2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis Fe2O3~2a, b & c

Community Tasting Notes (188) Avg Score: 95.4 points

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  4/4/2024 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points

  Another Wine gathering at RJ’s; 4/4/2024-4/7/2024 (Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina): Expressive nose displaying concentrated sweet red fruit, chocolate dipped cherry, strawberry jam, a hint of blackberry liqueur, light caramel, licorice, beef blood, sweet spices and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of opulent red fruit, rich yet silky and fluid, bright acidity, medium mineral, and a long concentrated red fruit driven finish. Although super concentrated, this seems light compare to the Ode to E.

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  6/6/2023 - csimm wrote: 95 Points

  TOP SHELF WINE WEEKEND: If you had told me this was a 2005, I’d say you were a couple cans short of a six pack. I would’ve called this thing as ten years younger easy. I know that SQNs typically need more time than I usually afford them, but this displayed just as much power and energy as the 2020 and 2019 Syrahs served next to it. Candied red fruit, spice, and some earth are kicked around with a bit of heat and booze. The undulating heft here is a bit surprising, even for a SQN.
  
  I last had the Syrah version of this wine six years ago from magnum and it was also wild back then like its Grenache sibling still is now. I will confess to the Grenache’s ability to find better focus with some additional air and time in the glass. Still, whatever would-be tertiary flavors that might have tried to surface are almost immediately overridden by the sheer mass of fruit and spice surging along the delivery. Some additional short-term cellaring is recommended.

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  5/28/2023 - sfwinelover1 wrote:

  Best of the World Wine Night (ex-Italy) (The csimm_M Estate): Well, here’s what I agree with my fellow tasters and CTers about on this wine. The fruit is so giant, so untamed and so intense that I’d have bet and lost my title to my house that this wasn’t almost 18 years old, so much so that, agreeing in conclusion if not tenor with IRBDW, I struggled to place this as a grenache (I think I made a comment comparing it to the Chave and Grange, when another guest helpfully told me that, as a grenache, it wasn’t really comparable). Where I’m less agreeable, and this is a more general issue with SQN, and nay, big, expensive, usually (but not always) Rhone-based C. Coast reds more generally, is that the fruit and alcohol just seem to overshadow everything else, where more structure and cut are needed for sfwl’s old school, Old World, dare I say, old guy, palate. I had a fabulous afternoon, just over a year ago and on the year anniversary of my BMT, sipping Andremiley and Saxum on my deck with A_M and Cyclist, leavened only by a sancerre, really enjoying them both, but the presence here of wines like Grange and Chave (yep, different varietal aside), perhaps of also having too many other wines in styles closer to my preferences, made this hard for me to appreciate on this night. Like the Ultramarine, a style thing, as I’m doubting neither the quality nor that it hits it mark, so rating withheld. After this quaff, I made a strategic decision to pass on the infant SQNs. Maybe more air or bottle age will get this closer to my palate, but having been willing to bet my title once, I’ll hold off on that one.

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  5/27/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Wild and Crazy Memorial Weekend - Saturday (Chris' Castle aka Melissa's Manor): What can I say....the fruit whore in me surfaces every time I taste a SQN! So, for those following my notes, I made reference to this wine and a 2020 SQN in my note about the 2019 Cheval Blanc....so here is the story....
  
  Chris, being the ever so gracious host, wanted to pop open a SQN from his cellar. Of course, all he had were wines still in adolescence. So I suggested we pull one of his bottles, open it and let it get some oxygen until the following day. Instead, I would open the SQN I was saving for day 2 and he could serve his on day 2 instead! Sounds like a great plan....right? Problem was that I totally forgot I was drinking with a group of pedophiles who just can't resist a sexy young wine! So Chris opened both wines, presumably to drink this one and let the 2020 get air for about 20 hours. Needless to say, that did not even come close to happening...in fact, I think one or two people went straight to the 2020!
  
  2005 SQN Atlantis Grenache - What a beautiful wine! This wine was definitely not showing any signs of age, other than some of the flavors had integrated, tannins mellowed and the wine was showing some tertiary flavors. Even at 18 years of age, the tertiary flavors were taking a back seat to the fruit...amazing! Deep, dark brooding fruit with some pepper notes that made you think Syrah....then waves of more fruit, some Grand Marnier, some anise and coffee, and some spice, coupled with some new leather, earth and tar notes. A truly fantastic wine! Easily one of my favorites of the night, and 97 points for my palate!

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  5/27/2023 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 96 Points

  Memorial Day Weekend, Day 1: Inglourious Basterds: Big aromas of rich and huge dark black and red fruits. Noticing bits of age showing through with some gentle plum notes as well.
  
  Flavors of brooding rich fruits, gentle but deep and dark earth. A touch of heat but it gets suppressed from the big fruits.
  
  HUGE fruits (still, even after 18 years?!) just lobbing more gobs of brooding fruits in your face. I'm not sure how this will go from here on out.. I'm guessing this has gotta be at or near peak. Give this another few more years and it can still get better. Any longer and I can see the acidity tiring out. 96+

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