Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 3rd Annual

Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC
Tasted Friday, May 7, 2010 - Saturday, May 8, 2010 by ews3 with 7,349 views

Introduction

The third annual "Great Grapes for a Great Cause", in support of the Community Development Outreach Fund (http://www.sv-foundation.org/). Justin Bonner once again raided his legendary collection of Sine Qua Nons to taste new, old, white, red, pink, sweet, dry, and every other variant of Sine Qua Non. In addition, on Friday (and on Saturday after the main event), other attendees shared gems from their own collection.

The food was provided by James Beard Award winner Eric Ziebold of CityZen restaurant with impeccable service by Célia Laurent and her team and wine service both nights from Carlton McCoy, the Sommelier at Sou'Wester.

Other Years:
Year 1: no notes
Year 2: https://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7217
Year 3: https://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=10844
Year 4: https://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=15985

Flight 1 - The Pre-Party (34 Notes)

The incredible generosity of the attendees led to a wonderful catered event on the Patio (and then in the Tai Pan Club) at the Mandarin Oriental. Great food lined up in a buffet, including charcuterie, cheese, great seafood and awesome hush puppies that were circulated. Carlton McCoy, the Sommelier at Sou'Wester was there to make sure everything was opened, decanted, and probably to keep us under control as well :-) An incredible night of re-connecting, introductions, and great quantities of great wine. My highlights were the Schrader, the Dal Forno, and the 02 HSS.

Flight 2 - Cocktail Hour: Sine Qua Non Whites (5 Notes)

During cocktail hour, there were free pours of SQN whites available. The Tarantella stood above, but once again, I was impressed by the depth and quality of these whites.

  • 2000 Sine Qua Non The Boot 92 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    Slight oxidative character. Nice honey and nut with grapefruit on the finish. I continue to enjoy this each time.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2004 Sine Qua Non The Rejuvenators 94 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    Enjoyed this quite a bit this year -- my second favorite of the whites, I think. It was extremely youthful, with a fresh acidity, nice tropical fruit notes and an ethereal floral finish that dances all over the place.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1998 Sine Qua Non Backward & Forward Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (5/8/2010)

    Others thought this was still hanging on, I thought it was far enough gone that it's not worth giving it a score. Oxidized significantly more than the Boot. Hopefully a storage or other issue, as I would hate to see the Boot end up here in two years...

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2001 Sine Qua Non Albino 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    This was wonderful! Great freshness -- it may be the bottle playing psychological tricks, but there is an Alsatian quality to this. Lychee, Grapefruit -- it's Gewurztraminer-esque. Really a great bottle of a wine I have enjoyed twice now. Only downside was a slightly clipped finish.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1999 Sine Qua Non Tarantella 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (5/8/2010)

    Awesome. My favorite of the 5 whites. Tropical fruit and floral notes with a lingering finish. Well balanced in every dimension and an impressive depth on the midpalate despite the lightness the floral quality brings. Excellent!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 3 - Cocktail Hour: Roses (7 Notes)

I actually found a SQN Rose, the Stripes and Stars, that I enjoyed quite a bit, which was nice to see!

  • 2006 Sine Qua Non Autrement Dit 88 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    This was better than I expected after not enjoying the Roses last year at all. Underripe strawberry. Fresh, but develops a disappointing heat on the otherwise nice finish.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2005 Sine Qua Non Strapless 84 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    Only 201 bottles produced (and this was my second opportunity to have one!). Wild strawberry notes dominate. Once again, towards the bottom of the wines we drank, though nothing offensive here -- just didn't have anything special about it, wasn't very fresh, and isn't refreshing like I like a Rose to be.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2001 Sine Qua Non Pagan Poetry 84 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    sweet strawberry palate with a liqueur like finish showing some heat. rather unremarkable.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Sine Qua Non E° Flawed

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    corked quite badly.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2007 Sine Qua Non Stripes & Stars 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    It cannot be... I actually liked this SQN rose quite a bit despite prior Roses not being overwhelmingly impressive (especially as QPR). Darker nose than the simplistic strawberry notes I have been trained to expect. Some blackberry and black cherry here as well. Light, refreshing mouthfeel, although it still unfortunately has some heat on the finish.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2000 Sine Qua Non The Filly 87 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    some thought this was corked -- maybe mildly, but not over the top like the Eo. Lighter mouthfeel than the other Roses, which actually made it preferable than several of them to me despite some light must.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut 89 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

