What is going on here? Paul Hobbs making top notch, inexpensive Malbec in Mendoza?!? Dark fruit with great acidic balance and very approachable tannin. Not my typical preference, but this is very well made for under $20. Recommend some air time. — 6 years ago
A fantastic display of a Rhône Blanc and an exceptional showing early on from the ‘16 vintage. Full bodied and rich with an underlying freshness, and elegance. White flowers, tropical fruits, spices and a touch of hazelnut with a lingering finish. — 6 years ago
2005 Sine Qua Non "Atlantis Fe203-2a" California Grenache
15.3% alcohol. 93% Grenache and 7% Syrah. So I return yet again to sing the praises of one Manfred Krankl, the Man, the Myth, the Legend. I originally pulled this bottle for an El Ideas dinner I was unfortunately unable to attend. The bad news is that I missed the artistry of @phillipfoss. The good news is that it’s here tonight. This is a wine that demands your complete and undivided attention which it never would have received in a restaurant setting with other wines. It needs to be doted on like the pretty girl at the dance. It needs to be the absolute center of attention. One of the highlights (and there are legion) of any SQN for me is the aromatic extravaganza I’ve come to expect, and this wine’s initial profile when the cork is pulled is akin to walking into a florist. That perfumed fragrance just floods the room. More swirling reveals sandalwood, anise, dark berries with some orange peel and just a touch of mint. It’s intense. It’s like when the server removes the cloche on an @grantachatz Alinea dish, and that scent wafts up and just engulfs you. You become immersed in that sensory overload. The show continues with an initial palate of succulent red fruits and kirsch, with notes of dark chocolate, espresso and that mint I mentioned on the nose. Subsequent returns to the glass reveal hints of grilled meats, sage and forest floor. Tannins and texture are pure silk. Persistent, fresh and slightly spicy finish of great length. The wine is beautifully integrated. Complex. Elegant. Wonderfully pure. Perfection? Let’s just say that if this wine isn’t first in its class, it doesn’t take long to call the roll.
— 7 years ago
Matt Sterr
💯 %Rye. Smokey and Spicy. Texas and German Rye...Some roasted, crystal and chocolate. New American Oak. Great effort. — 6 years ago