from magnum - so beautiful right off the bat after opening for 30 minutes. Notes of acetone, ripe and sweet on the nose, along with maybe a hint of straw? Just a little hint of toast here. After 3 hours the nose was definitely showing some coffee notes. Drinking very nicely now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
SQN White Birthday Weekend tasting in Vegas (Private Residence - Las Vegas, NV): Again this was also a first time SQN white for me and I loved it. A rare treat to enjoy as only a 100 cases of this 100% Roussane were produced. Definitely a first class White that has aged very nicely. Patience in cellaring this beauty has paid off handsomely. Also, very dry and Sauternes like for me. Huge hints of nutty, cirtrus like aromas. This was served at the best temperature possible and I loved all the nuances on this wine as it came to life in the glass. I would say balance wise this was a wine more in touch with Roussanne than the Omadhaun & Poltroon but not as much unctuous to it. I loved the honey but there were hints of some wood here which interfered with perfection for me. A truly out of this world wine. We are splitting hairs between #2, #3, and #4 in this lineup
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow this one kicked the shit out of 03 Ex-Voto. It was so powerful yet balanced and in perfect harmony. Really impressed and wish I had some more bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We thought this was a blend of Roussanne and Chardonnay, but after a quick checking on finewinegeek.com, I now can tell this was a 100% Roussanne. My first Sine Qua Non ever -save the Chimere 2010, this beauty truly over-delivered. I was first seduced by its gorgeous yellow-golden robe. Its nose, well, needed some air. Starting with some -let me be clear- piss notes, this Roussanne acquired plenty of elegance to profile a, then, holistic experience which lasted in a long final. If you ask me about pairing with the egg… I would repeat Marc’s statement: “butt to butt.” Both of the stuffs were excellent, but they just took over one another. As a side note, the Beaucastel Vieilles Vignes, with its beautiful finesse, paired magnificently with this dish. Thanks Philippe for bringing this beauty up on the table. 97 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've only had this wine one other time, nearly 6 years ago, and at that time it was one of if not my favorite white wine. I was a little concerned about this considering the additional age as well as the fact I bought this on the secondary market and one is never certain of provenance. I need not have worried. This wine was superb, even before considering it was 11 years old. I haven't had many white wines that were good let alone great at that age. Incredible ripeness and depth of fruit, but laser-like focus brought about by the acidity. Some citrus overtones that I don't normally get from Rhone-style whites, in particular those that are, like this one, 100% Roussanne. Sad that I don't have more of these, as I think it has plenty of life left and it would be fun to taste again in 3-5 years. (PE: 97)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum. One of the most unique white wines I have had. Deep golden color, very complex nose that evolves as its opened. We had this open for about 30 minutes prior to drinking. Out of the bottle you get some heat and petrol that blows off.
Front of the palate gives you a hint of botrytis, apricots, peaches, some citrus. Finish is long and layered. This might be a love it/hate it type wine which makes the rating difficult.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Expressive and concentrated bouquet with polishing wax, old honey, smoke and vanilla. On the palate very concentrated and tasty with e.g. mango, papaya and some minerals. Very complex and a long finish, but overall lacking a bit in freshness and not really refined. A bit controversial wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An evening with Sine Qua Non (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): (From magnum) Younger and fresher in the nose when compared to the Tarantella. Very floral and perfumed. Alas, rather alcoholic and disharmonious. Finish is long and delineated, with good persistency of its tropical fruit flavours. 17,5/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
SQN Rien Ne Va Plus 2001 Kleur: Vol goudgeel Aroma / bouquet: Vol en rijp, supercomplex bouquet, boordevol tertiaire tonen, sherry, notig, geel tropisch fruit en abrikoos, boenwas., rokerig, hout, vanille. Smaak / Afdronk: Vol, dik-sap, zoetig en boterig-romig, prachtig rijp, indrukwekkende lengte. Iemand vergeleek de wijn met 'droge Sauternes' en daar kan ik me veel bij voorstellen. Algemeen / potentieel: Bijzonder, volgens RP 'over the hill', afkomstig uit Magnum en m.i. nog helemaal in orde. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Smaak / Afdronk: 18 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 97/100
