Sunday Night Sine Qua Non Dinner

RPM Steak - Chicago IL
Tasted Sunday, October 12, 2014 by Burgundy Al with 780 views

Flight 1 - SQN White with hors d'oeuvres (3 Notes)

  • 2003 Sine Qua Non Sublime Isolation 88 Points

    USA, California

    Very ripe and tropical fruit that is maturing nicely, just slightly short of acidity. This came across very Rhone-like, but short on the energy to pull that off very successfully. Haven't had this wine in years and I preferred it younger.

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  • 2005 Sine Qua Non The Petition

    USA, California

    This bottle was very tired and past its peak, vs another bottle from earlier this year which was fresher and very enjoyable.

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  • 2009 Sine Qua Non On The Lam 85 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    Came across as very ripe and lush with surprisingly very prominent Gewurztraminer aromatics that I didn't really enjoy and certainly didn't understand for a Roussanne/ Chardonnay/ Viognier blend.

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Flight 2 - Champagne with (Mostly) Great Tuna (3 Notes)

  • 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    Lots of apple and pear with Meyer lemon hints, all with very good concentration. Seems the youngest in the flight of 02/03/04, also showing the greatest Chardonnay character.

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  • 2003 Dom Pérignon Champagne 90 Points

    France, Champagne

    Forward fruit with lemon and lemon curd. Soft, rounded edges with moderate depth and intensity. Very good now, this seemed the oldest in the 02/03/04 vertical flight.

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  • 2004 Dom Pérignon Champagne 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    Very long and linear with lots of lemon, lemon peel and apple. Bright and well textured. Not quite as exciting as the 02 in this flight, but longer and more cellarworthy than the 03.

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Flight 3 - Mid-Aged SQN with Prime Ribeye Cap (3 Notes)

  • 2000 Sine Qua Non Syrah In Flagrante 95 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Open, decanted approx 90 minutes before serving. Lots of black fruit with hints of starting to mature, well supported with great savory spice and floral charms. Very powerful but with exceptional balance. Another taste from decanter was just as good 3 hours later.

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  • 2001 Sine Qua Non Midnight Oil 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Rich and powerful fruit, very powerful and concentrated. Also well balanced, but less nuanced than Papa or In Flagrante in this flight. Slightly one dimensonal, although it was a darn good dimension.

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  • 2003 Sine Qua Non Syrah Papa 96 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Another exceptional showing for this wine. Black berries and plum come across slightly sweet to start, but this wine seems to change three times while you are tasting it, becoming savory, spicy, clearly showing good textures with very good balance. Long and impressive. My WOTN.

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Flight 4 - Grenache with More Great Steak (3 Notes)

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

    USA, California

    Dense black fruit aromas with floral tones, dried herbs and licorice. Powerful black fruit again on palate, sweet spice to start, getting more savory and nuanced from middle to end. Expanding finish. Great structure.

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  • 2008 Sine Qua Non Grenache THE Line 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Firm black fruit with lots of spice aromas and prominent cassis character. Most prominent tannins in the flight for right now, I didn't find this as well balanced as most others, but this was one of the youngest wines tonight. My first time tasting both the SQN 2008 Grenache cuvees. Both need more time.

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  • 2008 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Duel 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Very fun, but this same across as hedonistic chocolate cake tonight. Lush, ultra ripe black fruit with lots of clove, allspice and black pepper. Very powerful, just needs to reach a more calm equilibrium. I expect this will be much more elegant in another year or three. My first time tasting both the SQN 2008 Grenache cuvees. Both need more time.

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Flight 5 - Syrah with Even More Great Steak (4 Notes)

  • 2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah Atlantis Fe2O3~1a, b & c 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Meaty black fruit aromas with lots of black pepper. Firm and powerful black fruit again on palate, with both black pepper and some Asian five spice that comes through best on finish. Good length.

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  • 2007 Sine Qua Non Syrah Labels 91 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Odd performance for this wine tonight, I've typically enjoyed it considerably more. Tonight it came across as extremely ripe with lots of liqueur aromas and flavors most notably on finish. Odd bottle or developing awkwardly right now?

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  • 2008 Sine Qua Non Syrah B 20 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Like most SQNs, I find this starts emerging from a shell at age 5+. Black berries and cherries with some interesting red cherry notes as well. This is starting to show real elegance. I preferred this tonight vs the Duel Syrah also from 2008, but I don't think the group consensus tonight was with me.

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  • 2008 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Duel 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Very similar to the B20 in the next glass but I found this more focused on vanilla and chocolate aromas and flavors, less on the nuance and concentration of the fruit itself. Others disagreed and referred this.

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Flight 6 - Too Young SQN with Even More Steak (4 Notes)

  • 2010 Sine Qua Non Grenache Five Shooter 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Dense, firm black fruit aromas and flavors that are still a bit monolithic today but showing signs of emerging elegance with great raw materials. Preferred vs Five Shooter Syrah in next glass. I typically find these wines start hitting their stride at 5+ years, so expect this really shine a year from now.

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  • 2010 Sine Qua Non Syrah Five Shooter 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Came across as very powerful with great potential, even if backward today and even slightly too jammy. No question on the quality of raw materials here. Preferred the Five Shooter Grenache in next glass. I typically find these wines start hitting their stride at 5+ years, so expect this really shine a year+ from now.

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  • 2011 Sine Qua Non Grenache Dark Blossom

    USA, California, Central Coast

    I always find it challenging to taste and fully appreciate SQN this close to release. Served alongside the Syrah Dark Blossom, I preferred this Grenache. Lush and powerful in every way, slightly sweet. Good length with some faint hints of nuance on finish.

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  • 2011 Sine Qua Non Syrah Dark Blossom

    USA, California, Central Coast

    I always find it challenging to taste and fully appreciate SQN this close to release. Served alongside the Grenache Dark Blossom, which I preferred to this Syrah. Both were every ripe and lush, this slightly more so and also seemingly more monolithic. Slightly less structural elegance, but I am still confident this will emerge as very exciting in another year+.

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Flight 7 - Something Sweet (1 Note)

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