6 courses paired with SQN, Schrader, and Torbreck wines

On this Saturday afternoon, four couples gathered at our host's house for a multi-course food and wine pairing. Our hosts were very secretive about what wines we would be drinking that night, and their respective pairings, but we knew they would be stellar selections. Each couple had their infant or toddler in tow, so this was sure to be an interesting evening of wine and potentially whining!

Most of the wines were tasted double blind, and then revealed while everyone still had some wine still in their glasses.

Before we got started with the first course, the adults caught up and made sure we were well hydrated, and that the kids were going to play well with others on a very long play date.

Lobster Mac & Cheese. Inspired by Beecher's incredible Mac & Cheese, but even better when there's lobster in it! I was fairly certain that the wine paired with this was a Cakebread Reserve Chardonnay. I was wrong. After my guess, the Rousanne influence was pointed out to me, and I had no more bright ideas about what we were drinking. Matt got somewhat close by having a sense that a Rhone Ranger was at work here.

• 2006 Sine Qua Non The Hoodoo Man 96 Points

  USA, California

  Popped and poured. The nose of this wine had citrus, tropical fruit, and perfumed/floral aromas with notes of green apple and oak. The palate had nice lemon/lime zest flavors with a light honeyed nuance and minerality that gained intensity through the long finish. The outstanding mouthfeel and acidity of this wine really complimented the Lobster Mac & Cheese that this was paired with. My first SQN white, and one of my favorite white wines to date!

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Bacon & Onion Tart. It was obvious that we were having a Rose with this course. We got a clue that it was a Syrah Rose, and that it was from a 375 - that was why the pours were smaller than with the previous course. The clue that this was a Syrah Rose from a 375 instantly raised the SQN flags, but no one guessed that since we just had a SQN with the first course.

• 2002 Sine Qua Non E° 90 Points

  USA, California

  Opened this bottle and let it breathe and warm up a bit - about 30 minutes. Slightly cloudy, Reddish-pink color. The nose of this wine had cherry and strawberry aromas. The palate was consistent with the nose, but also revealed some oak flavors. This mouthfeel of this wine was more substantial than I expected from a Rose. There was a little heat that was evident at the end of the medium length finish, but it wasn't overpowering, and when paired with a Bacon & Onion tart, it wasn't even noticeable. This was my first tasting of a SQN Rose.

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Salmon with Buerre Blanc Sauce. Matt helped with the Buerre Blanc sauce, but still hasn't shared the recipe... We all knew this would be a Pinot to go with the salmon. I guessed that it was an 03 Oregon Pinot because it was so extracted and intense. I even called Shea vineyard after a little more thought and getting confirmation that it was from OR. Matt thought Santa Barbara. Once it was revealed - we all caught on to the game that was being played. It only took 3 courses too!

• 2003 Sine Qua Non Pinot Noir Omega 96 Points

  USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

  Decanted about 2 1/2 hours. Deep Purple color. The nose had sweet black cherry, caramel and note of a vanilla/spice blend. The palate brought terrific cherry, cola and earthy flavors with a touch of espresso. This Pinot was really intense and almost Syrah-like. One of the fullest bodied Pinots that I've ever had and very representative of some of the better 03 OR Pinots that I've tasted. Great mouthfeel and a long finish as well. Not a style that everyone would enjoy, but WOTN for many in this group. Paired nicely with Salmon & a Buerre Blanc sauce.

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Truffle Crusted Tenderloin with Garlic Brocollini. We were told that this wine was a Cabernet. Just when we caught on to the SQN game too... My thought was that this was an Orin Swift Mercury Head. This wine tasted very young, but was still very approachable. Plus I know that Mercury Head is one of our host's favorites - Never hurts to make the educated guess - but wrong again.

• 2005 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Decanted about 4 hours. Dark violet color. The nose showed dark cherry, cassis and vanilla aromas. The palate revealed flavors of blackberry/blueberry, mocha, earth, and spicy oak. Smooth mouthfeel and a nice long finish. Very approachable for a wine that is just entering it's drinking window, but could easily rest for many more years to come. This wine was an incredible pairing with a truffle crusted tenderloin and garlic brocollini. The spices, (especially the truffles), really highlighted the best of what this wine had to offer. I just love those pairings when the wine and the food both taste better together.

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Herb Crusted Lamb Chops with Celery Root Gratin. The lamb gave everyone the clue that this would be a Syrah/Shiraz pairing. The first taste of this wine made me realize that we weren't going back to the SQN game. I haven't tasted a SQN Syrah yet, but there was an herbal-like note to this wine that made me sure it wouldn't be SQN. We eventually got a clue that the wine was from Australia. After that clue, it also became obvious that most of us have stopped following Aussie Shiraz recently. Not a lot of guesses other than Grange. This wine is just what I needed to go back and re-visit some of those Shirazs that I still have hanging around. I can only hope that some of mine will hold up like this.

• 2002 Torbreck RunRig 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Decanted about 5 hours. Very dark purple/black color. The nose had aromas of sweet dark fruits and notes of something high-toned, herbal or floral that I couldn't quite identify. The palate had spicy, peppery blackberry and tobacco flavors. This was a big bruiser of a wine with a thick and rich mouthfeel and a medium-long finish. Paired well with herb crusted lamb chops with a celery root gratin.

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Creme Brulee. Our host didn't even try to hide the identity of this wine. I had tasted it with him last summer, and there is no way it was going to get by me, and I'm sure that the rest of the group would have been calling out SQN anyway. What a wonderful dessert course!

• 2004 Sine Qua Non Sémillon Mr. K The Straw Man 100 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  Popped and poured. Wow! This wine just amazes me! Beautiful orangish, golden color. Aromas of dried apricots, tropical fruit, and honey just explode from the glass. The palate brings everything the nose promised and adds more complexity with creme brulee, and orange marmalade-like flavors that progress beautifully through a long, long finish. I have no idea how long it ultimately could have lasted, because I kept taking sips before the finish had completely subsided. The mouthfeel, body and balance of this wine are just perfect. Paired with a creme brulee. This pairing made it really hard to tell where the wine stopped and the dessert started. My WOTN again, and probably my favorite wine period.

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This format worked really well for all of us and our kids - the late afternoon start was a huge help! There was enough time between courses to play with the kids and get the toddlers interested in something new in time for the next course. As Steve said, "...I have never enjoyed myself more at a 5+ hour meal." Just an all around great experience, and even the little ones hung in there pretty good. While we all pledged to continue this tradition at our own houses, the bar has been set high! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Tom & Stephanie!