February 28, 2024 - Tasting in Miami (Ken's Castle): Opened and let is slo-O for an hour, then consumed over the next 2 hours. This wine was still improving throughout the consumption so drink or hold (it was also very good from the get-go).
Nose and palate showed plenty black and blue fruit with some spoked meat and hints of black pepper and spice. Solid 95.
February 12, 2024 - I took a page out of Burgundy Al's Super Bowl playbook! I shipped this mag (that I held from release) down to our special gathering spot for great friends to enjoy over the game. Add in a little hocus pocus drama and, voila! We enjoyed it in the fading light of day for postmortem the following day instead! Just a massive wine, black fruit, dense, extracted. Incredibly long and remarkable lingering finish. While it will never be my personal first choice in the draft, it is everything that you know SQN Syrah's to be, and that is a majestic thing. Highly recommend many hours in multiple decanters (esp. in larger formats). Memorable, and for that I am grateful!
January 6, 2024 - The Return to the Ledbury (The Ledbury, London): It’s been 11 years since we had this last ( Papies 92) and was a joy to cross paths with it albeit this is one of the less elegant SQNs . Punchy rich, big wine, lots of substance but unlike others we have had from them also felt a bit heavy and lacked that elevated harmony we so treasure from SQNs. Proper wine for sure and a good 93
October 21, 2023 - Rich, delicious, blackberry/blueberry fruit with oaky flavors, excellent structure, forward in the palate, a little short on the finish, velvety texture
September 17, 2023 - Take your time! This puppy needs a couple hours to really show it's brilliance. Blue fruit all over this thing, blueberry, jammy characteristics on the mouth. Gamey turkey leg nose. Like nothing I have ever tried before, very special bottle. This was my first SQN, so excited to see how the other's stack up against this one. Very good, just wish I didn't have a full glass right away
September 2, 2023 - Decanted for 1.5 hours. Nose of blackberry, blueberry, gamey meat, licorice and spice. Black and blue fruit, gamey meat, licorice, spice and fine tannins on the palate. Waves of flavor with a very long finish. Full bodied. Aged beautifully. Served with hickory smoked beef brisket.
May 5, 2023 - Still a big wine, but somewhat tamed by age. Blackberry, smoked meat, hot stone, black licorice, olive. Tasted over two nights, first night PnP. Slightly less intense night#2, but otherwise consistent notes.
April 16, 2023 - SQN Dinner (Jordan's Place - Chicago IL): Another great bottle of this wine, that I find even more thrilling than stamp collecting. Powerful and just perfectly composed.
February 7, 2023 - Dark inky beast if you're into that.
November 26, 2022 - Home dinner with Jacob’s and GA
Mole filet mignon and poblano non dairy soup
Decanted for 5 hrs
Big well rounded, new world all the way
Dark fruits very youthful in a very good spot
No rush
Great pairing with the poblano mole and filet mignon