    (5/8/2010)

    nice mousse on this leads to a creamy mouthfeel. Still, the palate is somewhat simple and strawberry driven.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 4 - Cocktail Hour: Sine Qua Non Pinot Noirs (4 Notes)

I love the SQN Pinots and wish Manfred were still making them. The Over & Out was great and my pick for the best of the batch, although it was neck and neck with the Omega.

Flight 5 - The Dinner: Flight 1, Sine Qua Non Whites (3 Notes)

Paired with Caramelized Sunchoke Ravioli with sweet peppers, grilled shrimp, and nicoise olive crumbs. Wine of the flight was the Body and Soul for me, although I think I was in the minority.

  • 2003 Sine Qua Non Sublime Isolation 92 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    Really nice bottle of SQN white. green apple and floral notes on the nose, with a sour apple palate. medium (+) finish had some honeysuckle and tropical fruit notes with the floral nose remaining like April Fresh Downy. Paired with Caramelized Sunchoke Ravioli.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2006 Sine Qua Non The Hoodoo Man 93 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    Honeysuckle and some citrus notes. Tropical fruit and butter, but with enough acidity to be refreshing, this had a medium, glycerin-rich finish -- longer than the Sublime Isolation. Paired with Caramelized Sunchoke Ravioli.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2007 Sine Qua Non Body & Soul 95 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    My favorite not just of this flight, but of all the SQN whites we had, the Body and Soul had a lemon oil note that I fell in love with. Stone fruit and lavender kept this from getting heavy, and there was a wonderfully long finish on this. However, the only nit I have is that it did have a touch of heat on the finish. Paired with Caramelized Sunchoke Ravioli.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 6 - The Dinner: Flight 2, Sine Qua Non Aged Syrahs (3 Notes)

Paired with Smoked Peking Duck Breast with Pickled Watermelon Rind. Wine of the flight was the Heart Chorea for me, and I think for most of the group.

  • 1998 Sine Qua Non Syrah Hospice du Rhone Alban Estate Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    (5/8/2010)

    It was a treat to get an opportunity to try this rare bottling. A somewhat reserved nose, this showed wonderful development in the aromas. Chocolate and tobacco layered on top of some dark fruit. Extremely reminiscent of an aged right-bank Bordeaux. Very nice, with a medium finish. Paired with smoked peking duck breast with pickled watermelon rind.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2000 Sine Qua Non Syrah In Flagrante 95 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    From mag. The fresh acidity on this gave it a refreshing, light, tingly mouthfeel. Surprisingly secondary with smoked meat, pine tar, and some cedar. I enjoyed the pine tar notes on this more than others at my table -- if the HdR was an aged Bordeaux, this was an aged Beaucastel CDP! Medium finish. Paired with smoked peking duck breast with pickled watermelon rind.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Sine Qua Non Syrah Heart Chorea 97 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    Just an awesome bottle of Heart Chorea. Much more youthful than the other two, this was showing loads of meat, black fruit, black pepper, and cherry. The long finish was quite impressive. Paired with smoked peking duck breast with pickled watermelon rind. (96+)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 7 - The Dinner: Flight 3, Sine Qua Non Syrahs (3 Notes)

Paired with Grilled Sirloin of Kagoshima Wagyu Beef with Maitake Mushrooms, Ramp Tempura, and Beurre Colbert. Wine of the flight was the Into the Dark, which was an emergency replacement for the Poker Face.