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last 750 from a box set of 3 bottles and 1 mag. This wine has changed quite a bit from the last time I had it 2 yrs ago. Decanted for 2 hrs but tatsed along the way. A beautifuly rich yellow color with some bite at first but quickly blew off. Loads of citrus, pears and pineapple on the nose and it seemed to get more complex the longer it sat in the glass and warmed close to room temp. The palate was filled with rich fruits, citrus and coconut with an equisite long finish. I was surprised at how well this wine has aged over the years and will not hesitate to let my lone remaining magnum age a few more years before trying again. While it may be as good as it is ever going to get it is certainly not close to dead yet. Thank God I have a magnum left because this is truly one of my favorite white wines and IMHO no one does it better than Manfred.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sine Qua Non Dinner: the Younger Wines (Custom House Tavern - Chicago IL): A rather extreme wine. Super ripe fruit with lots of interesting peach and mango flavors and some exotic spice, but it's also rather one dimensional and very hot on finish. Clearly I'm enjoying the blended SQN whites better, particularly those with Chardonnay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
from magnum, and my last bottle, shared at a reunion of the group that i hosted with manfred almost 3 years ago. this was a showstopper that night, and while not quite the blockbuster of it's youth, still kicking this night. a little musky, smoke, luscious creme soda, pears, and pineapple. a truly unusual/unique doestic white wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Rien Ne Va Plus was a rich, concentrated, spicy and mouth-filling Roussanne that got better in the glass and in the decanter as our sommelier dutifully swirled it over time to increase aeration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
G7 (Jeff): Made from 100% Roussanne. Rich yellow in color. Pears, caramel and heavily charred oak. Great concentration and richness on the finish. 15.5% alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
showing no signs of slowing down, this is simply my all time favorite white wine from sqn. allocations are small, but i picked up a couple of extra 750's along the way. listers will recall this being offered as a box that included a magnum. i'm now down to 750 x 1 + the mag. of course, this producer is not oak challenged, but the gobs of fruit generally win out in the end. there is an oiliness to this wine, and a glycerin-like finish that hogs every square mm of your tongue. roll it in your mouth. it's heavy without ponderence. a stunning wine, and truly unique as an american white wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Time has changed this wine over the past few years. Whereas two years ago, it was a precocious and rambunctious teenager, it's now a young adult. The baby fat is gone, and what remains, while still unctious and delicious, has a sense of "where it belongs" that lends itself to sips thorugh a long meal, never tiring of it's place in standing beside a taste driven meal at Chinois on Main.
The mouthfilling, coating glycerin sense is gone; the length is still very, very long, and the tastes, while different and more mature, are omnipresent. Fruit tastes of bananas, lingonberries, and coconut. A fullness that belies the seemless sense of the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
these 100% varietals are national treasures. so rare, so luxurious in mouthfeel, and decidedly rich, they coat your tongue and provide one of the longest finishes for a white wine i have ever experienced. it is the whisperin' e on growth hormone. similar profile, but more everything. out of this world, and almost garnered WOTN from the group.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
California 'cult' lunch at Spago with Leve (Los Angeles, CA): This has a wacky nose, very expressive, with very ripe notes of spiced pear and nutmeg. The palate shows massive glycerin with nearly a minute long finish, so it was easy to admire. That said, for me this was a bit over the top.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/30/2023 - Peech Likes this wine: 95 Points
from magnum - so beautiful right off the bat after opening for 30 minutes. Notes of acetone, ripe and sweet on the nose, along with maybe a hint of straw? Just a little hint of toast here. After 3 hours the nose was definitely showing some coffee notes. Drinking very nicely now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2020 - Peech wrote: 91 Points
Nice toasty nose and really ripe. Mature on the palate now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2018 - jbaron Likes this wine: 97 Points
The best white we’ve had in years. The length is a bit less than spectacular but the mouth and the nose ARE spectacular. No shit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2016 - charleshetzel wrote: 98 Points
