Sine Qua Non dinner

Assaf wanted to drink SQN. Six of us got together at the private room of Eddie V. The food was solid and the service was excellent as usual.

• 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne 97 Points

  France, Champagne

  It is a pleasure to see that the 02 Dom is fulfilling the initial promise. Upon release, this was very rich yet perfectly precise. From 2012 to 2016, most of the bottles showed very ripe fruit expression, turning from white to yellow. It was finally entering the second stage of development last year. This is the first bottle that expresses the full glory of a perfectly mature yet energetic Dom. Absolutely gorgeous nose displaying decadent yellow fruit, sugar coated lemon peels, acacia flower, fresh apple juice, tarte tatin, ginger and limestone. Excellent concentration, densely layered decadent yellow fruit, very fine generous mousse, creamy, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral and a long decadent yellow fruit and cinnamon driven finish. There is a hint of bitterness from Pinot that is still not fully resolved. It reminds me how the 96 Salon and Krug suddenly transformed in the past couple of years, gaining warm and decadent yellow fruit while retaining the precision and energy. For my palate, this can further develop for a couple more decades becoming like the 90.

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• 2002 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Initially served too warm, dominated by deeply toned sweet yellow fruit. On ideal serving temperature, very fresh and energetic nose displaying granny smith, lemon curd, lemon zest, honey, brioche, spicy spices and strong limestone mineral. Excellent concentration, lemon oil and spice spices driven palate impression, fine mousse, bright acidity, strong mineral presence and a long clean energetic finish with lemon zest and mineral at the end. Showing generous fruit yet very fresh and energetic. There is a strong BdB impression. Drinking beautifully but will improve further for another decade or two.

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• 2009 Sine Qua Non On The Lam 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Initially strong bar soap. Big scale nose displaying opulent very ripe yellow fruit, pineapple, peach, mango, cobbler, lilac, bubble yum, cinnamon, honey and a hint of heat. Excellent concentration, dense, oily and chewy, deeply toned tropical yellow fruit, medium acidity and a long rich yellow fruit driven finish. A typical SQN white, big, oily, sweet, extremely ripe and heat. YMMV as usual.

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• 2012 Sine Qua Non In the Abstract 94 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Surprisingly fresh showing white and yellow fruit. Expressive nose displaying pineapple, peach cobbler, pear, white peach, apple, candied lemon, white flowers and mineral. Excellent concentration, ripe yellow fruit and fresh white fruit coexist, medium acidity, strong steely mineral and a medium to long white fruit and mineral driven finish. It is showing very good balance which is a pleasant surprise.

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• 2011 Sine Qua Non The Moment 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  The ripest nose of the flight. Very sweet and ripe nose displaying apricot, orange marmalade, lychee, meyer lemon and steel. Excellent concentration, dense and oily, bright acidity and a long dense apricot and orange marmalade driven finish with a hint of lychee and steel at the end. There is also a hint of alcohol. Drinking almost like a dessert wine.

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• 2007 Sine Qua Non Grenache Pictures 93 Points

  USA, California

  Expressive nose displaying blueberry liqueur, blackberry pie, black cherry, fruitcake, baking spices and a hint of heat. Excellent concentration, intense ripe black and blue fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity, nicely integrated tannins and a long intense jammy black fruit and baking spices driven finish. There is a hint of heat at the end. I prefer the birds for the richness.

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• 2007 Sine Qua Non Grenache Dangerous Birds 95 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Very ripe and opulent nose displaying blackberry liqueur, blackberry jam, caramel, fruitcake, cinnamon, clove, licorice and a hint of port. Excellent concentration, unctuous, dense and oily opulent black fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, noticeable tannins and a long intense dark fruit and baking spices driven finish with a hint of port at the end. Although very impressive, I am not sure if I would want more than a small pour. This is a very flamboyant wine that is significantly richer and more concentrated than the regular Grenache. It reminds me Torbreck les Amis a bit. If you are a fan of SQN, easily a 97-100 pointer.

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• 2010 Sine Qua Non Grenache Five Shooter 94 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Expressive nose displaying blackberry liqueur, blackberry jam, baking spices, ash and tobacco. Excellent concentration, very packed black fruit, bright acidity, nicely integrated tannins and a long intense black fruit driven finish. This seems less opulent than the Stockholm Grenache. Once again, a classic none barrel aged SQN Grenache. Add 3 to 4 more points if you like them like Bob or Jeb.

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• 2010 Sine Qua Non Grenache Stockholm Syndrome Eleven Confessions Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  It hasn’t budged much since 2016, Expressive nose displaying intense black fruit, blackberry liqueur, mocha, incense, smoke, wet tobacco, molasses, baking spices and earth. Exceptional concentration, round and warm, chewy black fruit and baking spices driven palate impression, bright acidity, nicely integrated tannins and a long intense black fruit driven finish. I prefer this to the regular cuvee once again. Really big, opulent and ripe wine. Obviously YMMV but if you are a fan of SQN, easily a 100 pointer. My favorite grenache of the night.

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A friendly wager was made between Assaf and I to see who can correctly guess the Syrahs. Assaf got the vintages correct and I got the EBAs. Meanwhile, Greg O got the vintages right and only swapped the 10 EBA vs regular cuvee.

• 2007 Sine Qua Non Syrah Labels 96 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Expressive nose displaying crushed blackberry, crushed black cherry, lavender, ink, a hint of tapenade, black pepper, smoked meat and crushed rock. Excellent concentration, finely layered black fruit, silky and polished, good acidity, nicely integrated tannins and a long intense black fruit and lavender driven finish. I dare say it nicely expresses the classic Syrah typicity. Good freshness which is impressive. Perhaps my SQN of the night.

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• 2007 Sine Qua Non Syrah Dangerous Birds 96 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  A bit scale opulent nose displaying crushed blackberry, crushed black cherry, cherry brandy, licorice, pepper, dill and vanilla/oak. Excellent concentration, round and silky palate, good acidity, nicely integrated tannins and a long blackberry and cherry driven finish. Once again, richer, more opulent and more concentrated than the regular cuvee. It masks the syrah typicity however.

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• 2010 Sine Qua Non Syrah Five Shooter 95 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Incredibly youthful nose displaying crushed blackberry, blackberry jam, crushed pepper, smoke, baking spices and earth. Excellent concentration, nicely layered black fruit, silky and polished, good acidity, nicely integrated tannins and a long jammy black fruit driven finish. Although big and ripe, showing the nice Syrah typicity. Once again, not as opulent as the EBAS.

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• 2010 Sine Qua Non Syrah Stockholm Syndrome Eleven Confessions Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Intense nose displaying opulent jammy black fruit, blackberry liqueur, blackberry jam, mocha, licorice, smoke meat, baking spices, tree bark and earth. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of jammy black fruit, silky, round and polished, good acidity, no noticeable tannins and a long intense black fruit and vanilla driven finish. More opulent and concentrated than the regular cuvee but not as fresh and not as Syrah. If you are a big SQN fan, also prefers the EBA, a 100 pointer.

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• 2000 Sine Qua Non Sémillon Mr. K The Straw Man 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  Very ripe nose reminding me an old school late harvest Johannisberg Riesling. Very ripe yellow fruit, apricot jam, peach jam and honey. Slightly lacking acidity and a bit cloying but very tasty.

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As usual a great time was had by all and the dinner lasted six hours!