4/24/2024 - ERU wrote:

What? What’s that, I said I would hold off on my 2016 CdPs until at least 2025? Here is a truth about me: I often lie to myself. There you have it.

Decanted four hours. Great wine. Nose of black and red, sparkly fruits. Peppercorn! Deep. Palate of freshly ground peppercorns, those red fruits kicking and savory herbs. The heat on the wine is not unnoticeable but also not distracting. I wonder if I became more sensitive to it when I almost had it come out my nose from reacting to perhaps one of the all-time standout lines in a work of history I’ve ever read. Let’s just say it’s not every day one learns of a seminal moment in history that involves a timely horse neigh brought on by an expertly scented hand. I digress.

Now, I really, really am going to wait on my other bottles. Now is the time for patience so that some humdinger-y evolution can happen. This is in that glorious window for which we all aim. Praise Bacchus.

4/8/2024 - ERU wrote:

Total Eclipse Wine. Decanted two hours.

Past its peak. A rather fine nose of muted fruit and leather. Palate of faint fruit, leather and soil. Finish was 5 seconds, then gone without a whisper.

Glad to have had this experience. All the heart and toil people put into crafting this light held together with moisture shouldn’t be so negated by someone like me who is passing judgement while I have a day job clicking a mouse and a wondering which past fork in the road I choose unwisely. So, while no <pause> moment for me, I felt lucky and good to have a taste of this.

Also, the Total Eclipse was fucking awesome. The biblical awesome, not the present-day shadow of the word.

4/8/2024 - ERU wrote:

A Total Eclipse Wine. Decanted five hours.

I’ve been struggling with some New World Grenache. Preliminary evidence suggested I perhaps don’t like them too old. Hence my sacrifice of an infant at the altar of the Total Eclipse.

Well, well made wine. Care went into this bottle. And, sigh, not for me. The previous Grenache SQNs I’ve had made me think that the bombastic style into which they so heavily lean was my problem. Andremily isn’t too far off (shouldn’t be shocked, me), but is more restrained. I’ve been going around and around, grasping for the correct language to convey what my issue is. (My lexicon isn’t big—novice here.) I think it’s that there’s no playfulness? No light, bright beam of joy? It’s Grenache made ponderous, and I’m not sure if I’m okay with that.

Score withheld as I do not wish to taint the ratings pool. It’s a good wine, but not in my wheelhouse. I can’t be mad at that.

3/30/2024 - ERU wrote:

Waited a whole stinkin’ year to have another bottle. I should have waited the two I recommended. This was great, though.

Decanted for 4 hours. The tannins are more resolved, but I’d like them even more so. Those walnuts and berries are there still, too. Just a little bit more time. Perhaps the year that I freaking recommended to myself? See you in 2025, next bottle!

3/29/2024 - ERU wrote:

Slow-ox for 6 hours. This is a well-made wine. Okay, now to the other stuff. . . .

This is not teally my cup of tea. Oooh, let me continue that thread: the palate is full of over-steeped tea. There is a brightness here—it is Grenache—but it’s morphed into this Hulk-like thing that I can’t wrap my brain around. Each sip I kept thinking, “This is a world-class wine, why don’t I dig it more? Let me ponder.” So, intellectual box: checked. Pleasure box? (Oh, dear.) Um, no. No, my pleasure box was decidedly not checked.

In looking over my notes for the Distenta I Grenache, I think I need to drink up any SQN Grenache I have on the early side. Flip side of that coin, I like the SQN Syrah later, methinks. I also plan on throwing any loose change I have in my couch or the car ashtray-like receptacle at SQN Syrah exclusively.

3/16/2024 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 1 hour. Couple more were most likely needed. I did like this—and some potential here, but not something that gives you the <pause> when it’s just you and the wine. Will let my other bottles do some cellaring. My hopes were high, because of To Kalon and the wine’s name. Hot damn, do I remember roadtripping with a pack (or two) of smokes, a six pack (or two) of cheap beer, a bottle (yep, or two) of Boone’s (I’ve come a long way, baby), Zeppelin on the radio and nothing but a gorgeous summer evening full of youthful stupidity and sweet possibility. Sigh.