SQN White Birthday Weekend tasting in Vegas (Private Residence - Las Vegas, NV): Again this was also a first time SQN white for me and I loved it. A rare treat to enjoy as only a 100 cases of this 100% Roussane were produced. Definitely a first class White that has aged very nicely. Patience in cellaring this beauty has paid off handsomely. Also, very dry and Sauternes like for me. Huge hints of nutty, cirtrus like aromas. This was served at the best temperature possible and I loved all the nuances on this wine as it came to life in the glass. I would say balance wise this was a wine more in touch with Roussanne than the Omadhaun & Poltroon but not as much unctuous to it. I loved the honey but there were hints of some wood here which interfered with perfection for me. A truly out of this world wine. We are splitting hairs between #2, #3, and #4 in this lineup
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2013 - robertek wrote: 96 Points
Wow this one kicked the shit out of 03 Ex-Voto. It was so powerful yet balanced and in perfect harmony. Really impressed and wish I had some more bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2013 - cr84 wrote: 97 Points
We thought this was a blend of Roussanne and Chardonnay, but after a quick checking on finewinegeek.com, I now can tell this was a 100% Roussanne. My first Sine Qua Non ever -save the Chimere 2010, this beauty truly over-delivered. I was first seduced by its gorgeous yellow-golden robe. Its nose, well, needed some air. Starting with some -let me be clear- piss notes, this Roussanne acquired plenty of elegance to profile a, then, holistic experience which lasted in a long final. If you ask me about pairing with the egg… I would repeat Marc’s statement: “butt to butt.” Both of the stuffs were excellent, but they just took over one another. As a side note, the Beaucastel Vieilles Vignes, with its beautiful finesse, paired magnificently with this dish. Thanks Philippe for bringing this beauty up on the table. 97 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2013 - MarkC Likes this wine: 97 Points
I've only had this wine one other time, nearly 6 years ago, and at that time it was one of if not my favorite white wine. I was a little concerned about this considering the additional age as well as the fact I bought this on the secondary market and one is never certain of provenance. I need not have worried. This wine was superb, even before considering it was 11 years old. I haven't had many white wines that were good let alone great at that age. Incredible ripeness and depth of fruit, but laser-like focus brought about by the acidity. Some citrus overtones that I don't normally get from Rhone-style whites, in particular those that are, like this one, 100% Roussanne. Sad that I don't have more of these, as I think it has plenty of life left and it would be fun to taste again in 3-5 years. (PE: 97)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2012 - walkerjfw wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Blue Morel withGary/Tom/Bob.
From magnum. One of the most unique white wines I have had. Deep golden color, very complex nose that evolves as its opened. We had this open for about 30 minutes prior to drinking. Out of the bottle you get some heat and petrol that blows off.
Front of the palate gives you a hint of botrytis, apricots, peaches, some citrus. Finish is long and layered. This might be a love it/hate it type wine which makes the rating difficult.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2012 - jlgnml wrote: 93 Points
Enjoyed, steely finish, great color, has time to develop
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2011 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Expressive and concentrated bouquet with polishing wax, old honey, smoke and vanilla. On the palate very concentrated and tasty with e.g. mango, papaya and some minerals. Very complex and a long finish, but overall lacking a bit in freshness and not really refined. A bit controversial wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - Peter Z. Likes this wine: 95 Points
magnum
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - jkoenen wrote: 90 Points
An evening with Sine Qua Non (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): (From magnum) Younger and fresher in the nose when compared to the Tarantella. Very floral and perfumed. Alas, rather alcoholic and disharmonious. Finish is long and delineated, with good persistency of its tropical fruit flavours. 17,5/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 97 Points
SQN Rien Ne Va Plus 2001 Kleur: Vol goudgeel Aroma / bouquet: Vol en rijp, supercomplex bouquet, boordevol tertiaire tonen, sherry, notig, geel tropisch fruit en abrikoos, boenwas., rokerig, hout, vanille. Smaak / Afdronk: Vol, dik-sap, zoetig en boterig-romig, prachtig rijp, indrukwekkende lengte. Iemand vergeleek de wijn met 'droge Sauternes' en daar kan ik me veel bij voorstellen. Algemeen / potentieel: Bijzonder, volgens RP 'over the hill', afkomstig uit Magnum en m.i. nog helemaal in orde. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Smaak / Afdronk: 18 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 97/100
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2011 - dcwino wrote: 91 Points
Trip’s farewell dinner! (Cities restaurant - Washington D.C.): Nice nose, ripe fruit but showing a lot of heat. The rating will vary a lot depend on the tasters heat tolerance level.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2010 - Cody Short wrote: 98 Points