  • 2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah Atlantis Fe2O3~1a, b & c 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    Lots of dark fruit with some floral notes on top. black pepper. The palate on this was awesome, but the finish faded a little too quickly (medium length). This is the third bottle of this I've enjoyed, although they have all been quite different in my perceptions. Paired with grilled sirloin of Kagoshima Wagyu beef.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2003 Sine Qua Non Syrah Papa 91 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    I was disappointed by this bottle of the Papa after having loved it last year. The nose was dark and had a touch of moldiness (chance of ever so slight taint?) dusty charcoal. refined tannins and med(-) finish. Paired with grilled sirloin of Kagoshima Wagyu beef.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2004 Sine Qua Non Into the Dark 96 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    A last minute replacement for a corked Poker Face, the Into the Dark did not disappoint! Very dark nose of plum and black fruit, the full bodied palate delivered intense concentration of the dark fruit, along with a hint of mint and tea (I actually wrote down "Hint o Mint Tea" for those who know the Iced Tea). It all comes together in a medium (++) fruit driven finish. The only potential knock on this excellent wine is a bit of a candy feeling while you are drinking it. It is a marvelous elixir though and prepared me for a great flight of Grenaches! Paired with grilled sirloin of Kagoshima Wagyu beef.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 8 - The Dinner: Flight 4, Sine Qua Non Grenaches (3 Notes)

Paired with Braised shoulder of Kanagy Farms Shoat with Mustard Greens, Anson Mills Grits, and Smoked Ham Hock Emulsion. Wine of the flight and wine of the night for me was the Ode to E Grenache.

  • 2002 Sine Qua Non Grenache More Than a Number 94 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    From mag. Nice black/red fruit palate. Charcoal and dark wood (mahogany?) notes. Brazil nut extract. A long long finsh shows a touch of heat that detracts from an otherwise nice flavor profile. This was likely a great wine, but not up to the level of the wines surrounding it. Paired with braised shoulder of kanagy farms shoat.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2004 Sine Qua Non Grenache Ode to E 98 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    This wine was ridiculously good. A perfect balance of concentrated black and red fruit. chocolaty, fine tannins are like a delicious powder on the tongue. the insanely long finish crescendos and then fades gent;ly without even the first hint of heat. I wrote down 98+

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Naked Truth 97 Points

    USA, California

    (5/8/2010)

    Nose of blackberry liqueur and the black fruit carries into the palate, along with Hershey's chocolate syrup. That note actually reminded me of El Nido in the intense chocolate concentration I got on top of primary dark fruit. It had a medium(+) finish that was shorter than the Ode to E and had a nice mint note to it that I enjoyed. Paired with braised shoulder of kanagy farms shoat.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 9 - The Dinner: Flight 5, Sine Qua Non Syrahs (3 Notes)

Paired with Pan Roasted Dakota Ranch Bison with Melted Fennel and Spiced Chick Peas with Red Wine-Coffee Sauce. Wine of the flight was the young one -- the 17th Nail!

  • 2003 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Inaugural Eleven Confessions Vineyard 96 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    Nose of sour red fruit (dark cranberry?), this belied a palate that was much darker and showed blackberry, and black pepper before growing into a great long finish that built even more black pepper. Paired with pan roasted dakota ranch bison.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2004 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ode to E 96 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    Very dark nose and palate. Black fruit (blackberry, cherry), black pepper, but also some mint and menthol on this and a nice crushed clove note I enjoyed. Full bodied with strong tannins still remaining. Nice long finish. Paired with pan roasted dakota ranch bison.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah The 17th Nail in My Cranium 97 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (5/8/2010)

    Loads upon loads of fruit come pouring out of the glass. Black fruit is the most primary, with blackberry and cherry. Some fresh steak and black pepper notes -- like a ready to cook Steak au Poivre. Intense tannins that will need some time to round out. Long fruit driven finish. Paired with pan roasted dakota ranch bison.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 10 - Dessert: Sine Qua Non Dessert Wines (5 Notes)

Paired with Coconut-lemongrass Ice Cream with Ginger Gelee, as well a sPineapple Upside Down Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. I missed the Strawman, but there was a nice selection to be had -- my favorite was the To the Rescue Roussanne.

Flight 11 - The After-party (7 Notes)

After a brief time in the hallway, we spent a few hours in the Tai Pan Club drinking more generous contributions from the attendees.

Closing

A wonderful event and I have been blessed to partake in all three along with just a few select others. I will be back next year in support of this good cause, to drink amazing wines, and to see old friends and new!

×
×