3/9/2024 - ERU wrote:

The cork did not budge as the corkscrew worked its way out. A disintegration of epic proportions then transpired, like an ancient pharaoh with bad embalming work feeling fresh air after a millennia of tomb darkness. No seepage, and we drank but something was off (shocking!) Rating withheld. My, oh, my, I have two more bottles. Hoping those corks are more corky.

3/10/2024 - ERU wrote:

PnP. No formal notes—going from memory. Red fruits and charred wood. No time for decant, but PnP was a-okay. Very much enjoyed. I don’t think there’s a hurry to open other bottles, this has plenty of life left.

12/26/2023 - ERU wrote:

Great quality cab. Needs a decant (3-4 hours.) This one is a go-to in my house.

3/1/2024 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 8 hours. Some floral potpourri, herbs and red fruits. Everything here is seamless. As is usually the case with me, the last sips were the best, pointing toward more decant time needed. No discernible heat.

Glad to have had a Barolo which was within a window of readiness. I find the varietal so challenging to gauge when it’s ready. I do think I will continue my “leave ‘em alone” strategy.

2/25/2024 - ERU wrote:

Giving this a 94+ because it’s below that $100 mark. Bam!

2 hour decant. Great cab at this price point. No formal notes taken, but the structure and fruit were marked. It’s in prime time now, should be for a few more years, I think. Glad to have other bottles.

2/26/2024 - ERU wrote:

5 hour decant. Consumed with my parents, so no formal notes, I was too busy enjoying their company, conversation and sporadic reactions to this wine.

My dad was so-so (he is a structured Cab man) my mom was blown away by the nose. The note I remember most clearly was fennel. Fascinating. We philosophized and solved most pertinent societal problems and character assassinated many prominent media personalities while consuming this wine. Ah, the power of wine and hubris! We had a fabulous time.

Purposely drank this young as an experiment. Needed the decant. More importantly, needs a handful more years in the cellar. Still enjoyable, but, honestly, I love my Rhone Grenache more. I promised Mom and Dad a CdP the next time we’re together. Can’t wait to see what global issues we work out then.

2/18/2024 - ERU wrote:

Decanted for 4+ hours. Ruby colored. Red candied fruit, garrigue and spice. I’ve never had anything that is such a wallop of flavor and so light and fresh. It demands sip after sip to try and figure it out. Then I stopped because why overanalyze something so great? Enjoy! Now, it’s too young. Time will make this baby reveal its stuff under the hood.

This bottle put any doubts to rest—I’m waiting on any other 2016 CdPs. I might check one out in 2025 to see how they are doing. In the meanwhile, I’ll console myself with the 2010s.

2016 is one of those vintages that really lives up to the hype.

2/14/2024 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 5 hours. The nose is mulled cranberry, cured meat, tomato leaf, and, there at the end of the waft, like Hope herself, violet springs forth. On the palate, fresh ground pepper, dank tobacco, and those berries and violets.

If you love Northern Rhone, but the Southern part of that Eden is somehow not your thing, Behold! Here is a CdP for you, my friend. I’m gobsmacked at how well the Syrah pokes through. Enjoyed the hell out of this, but I think it’s not even at its peak. In, ooooh, I dunno, half a year? A whole entire year? Whenever I pop that next cork, this score is going to go up.

2/11/2024 - ERU Likes this wine:

Previous bottle was obviously flawed; this wine is slapping. 6+ hour decant. Fabulous black fruit, leather, woodsy stuff and licorce going on here. Everything is integrated and completely in check. Silky smooth, great finish. Had with smoked short ribs, braised collard greens and an Usher Super Bowl halftime show that rivaled but did not quite top Prince’s. I mean, Usher did roller skate and sing at the same time, but Prince strutted around a rain-soaked runway in 4-inch boots while absolutely slaying a guitar. Anyway, I digress: Yummy, yummy. No need to wait if a long decant, but this should keep well for many years.