My last 750 from a box set of 3 bottles and 1 mag. This wine has changed quite a bit from the last time I had it 2 yrs ago. Decanted for 2 hrs but tatsed along the way. A beautifuly rich yellow color with some bite at first but quickly blew off. Loads of citrus, pears and pineapple on the nose and it seemed to get more complex the longer it sat in the glass and warmed close to room temp. The palate was filled with rich fruits, citrus and coconut with an equisite long finish. I was surprised at how well this wine has aged over the years and will not hesitate to let my lone remaining magnum age a few more years before trying again. While it may be as good as it is ever going to get it is certainly not close to dead yet. Thank God I have a magnum left because this is truly one of my favorite white wines and IMHO no one does it better than Manfred.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2010 - Burgundy Al wrote: 85 Points
Sine Qua Non Dinner: the Younger Wines (Custom House Tavern - Chicago IL): A rather extreme wine. Super ripe fruit with lots of interesting peach and mango flavors and some exotic spice, but it's also rather one dimensional and very hot on finish. Clearly I'm enjoying the blended SQN whites better, particularly those with Chardonnay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2009 - ews3 wrote: 88 Points
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 2nd Annual (Le Paradou, Washington DC): my least favorite white of the night, though still a nice wine. i did enjoy some spicy notes on it that surprised me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
from magnum, and my last bottle, shared at a reunion of the group that i hosted with manfred almost 3 years ago. this was a showstopper that night, and while not quite the blockbuster of it's youth, still kicking this night. a little musky, smoke, luscious creme soda, pears, and pineapple. a truly unusual/unique doestic white wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2008 - imbibe wrote:
Who makes better dry white wines?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2008 - Totatalitarian wrote:
The Rien Ne Va Plus was a rich, concentrated, spicy and mouth-filling Roussanne that got better in the glass and in the decanter as our sommelier dutifully swirled it over time to increase aeration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2007 - MC wrote:
rich, expressive wine. almost a sweet alsace pinot gris character to it. drinking very well, and a great wine if you are in the mood for it. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 93 Points
G7 (Jeff): Made from 100% Roussanne. Rich yellow in color. Pears, caramel and heavily charred oak. Great concentration and richness on the finish. 15.5% alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2007 - jeff nowak wrote: 97 Points
showing no signs of slowing down, this is simply my all time favorite white wine from sqn. allocations are small, but i picked up a couple of extra 750's along the way. listers will recall this being offered as a box that included a magnum. i'm now down to 750 x 1 + the mag. of course, this producer is not oak challenged, but the gobs of fruit generally win out in the end. there is an oiliness to this wine, and a glycerin-like finish that hogs every square mm of your tongue. roll it in your mouth. it's heavy without ponderence. a stunning wine, and truly unique as an american white wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2006 - jbaron wrote: 96 Points
Time has changed this wine over the past few years. Whereas two years ago, it was a precocious and rambunctious teenager, it's now a young adult. The baby fat is gone, and what remains, while still unctious and delicious, has a sense of "where it belongs" that lends itself to sips thorugh a long meal, never tiring of it's place in standing beside a taste driven meal at Chinois on Main.
The mouthfilling, coating glycerin sense is gone; the length is still very, very long, and the tastes, while different and more mature, are omnipresent. Fruit tastes of bananas, lingonberries, and coconut. A fullness that belies the seemless sense of the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2006 - jeff nowak wrote: 97 Points
these 100% varietals are national treasures. so rare, so luxurious in mouthfeel, and decidedly rich, they coat your tongue and provide one of the longest finishes for a white wine i have ever experienced. it is the whisperin' e on growth hormone. similar profile, but more everything. out of this world, and almost garnered WOTN from the group.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2006 - andeaj wrote: 97 Points
spectacular, complex aromas; exposive on the palate; long finish. Everything Parker claims it to be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2005 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
California 'cult' lunch at Spago with Leve (Los Angeles, CA): This has a wacky nose, very expressive, with very ripe notes of spiced pear and nutmeg. The palate shows massive glycerin with nearly a minute long finish, so it was easy to admire. That said, for me this was a bit over the top.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment