Community Tasting Note

• Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 points

  May 23, 2021 - Almost a year since my last bottle.....this one provided by Jen for our 2nd day of our event.
  
  12 hour decant.......and still not enough for my full enjoyment? Dark fruited entry with a bit of a tart ending to it on the back palate. Noticeable alcohol in this bottle along with an herbaceous note, some here voted akin to thistle or nettle? I personally think maybe this one needs a few more years in bottle.....for my very llimited SQN experience the '07 and '12s from earlier today/tonight were more ready for consumption and in my wheel house.
  
  Addendum to note from the other night.....had a small glass from the fridge the next evening.....immensely better so once again, Jen the DQ was right! Much smoother and approachable, no harsh tannic structure. I'd probably give it a 94+ at this stage.

  4 people found this helpful 4,651 views

29 Comments

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/23/21, 7:36 AM - Sounds like you guys are drinking some nice wines! My experience with SQN pales with yours. What is your experience with 05 SQN? (If you have any)?

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/23/21, 7:55 AM - My experience is beyond the pale......only one or two previous SQNs before yesterdays......I supplied the '07 Pictures and '12 Stein, Jen the '13 Female and an '11 Patine which I've yet to score as it really rubbed me wrong and I'd had too many wines by that time. Hope to re-visit it today. So to answer your question the '07 is my oldest and these have all been grenache thus far, I have zero experience with their syrahs. I can see where their allure comes from. There is a trademark creaminess to the palate with these wines, unlike any other styles I've had. Still the tariffs can be quite high. I suspect as I move into retirement, my SQN days will be few and far between and if I buy any they will be older vintages that I can enjoy quickly and not have to wait 10+ years on.....

• markcic commented:

  5/23/21, 8:04 AM - Hi Mark - if you don't mind sharing what was the issue with the Patine? I like your comments - then again I find that people named Mark are astute wine drinkers - you should try their syrahs as they are mind blowing. Actually I am pulling a 2013 syrah for the memorial day bbq - bbq and syrah were made for each other. Have a good day.

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/23/21, 8:17 AM - Mark, I was never a fan of the '11 vintage in Cali but realize that Krankl does make his wines from different areas that were not all plagued by the weather that ruined the Napa/Sonoma reds that year. In spite of a healthy decant of many hours, it never seemed like the Patine wanted to open up. It remained quite tight and tannic almost bitter to me. We saved some in a glass out in air overnight and will revisit later today. Thanks for your kind words and enjoy your BBQ/syrah!

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/23/21, 9:43 AM - I have only had SQN wines twice. I own a few (single bottles mostly). I have a 2005 Atlantis Syrah, but the rest are much more recent (2010 - 2016). I am trying to time the 2005, and hope to still be alive when the others are ready drink! Hope you guys continue to enjoy what sounds like a wonderful tasting! Cheers!

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/23/21, 8:22 PM - IRBDW......I can see now how SQN gets the rep it does for their wines, at least the grenache. Will have to look into finding some aged syrah to try. Cheers!

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/23/21, 8:23 PM - markcic......new note posted on the '11 Patine grenache tonight......much better!

• Jimaronson commented:

  5/25/21, 7:51 PM - Has anyone tried Andremily wines and compared them to SQN?

• Decanting Queen commented:

  5/26/21, 1:44 AM - Jim—not yet but just order my first allocation. Have you had them before?

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/26/21, 5:18 AM - James, I've never had one.......maybe I can steal one out of Jen's cellar when she's not looking? I just need to watch her fingers closely the next time she punches her code into the cellar door......

• Jimaronson commented:

  5/26/21, 5:37 AM - I’ve got some we can share.

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/26/21, 6:03 AM - Ok....I'll pour you an old Cali cab!

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/26/21, 7:38 AM - What do you think of them Jim?

• Jimaronson commented:

  5/26/21, 8:07 AM - They are super intense wines. I have not had the Grenache, but the Syrah's and Mourvedre wines are full bodied and highly concentrated with violets, blackberry, cassis, and other strong black fruits. You could use it to put on pancakes with syrup (just kidding). Very interesting and Rachel & Jim Binns are super high quality winemakers. They describe their wines as a full bodied elixir that leaps from the glass. I agree. The wines are over $100 a bottle and are purchased in three packs.