2/10/2024 - ERU Likes this wine:

Decanted 5 hours. This was key—needed time to open. I fear that may have been my problem with ‘17. The Mourvèdre struts it stuff here with the darker fruits. Medium to full bodied, this is a good bottle of wine that won’t break the bank. 93+

2/2/2024 - ERU wrote:

Here’s my attempt at trying something off my beaten path: Spanish Tempranillo (with a dash of Mazuelo—whatever that is. Okay, just looked it up, it’s what we Yanks know as Carignane. Gotcha.) This wine is a-okay. I’m not going to buy anymore, especially at this price point, let’s put it that way.

Aerated and decanted for 4+ hours. Red fruit basket, some woodsy stuff, fig. I have one more bottle. Going to let it lie for quite a spell.

2/3/2024 - ERU wrote:

Ah, my first Cornas in a while that has not been flawed. So, right of the bat here—yay!

Aerated and decanted for 6 hours. This started off a touch austere, so left in the glass and filled the time with an inferior wine that I won’t even mention. We then pulled a Jesus and had this better wine next. Fabulous nose of black fruit, olives, pepper and umami. Sip after sip gave bunches of olives, dark currant, roasted meat, pepper and good salinity. Decidedly medium bodied. Would have ticked higher for me if it would have been a full-bodied Cornas experience.

Here's the thing about Cornas for me: This is Syrah at its most primordial. Cornas is the wise patriarch, and all other Syrah / Shiraz of the world are its brash, spirited offspring. Cornas is born of Winter and all others are Children of Summer. I often find myself very much in the mood for the total exuberance of a great Syrah from warmer climes, but sometimes—oh, sometimes!—it must be the contemplative, generous unfurling of a great Cornas. There’s nothing else like it in the world.

1/28/2024 - ERU wrote:

Decanted around 4 hours. Blue and black fruits, moss, leather and freshness. Tannins and acidity are perfect. There is a longish finish, but I found it strangely hollow. Was surprised as the mouth promised more delivery here. This is a good wine, but, with the name and the price, would have expected more. I think I’ll wait on the next bottle to see if those mossy, leathery notes develop into something special. Maybe they’ll bring something else along for the ride.

I’m thinking I need to take a break from all the Rhones so I can recalibrate for any Bordeaux blends. It’s winter here, and my quest for hedonism is clouding some things. (The weather is cloudy, too.) OR, should I just give it up and slip into the big, slap me in the face streak I was taking?

Obviously don’t talk to me about a silly dry January.
Buffoonery.

1/25/2024 - ERU wrote:

Oh, the acidity. I tried 24 hours of air, on a wing and a prayer. Nope. Really hoping my other bottles don’t have this excessive VA. Whew, gonna need some milk. And I don’t like milk.

1/18/2024 - ERU wrote:

Quick decant (30 minutes?) in restaurant setting. Needed more, but still soooo good. Excited to try since I’m looking to get some 2019 DEM and wanted a confirmation of my ravenous thirst.

I agree with much of RhoneWho’s note, especially with the 2016 being more unctuous. (In a good way—bring it on.) With my 2019 DEM experience being a little over a year later, I can say this still needs some time. Pepper and black fruits from Mourvèdre, brightness from the Grenache. I want to see how much this “digs in” with more cellar time. I like my CdPs with Mourvedre deeeeeep—think Mariana Trench. With some leviathan or Lovecraftian entity. DEEP. This can go there for sure. Had first glass alone, second glass with Asian-spiced steak. Great both times.

I am wondering what vintage of DEM will be the last with Philippe Cambie being involved. We should have a handful of years more?

1/13/2024 - ERU Likes this wine:

Decanted 4 hours. An effortless wine, this gives up black fruit, spice and black pepper and ever so slight—just a hint! of the wild game I treasure so much in CdPs. Indeed, I’m wondering how the Mourvèdre profile can be so otherwise dominant without the game. I think this might be up to the task of matching the fabulous Tintot 2010 vintage. So a couple more years until my next bottle. I am excited to see the evolution here.

