonstrative brilliance of this wine starts off right away with its beautiful golden hue, at first suggesting a sémillon-stationed creation. It actually smells like a young Sauternes with honey and tangerine aromas that instantly pique the senses. On the palate, strong quince paste and clementine elements surge in advance of the lemon oil, yuzu, satsuma, orange blossom, yellow pear skin, yellow apple flesh, honeydew, fleur de sel, and tangy fresh grated ginger notes (oh, did I mention apricot and pineapple rind, too?!). The initial entry is slightly viscous and weighty, but then the vibrancy skips in and provides an acidic tensity that kicks up the freshness. It does what you want it to do with keen carriage: mouthwatering and saturating layered flavors while also pumping juicy freshness through the heightened purity of fruit. The senses here are all amplified but with that keen Krankl stylishness.
The Aperta volleys back and forth from being full and unctuous to tense and primary at times. It is initially quite spicy, with the ginger note arresting the mélange of citrus flavors. With some swirling and warmer temperature (slightly above cellar temperature), the lemon tangs brawl back and take centerstage. Though there is clearly youthful constriction curtailing a full breadth of flavor expansion at this particular juncture, the strata of complex and pulsating flavors that just can’t wait to detonate are nothing short of exceptional. Take all the things you like about white wine and this little bugger has some semblance of all of them passing through a kaleidoscopic palate prism of delectableness to make for a profile that is almost academically dizzying in terms of trying to identify particular flavor components.
Precise degustation dorking-out aside, this is a curiously enthralling wine that has so much character and charismatic charm that it is instantaneously mesmerizing. The finish doesn’t stop rolling, especially as the honeyed citrus oil and sweet tangerine notes encourage the back end to keep propelling to a ridiculously savory finale. Though this unquestionably needs air to ferret out more of its broader appeal, the first swig on the first pop is just as stimulating as the vacillating profile a few hours in. It certainly seems the extra barrel-down time here has proven to be an effective strategical success. 98+ points, with the likelihood of a perfect numeric with some short-term cellaring. For those on the conservative or earnest side, hold bottles for a few years. For those who can't wait to tear into a bottle the second UPS pulls into your driveway (like me), go full-on game-on and rock out with your bottle out my friends. Who am I to say wait?!
13 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8)