Sine Qua Non

A Shot in the Dark Syrah

9.648 ratings
9.412 pro ratings
California, USA
Syrah
Lamb
Top Notes For
Ryan Lyonnais

One of the best wines I have ever tasted.

One of the best wines I have ever tasted.

1 person found it helpfulJul 4th, 2017
Roman Sukley

So sometimes,...not often, but sometimes, a friend will say "you gotta try this" and open a great Non-SQN bottle of wine for me, and I'll be wowed. And maybe,...and I even hesitate to say this out loud,...maybe I'll be so wowed that I might even start to doubt that Manfred Krankl is the greatest winemaker on the planet. But then something like this evening happens, and all is right with the world again, because this wine simply checks all the boxes. The 2006 "A Shot In The Dark" Syrah is perfection in a glass. Let's begin with the nose, and we could stop there too as far as I'm concerned. I could swirl this glass all night. Rich and extracted, flamboyant and intoxicating, intense and layered notes of melted chocolate, ripe cherries, pepper and cinnamon. On the palate, pure silk. A blackberry liqueur milkshake, cocoa and Asian spices. Simply massive, yet stunningly elegant. Perfect balance. I'm running out of superlatives. Suffice it to say that it doesn't get any better than this for me. A finish that leaves the stopwatch running. 100 points. More if I could. And sorry for pontificating, but when I hear people say "I just don't get SQN", try this wine blind and get back to me.

So sometimes,...not often, but sometimes, a friend will say "you gotta try this" and open a great Non-SQN bottle of wine for me, and I'll be wowed. And maybe,...and I even hesitate to say this out loud,...maybe I'll be so wowed that I might even start to doubt that Manfred Krankl is the greatest winemaker on the planet. But then something like this evening happens, and all is right with the world again, because this wine simply checks all the boxes. The 2006 "A Shot In The Dark" Syrah is perfection in a glass. Let's begin with the nose, and we could stop there too as far as I'm concerned. I could swirl this glass all night. Rich and extracted, flamboyant and intoxicating, intense and layered notes of melted chocolate, ripe cherries, pepper and cinnamon. On the palate, pure silk. A blackberry liqueur milkshake, cocoa and Asian spices. Simply massive, yet stunningly elegant. Perfect balance. I'm running out of superlatives. Suffice it to say that it doesn't get any better than this for me. A finish that leaves the stopwatch running. 100 points. More if I could. And sorry for pontificating, but when I hear people say "I just don't get SQN", try this wine blind and get back to me.

1 person found it helpfulMay 6th, 2017
Davis Smith

Sommelier Acquerello

9.4

This was much better than I expected

This was much better than I expected

1 person found it helpfulMay 2nd, 2014
Christopher Hoel

Sommelier/Senior Wine Advisor Soutirage

9.8

Ok folks, I'm going to run out of awesome adjectives for all of these great wines!!!

Ok folks, I'm going to run out of awesome adjectives for all of these great wines!!!

1 person found it helpfulJun 22nd, 2013
Christopher Hoel

Sommelier/Senior Wine Advisor Soutirage

9.9

Just picked up a cellar full of SQN. Grabbed this one to check it out and it rocks! Anyone else a fan?

Just picked up a cellar full of SQN. Grabbed this one to check it out and it rocks! Anyone else a fan?

1 person found it helpfulMay 17th, 2013
Doug Kahn

🔫🤔

🔫🤔

May 3rd, 2017
jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

9.8

Really cool

Really cool

Mar 11th, 2017
James Parker Huston, CWE

Sommelier Charlie Palmer

9.7

Do you feel lucky punk, well...do ya?

Do you feel lucky punk, well...do ya?

Jul 23rd, 2016
James Parker Huston, CWE

Sommelier Charlie Palmer

10

Don't take your guns to town son.

Don't take your guns to town son.

Feb 9th, 2014
Jim McCusker

My original post didn’t seem to register, so my apologies if this ends up being a duplicate post. Awesome wine on a tough day for reasons some folks understand.

My original post didn’t seem to register, so my apologies if this ends up being a duplicate post. Awesome wine on a tough day for reasons some folks understand.

Mar 24th, 2018