1/13/2024 - ERU Likes this wine:

Decanted 3 hours. Notes not taken. Liked this, needs more time. Revisiting 2025.

12/29/2023 - ERU wrote:

Aearted and decanted 1.5 hours. Surprisingly assessable at that point. Cassis and floral notes. Green forest floor. A touch resinous. Deep. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet franc, 10% merlot, 3% petit Verdot. This is good, good stuff. Every vintage of Les Pavots is wonderful—a go-to wine for me.

12/30/2023 - ERU wrote:

Aerated and decanted 2 hours. Poured a glass and sat by the fire.

Nose of game and blood. Wealth of beautiful black fruits and plums. A surprising zing of menthol every third long, slow inhale.

Palate of spicy herbs and cured meat. The grenache holds more sway here with some red fruit breaking through the black. It’s got so much going on—game here, tar there, stewed puréed fruits and blood splattered about. It’s big and deep; it’s hedonism with an almost impossible balancing act with. . . everything. Everything!

This wine is NOT for the fastidious or decorous who prune the shrubbery into animal shapes, make love with the lights off, and/or are not haunted by Ellen Burstyn’s loss at the 73rd Academy Awards. It’s for those who enter the opium den, find it all blasé, then head to the secret back room where a mysterious man keeps the magic puzzle boxes that can bring forth either angels or demons, depending upon your proclivities, of course. I don’t know about you, but, for me, bring it on, denizens of the opium den!

12/25/2023 - ERU wrote:

Had to pull an audible after my Clape was corked. (Bah, humbug!) Pulled a bottle of the Ontogeny ‘17 since I knew it wouldn’t need much air. It was ready to go and delicious. It saved the day! So much so we pulled an ‘18. We were curious! PnP. First sip told me the ‘18 was better, but this bottle needed more air than we were able to give in our parched states. Needless to say, the last sip was the best. Here is the bottom line: One cannot have too much Ontogeny in the cellar. Still a decent price point in this age of “Let’s see who can be the most ridiculous in Napa pricing.” Bah, humbug, indeed.

12/25/2023 - ERU wrote:

Corked. Boo. Boo!!!

12/23/2023 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 4 hours. Lovely nose of black fruit and sweet clove. Palate the same, with leather. This is still pretty tannic, but not distractingly so. Enjoyed this on Christmas Eve’s Eve. So glad to have had a Morlet that plastered a smile on my face! Going to hold off on another bottle for a year or two.

12/10/2023 - ERU wrote:

Made a huge meal for my husband’s birthday; beef tenderloin was the star. I was thinking perhaps we could have a Clape to go along with the beef and all the heavy accompaniments. But it’s his birthday, and he said he wanted something, “Huge and with stank.” Now, a Clape can fit this bill, but, really, just, really: If this wasn’t a Sine Qua Non request, then I don’t know what is.

Decanted 3+ hours. I wish we would have gone more, because this improved as the glass got shallower. Pepper, bacon fat, plum compote, and leather from a horse saddle that has been ridden by one hell of a cowboy fills the mouth. First couple of sips the 15.9% alcohol made its presence known, then, poof! was gone.

Thoroughly enjoyed this; wish I had more. Almost gives me the strength to hang on for, oh, 13 to 37 more years until I finally make the SQN mailing list.

12/9/2023 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 45 minutes. Teeth coating, black fruit. Love how the Cab Franc with its brambly herbiness pushes through on these Tench Bevan blends. Russell Bevan sure as $hit knows what he’s doing.

12/3/2023 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 3 hours. Nose of spice, black fruit and blood. In the mouth, it’s spice and blood. And it’s hot. Sooo deep, but a little too hot for me. No surprise with a listed 15.5% alcohol content. Let it sit in the glass 2 hours to give it more air. Swirled occasionally. It then tasted—gonna get descriptive here—like a bouquet of garrigue and peppercorns dipped in blood that was placed in an air-tight leather box and left for a long spell. It was fabulous. The heat had subsided to a level that let the wine strut its stuff. This was, unfortunately, my only bottle of this vintage. Sad! If I had another, I’d wait at least a year to open.