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/26/21, 8:15 AM - I signed up, but am waitlisted....we'll see what happens! BTW....I didn't see they made a Grenache?

• Jimaronson commented:

  5/26/21, 10:53 AM - Hope you receive an offer. Stay in touch with me. I'll also bring a bottle to share with MarkPT1 sometime and let's see what he thinks.

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/26/21, 11:11 AM - He thinks he's most probably going to like it........

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/26/21, 1:25 PM - On the waitlist but not holding my breathe.....I called the winery and was told there are 4000 people on the waitlist....also they do not sell bottles (maybe they do at the winery, but not over the phone!)....He did tell me though that the wines were made to be drunk early, even though they will improve with cellar time....I have not tried a young SQN (I think 10 is the youngest I have had)...maybe I should bite the bullet and try one....I will look at the secondary market to try an Andremily too.....I will let you guys know if I find one.....Jim, any suggestions on vintages for either Syrah or Mourvedre (this year will be first release for Grenache)? Thanks, Jason

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/26/21, 4:18 PM - Update: I found a couple bottles on the secondary market. I bought a 2018 Syrah and a 2018 Mourvedre. I also purchased a 2013 Syrah. Probably should have gotten 2 bottles of one of them so I could try one early. Oh well!

• markcic commented:

  5/26/21, 5:15 PM - Just for a bit of information I have been on the SQN list for 8 or 9 years and when I called last year they told me I have a few more years to go.

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/26/21, 5:57 PM - I have been on Marcassin's list for at least that long......unfortunately, no way to contact them....but I am still on the list! It's hard when there is no incentive to drop off because wines sell for a premium on the secondary market.

• Jimaronson commented:

  5/26/21, 7:56 PM - I am on SQN list too and waiting. Fortunately got on Andremily instead. My feeling is that when SNQ comes around I will be drinking my 2018 bordeaux.
  
  If I were you I would sign up for Helen Keplinger’s wines. QPR is terrific, her style of Grenache and Syrah is terrific, and you may have better success in the short term.

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/26/21, 8:06 PM - Lol.....probably, James!

• Decanting Queen commented:

  5/27/21, 2:36 AM - lol I have been waiting for SQN forever. Maybe will get on the list in time for my kids to enjoy it. In the meantime, occasional expensive secondary market purchases will have to suffice!!

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/27/21, 4:51 AM - Jen....Carol has suggested I just employ a new buying strategy.....rather than buying all the '20 futures I want or trying to get on SQN and then being locked into large expenditures every year......just wait 20 years, buy the ones I really want and buy single bottles in the secondary market as I read about them and how they've matured. They can always be found somewhere with today's internet. And it keeps me from overflowing in my cellar, like it currently is. I think she's on to something.........

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/27/21, 8:45 AM - So nice of you to get wine for your kids! Wish my parents would have done that! SQN mailing list will not shrink as long as everyone who is already on the list can make $$$$ by selling wines they don't want.....I have a couple friends on Screaming Eagle's list and they always take their allocation and sell off some of the wines to pay for the ones they keep. Their list will never shrink either. I think Jim and you have the right idea, buy some on the secondary market or find a substitute......Thank God their are plenty of wineries making excellent wine!

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/27/21, 8:52 AM - Good luck with that Mark! I am trying to implement a new strategy too (so far unsuccessfully) of trying to figure out when I am going to drink all my wine rather than when I am going to purchase more! (Although I have paired down my purchase list to Promontory, Harlan, and (Aubert and Kistler - Chardonnay only). And I should probably forget Harlan and Promontory pretty soon because I will be dead when they are ready to drink!

• Decanting Queen commented:

  5/29/21, 6:07 AM - Mark, don’t worry, I have some SQN syrah we can try next time you are here. Or we can give it some more years...

• Mark1npt commented:

  5/29/21, 8:11 AM - Sounds like a winner, Jen!

Add a Comment