SQN Dinner

Last night, five couple got together and had our own SQN dinner. The wines came from our cellars and were opened and poured into their own glasses where we would enjoy them over the course of almost five hours. It truly was a special evening of wines, food and camaraderie. Although the notes may sound similar, the wines had their unique nuances to them and were all delicious. Fun night, slow next morning.

I am not as big a fan of the SQN whites as I am of the reds. In general I prefer my whites a bit lighter and these are serious, high alcohol wines. I hope I do get to try some with ten or more years on them at some point.

• 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne Andy Warhol Label 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Golden in color with small bubbles. The nose is big, slightly toasty with a hint of minerals. A very nice wine although I would prefer a bit more acidity. Slight citrus note like tart oranges. Long, long finish. Amazing that they can produce this wine in such quantities. Still, I think there are Champagnes I like more for half the price. A lovely start to the evening.

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• 2008 Sine Qua Non Kolibri 84 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Golden in color, a bit darker than I would expect. The nose had a golden raisins note to it and alcohol. On the palate, this is slightly bitter. Tons of alcohol and a hot finish. With air, it smoothed out a bit and picked up a waxy note. Others liked this far more than I did and I suspect this will round out ore with age. Not my cup of wine though.

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• 2006 Sine Qua Non The Hoodoo Man 87 Points

  USA, California

  Light golden in color. The nose has a vanilla milkshake quality to it which I liked. Also some floral tones. This was served colder and perhaps that tamed the alcohol a bit. The finish had this "sherried" quality to it. With air and warmth, this got better and did not show more alcohol. I liked this more than the Kolibri, so perhaps these wines do need age to develop.

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The "regular" wines:

• 2003 Sine Qua Non Syrah Papa 96 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Purple in color, ruby at the rim. Mostly opaque and bright. Excellent nose with funky black raspberries, black pepper and a bit of heat. Soft and complex on the palate. Lots of black raspberries. Some heat. This showed no real signs of age and has years left. It is delicious and for some, the wine of the flight.

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• 2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis Fe2O3~2a, b & c 95 Points

  USA, California

  Many thought this was an off bottle in some way. I did not and really loved it. I thought it the only wine that really showed some development from cellaring, but perhaps it was slightly off (I have only had it once or twice before). Sill, ruby/purple color. I liked the nose of raspberries, candy cane, some oak and a bit of soy sauce. Very smooth. I didn't think it changed as much in the glass as the other wines. Certainly not mature yet but showing some layering.

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• 2006 Sine Qua Non Syrah Raven Series 98 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Purple in color. This took some time to open and got better all night long. The nose has black raspberries, pepper, bacon fat. Silky and soft. Complex if tightly layered. Black raspberries on the palate with some pie filling qualities. Long and complex finish. Just delicious.

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• 2007 Sine Qua Non Grenache Pictures 98 Points

  USA, California

  Ruby/purple in color. The nose is dusty with red and black raspberries and spice. Silky and delicious. Great texture. Balanced. Black cherries and raspberries on the palate. This took a while to open and is still very young and needs time. Seems so well made though and when it did open was very sexy. I would love to try this in a few years.

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• 2008 Sine Qua Non Syrah B 20 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  A delicious wine, but the group agreed this wine was lacking compared to the others. Did no seem off and may just be a bit shut down right now. Inky purple in color. The nose has a fair amount of oak showing, also black raspberries and soy. Soft texture. I love how Manfred gets such a soft texture from Syrah while still making bold and flavorful wines. Black raspberry on the palate. Slightly clipped on the finish.

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All extended aged wines:

• 2004 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ode to E 97 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Ruby/purple in color. Tight on opening. After a while in the glass, black raspberries and iodine on the nose. Very smooth yet full bodied. Complex. Still quite young and will last for a long time. Black raspberries and spice.

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• 2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Naked Truth 95 Points

  USA, California

  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is dusty, sweaty with black raspberries. Very smooth yet full. Deep and interesting. Black raspberries and plum. Very sweet/ripe fruit. Long finish. Delicious.

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• 2006 Sine Qua Non Syrah A Shot in the Dark 96 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Purple, ruby at the rim. Black raspberries, bacon fat and black pepper. Very smooth, yet full. Some dark chocolate notes. Black raspberries as well on the palate. Young but very complex in tight layering. Long finish.

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• 2006 Sine Qua Non Grenache In the Crosshairs 97 Points

  USA, California

  Purple/ruby in color. Lots of raspberries on the nose with some floral/spice notes. Very smooth, complex and still full bodied. Black raspberries and spice on the palate. Long finish.

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• 2007 Next of Kyn No~1 Cumulus Vineyard 97 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Wow. Great to get a chance to try this. Inky purple in color. The nose is spice and black raspberries. On the palate, very smooth, more boysenberry. Needs time of course, but has this juicy texture which is lighter on its feet than most of the wines. Also seems to have more acidity than most of the wines. No idea if that is true or just a perception, but I loved it. Would love to see how these age out as well. A real treat.

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A few bonus wines:

• 2006 Lillian Winery Syrah Blue Label 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Added as a disciple of Manfred's and an extended aged wine. This seems shut down right now. Some black raspberries and spice on the nose which is very nice. Sweet black raspberry fruit/pie filling on the nose. Wound very tight. Outstanding wine, but lacks the smoothness/richness of the SQN's.

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• 2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard 97 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  I loved this, but it was less well liked by the group I think. Added as John was a mentor to Manfred. Shimmering bright in color. Great nose. Black and red raspberries, spice and leather. More ethereal than the SQN's. ever so slightly pruney with black raspberries and pepper. Dances on the palate. Slightly bitter on the finish. This is a ripe wine for sure, but has the balance to pull it off.

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• 2001 Turley Charbono Tofanelli Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Perhaps because Turley had come up earlier in the conversation, or that Tom was pouring this blind, but it seemed to have that Turley signature to it. I thought it was a Petite Syrah though until Tom said no one would guess the varietal. At that point I guessed Charbono. BTW, I just heard Gary V. say Charbono and Bonarda were the same grape, is this true? Anyway, it was a fine enough wine but probably past prime. The nose had a dusty cherry note with a bit of dish water. Smooth boysenberries on the palate. Nice enough wine.

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Dessert:

• 2006 Sine Qua Non Roussanne To The Rescue Vin de Paille 92 Points

  USA, California

  Lt brown/gold in color (think diluted iced tea). Great nose with oranges, honey and floral notes. On the palate, this is a bit flabby/cloying. I mean it is a great wine, but to take it to that next level, i prefer more cut, less sugary. Love, love the nose though.

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A great and special evening. We are truly lucky and privileged to be able to have nights like this with friends.