11/22/2023 - ERU wrote:

I had to think about this one before making this note. In short, I was disappointed, but my expectations were sky high. Decanted 2 hours. This is a very good wine, but I found it lacking. I adore Morlet wines, and Passionnement is one of their best. The notes here point toward something fabulous. The rich, full mouthfeel and moment of joie de vivre just weren’t there for me. I am hoping this bottle / my mood / my taste buds were off. Rating withheld; halfway existential crisis concerning my wine obsession and the validity of my cellar continues. Going to follow CT notes on my next bottle’s date.

11/23/2023 - ERU wrote:

This was wonderful with our traditional turkey Thanksgiving meal. Here is a note you won’t get from me often—this is a light, feminine wine, and I loved it. There was some power here, too: long finish, nice notes of forest floor and muddled fruit. Decanted a scant 1 hour and was plenty. Got a phenomenal deal on this—should have picked up more, but I get nervous with Pinot Noir. Should have known I was in good hands with Kosta Browne.

11/13/2023 - ERU wrote:

Aerated, then let it slow ox in glass for almost 2hrs. This is a very soft, Grenache-dominated wine. It’s surprising with a blend of 45% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and the rest rounded out with other CdP grapes. The almost extreme softness and even sweetness are what throw me off. Red fruits, herbs and iron. I liked it, but it’s not in my Rhône wheelhouse. I grabbed some pate I happened to have for the second half of glass. It went well—needed the pate’s kick. I’m going to have the next bottle around the New Year. We’ll see how that goes.

11/12/2023 - ERU wrote:

Slow ox’d in bottle for about two hours. Solid bottle but nothing special. I expect a little more pizazz with a GSM, and this is much more of a one note type of wine.

11/10/2023 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 1.5 hours. Wonderful nose of black fruit, smoke and herbs. Palate has the fruit and herbs with some spice. Long finish. Great wine! It begs for food, and I made pork belly ramen—not a good combo. (To quote the late, great George Michael, “Why do I do the things I do?”) So this was enjoyed before dinner and then after. This would have knocked my socks off with some beef. Next bottle—serving with steaks.

11/4/2023 - ERU wrote:

Loved this. Key takeaway for me is comparison to the 2016. I also loved that one—slightly more so. Hence, gonna leisurely wait on next bottle of the 2018 for a couple of years. But, really, Bevan is such a gift: It will be a winner no matter when you open a bottle. It’s whether you want the ribeye or filet, Goodfellas or the Departed, Nadal on clay or Federer on grass. You win!

11/2/2023 - ERU wrote:

Glass at one hour decant: Marvelous. Pepper, licorice, cherry with warm spices. Remarkably light on its feet. Glass at 4.5 hour decant: liked it better earlier! Still great. All the previous with fruit less prevalent and the pepper turning toward the white pepper realm and some smoked bacon. This is in a good spot. Will probably plan on my next bottle sometime in 2024 and will consume more quickly.

10/27/2023 - ERU wrote:

Aerated and decanted for 1 hour. Poured back into bottle and drank about one hour later. Continued to slowly sip. I don’t want to rate this yet—the oak is impenetrable. Going to let other bottles sit until 2026.

10/24/2023 - ERU wrote:

On Tuesday, October 24th, I had my first Sine Qua Non. Wanted something special for the gift of Summer temps in my backyard smack in the middle of a Northern Illinois Autumn. Decanted 7 hours.

Should have instead slowly sipped this wine in my non-existent, mahogany-paneled, rare-book-filled study at midnight with the sounds of a crackling fire and distant thunder that would inevitably grow closer. Alone, brooding over the Devil’s Deal that tantalized untold success and revenge against my enemies but knowing the price I would pay at the end would be monstrous unless I had set up my chess pieces well enough to double cross him.

So, if I ever find myself in this situation, it’s nice to know I don’t have to worry about what I should drink.

