Sine Qua Non
Atlantis Fe2O3-1a Syrah
Central Coast, California, USA
As if Part 1 of Saturday night wasn’t incredible enough, Part 2 of the final and main event for the Fall WNH was all Sine Qua Non wines. The most spectacular lineup of wines I’ve ever seen, and an overall wonderful ending to an amazing trip with fantastic people.
One of the oldest SQNs I’ve ever had, and as expected, it was still incredibly young and vibrant. The power that Manfred’s Syrah have has mellowed, but the flavor profile is still very much impressive with baked red and black fruit pies, sweet cherry, and savory spice. This got darker towards the finish with a roasted plum note. Simply incredible. Awesome bottle, @Joe Lucca .
As if Part 1 of Saturday night wasn’t incredible enough, Part 2 of the final and main event for the Fall WNH was all Sine Qua Non wines. The most spectacular lineup of wines I’ve ever seen, and an overall wonderful ending to an amazing trip with fantastic people.
One of the oldest SQNs I’ve ever had, and as expected, it was still incredibly young and vibrant. The power that Manfred’s Syrah have has mellowed, but the flavor profile is still very much impressive with baked red and black fruit pies, sweet cherry, and savory spice. This got darker towards the finish with a roasted plum note. Simply incredible. Awesome bottle, @Joe Lucca .
A hefty nose of kirsch, an intense plumminess. A beast of a wine. Oily, dense, deep. Underlying prettiness but thick right now. As the night goes on corkiness is emerging. It’s corked but that’s almost buried under the gobs of fruit. Marked down for that- but the balance was the best of the Syrah, though that’s not saying a lot
A hefty nose of kirsch, an intense plumminess. A beast of a wine. Oily, dense, deep. Underlying prettiness but thick right now. As the night goes on corkiness is emerging. It’s corked but that’s almost buried under the gobs of fruit. Marked down for that- but the balance was the best of the Syrah, though that’s not saying a lot
Jun 13th, 2018
Fresh picked mushroom aroma. Distinctive juniper berry mid palate. Austere.
Fresh picked mushroom aroma. Distinctive juniper berry mid palate. Austere.
Jun 3rd, 2016
This is my 4th check in on this wine and it is truly in full stride. A very lala type flavor profile, perhaps more so than any SQN rhone varietal I've had. Grilled meats, charred cedar and bay leaf mixed with a ripe Alban-esque stewed tomato back end (in a good way)....but a bit more restraint and polish than the Alban. This got about an hour in the decanter and I would suggest triple that. As expected each taste of the night in glass was better than the last. A 3 hour decant and just the right food pairing and this could be +/- 100 point wine.
This is my 4th check in on this wine and it is truly in full stride. A very lala type flavor profile, perhaps more so than any SQN rhone varietal I've had. Grilled meats, charred cedar and bay leaf mixed with a ripe Alban-esque stewed tomato back end (in a good way)....but a bit more restraint and polish than the Alban. This got about an hour in the decanter and I would suggest triple that. As expected each taste of the night in glass was better than the last. A 3 hour decant and just the right food pairing and this could be +/- 100 point wine.
Sep 10th, 2015Loving the aromatics. Vibrant, youthful and pure. And totally representative of 2005.
Loving the aromatics. Vibrant, youthful and pure. And totally representative of 2005.
Jul 18th, 2015So big. So, so big.
So big. So, so big.
Oct 26th, 2014A 100pt Sqn I will never forget. Tasted 2013. So powerful and tasted next to a 2005 alban Lorraine. This needs so much more time but went great with lamb. A pleasure.
A 100pt Sqn I will never forget. Tasted 2013. So powerful and tasted next to a 2005 alban Lorraine. This needs so much more time but went great with lamb. A pleasure.
May 25th, 2014