This is some f^&%* serious wine. Opaque and dark, black fruit, pepper, leather, herbs and big doses of tapenade. It’s a charcuterie board without the cheese and fig jam. It’s ponderous without clunky weight. It doesn’t let up—no peace to be had when drinking this. To me, a rating is not the point with this one because of the intensity of the experience, but I do see ratings as something to guide rather than an actual grade. I’d give it a 94 last night while consuming and a 98 while dreaming about it (yep, I really did) and contemplating it this morning. Ergo, a 96. Whew.

10/21/2023 - ERU Likes this wine:

Decanted 4 hours. Nose is licorice, cherries, baking spice and even a little blood. Palate is pepper, licorice, more pepper and red fruit. The tannins are so grippy that the next sips were only giving up red twizzlers. Then that’s all I could taste or smell, so set glass aside for two hours. This helped. Last sip was the best with the spice and exotic earthy stuff coming. More cellar time! 2025+. Looking forward to it: possible 95.

10/13/2023 - ERU wrote:

PnP’d. Is this a big wine? I suppose, but I’ve had bigger and not as well crafted. I think this is surprisingly great considering the value and somewhat “meh” ratings. Can’t remember what I ate and can’t remember the nose or flavor profile. (This is not because of the high alcohol, it is because I am getting old.) Wish I would have picked up more of these. It’s thrilling to find a great wine at a great price. Really, when does that happen anymore?

10/7/2023 - ERU wrote:

Just fabulous. Beat the 2010 Beaucastel we had on the same night, although having both was an embarrassment of riches. Just love Mas de Boislauzon. Decanted 6 hours. Lovely.

10/7/2023 - ERU wrote:

Had along with 2010 Mas de Boislauzon Tintot. The Beaucastel is in a good spot. Black fruit and the kind of smoke you get when it’s cold out and you’re sitting around a fire. Good, good stuff. I rank the Tintot higher because the meatiness of it is more intense and geared to my palate. What a night—two gems. Decanted both for 6 hours. I actually think the Beaucastel might have needed less.

10/2/2023 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 3.5 hours. Red fruit, some beautiful creamy currant stuff going on. An hour later, plums and pencil shavings. Would have scored higher if the finish was more pronounced. Enjoyed this while rewatching The Big Short. I wondered at my personal ethics in drinking a 17-year-old Monte Bello while bemoaning all the greed in the movie, but then I have no idea what a bespoke tranche opportunity is. So I got that going for me.

9/24/2023 - ERU wrote:

Decanted 3 hours. Candied red fruit, stony forest floor. Liked this a lot.

9/4/2023 - ERU wrote:

Rich, complex wine with herbs, meat, spice, earthy stuff, and stewed fruit. Decanted 3 hours and swirled in the glass. Wonderful juice here—I enjoyed it thoroughly and will be revisiting in 2-3 years. Only gonna get better. Really, the world is a better place because of Rhônes.

8/24/2023 - ERU wrote:

This wine is utterly wonderful: great blend, fabulous nose (hello violets and pomegranate), a palate of ripe red fruit that expands as the time passes; an elegant offering that doesn’t leave me wanting for pizzazz. I don’t want to mention the ROI because that’s not what’s important here—it’s just a great bottle of wine. . . And, yep, it’s a great value. . .

8/14/2023 - ERU wrote:

Just shy of 4 hour decant—thank you to prior notes for this heads up. Tannins are powdery/chalky. Had an aha moment when I realized I had a wine that was showing me what that meant (always learning, or, at least, pretending like I am.) The fruit is starting to recede and that’s a good thing. It must have been huge at one point. Compote with leather and better with each subsequent sip. First glass alone and second glass with gnocchi and pork sausage marinara. Yum.

6/16/2023 - ERU wrote:

Setting this one up for you: husband and I, back patio, listening to Bossa nova because it’s summer and I love it, grabbed a bottle of the new stuff from Bevan. Half a glass in, husband grabs a smoke, puts on GnR Night Train instead, and I damn well concur. Full throttle Pinot?!?!? Yes. Holy smokes, what a marvelous revelation.