Sine Qua Non, Dark Blossom Grenache, California

Rich and sweet with mixed berries and sweet molasses with a dash of white pepper. Quite a mouthful, but in a completely pleasant way.

2011 vintage

Full and rich with black and blue fruit - completely seemless

2011 vintage

Fourth time tasted since 2021, last bottle. Still dark garnet and totally opaque. Very viscous. Moderately pronounced aromas of dark cherries, plums and blackberries. Very concentrated dark fruit flavors, powerful but one-dimensional, without elegance or complexity. Tannin has softened since the prior bottles but it remains hot on the late palate and very long aftertaste. Went well with full-flavored grilled steaks. I don't think it will improve, so time to drink. Ric

2011 vintage

Dark garnet. Beautiful, enchanting, floral nose of violets, green and black pepper, raspberry, blueberry, faint meatiness adding volume. Super complex. The palate shows blueberry, black pepper spice, florals, with a pleasant, long fruit finish. This could easily do another 5-10 years, but I think it’s in an excellent spot.

2011 vintage

Smokey and loaded with sweet BBQ scents; flavors black pepper, mild chile powder, aged beef, spicy Korean bbq with a balsamic reduction. Tremendous finish (40-50 secs) with subtle licorice and anise. Consumed over 4 hours; it's beginning to show signs of fading at the rim and a tad lighter color then expected overall. Currently at peak; drink now.

2011 vintage

Opened at Moon Bay in HK. Slow-oxed for 4h before serving. This was exactly what I expected - dark, sweet, powerful, alcoholic, but also wonderfully balanced going down. Not as much pepper on the palate as I'd expect for the Syrah, but overall a wonderful wine. Perhaps could have been a tad fresher, but nit-picking. Thanks to TT for sharing - can't wait to return the favour!

2011 vintage

Tasted Blind (theme -No Killer B's): Not my style of wine. Unctuous, thick, squid ink, massive wine.

2011 vintage

Opened a few hours in advance of going out to dinner and allowed to slow ox. We put the back in and off to dinner we went with some good friends and a bottle of 2014 Kata Beckstoffer. The nose is dark red fruit with a hint of spice. The palate and finish are awesome with black cherries, raspberries, plums, a touch of pipe tobacco and a touch of spice. The finish was long, I mean long and smooth. Just …

2011 vintage

A lovely, medium-body wine. Red raspberry, cinnamon, dried herbs, red licorice. Drinking well.

2011 vintage

very nice getting to its peak. a fee years left jis feel on the tongue light and viscous. drak berry and rep pepper. Bit of earthyness but ligght tannins. Very nice

2011 vintage

Decanted for one hour. Aromatic nose of raspberry, red cherry, milk chocolate, herbs de Provence and red licorice. Ripe raspberry and red cherry, anise, spice, milk chocolate and fine tannins on the palate. Very long, layered finish with exquisite depth and elegant balance. Medium to full bodied. Beautiful SQN grenache. Served with an oak smoked, Santa Maria-style Tri-Tip with chimichurri sauce.

2011 vintage

The Heat is On (Los Olivos, CA) : Drank alongside a 1999 Clos Erasmus at the end of a very hot day, I sort of expected this to show poorly. To my surprise, it was the Erasmus that was a bit of a hot mess, whereas this bottle, while undeniably ripe, evidenced nice balance, energy and dare I say typicity. Put me in the camp of aging SQNs (whites as well as red) as patience can be well rewarded.

2011 vintage

Big Style Wines (Jason's House, MN) : As a critic of SQN for its over the top nature I will say this wine was stellar and my wine of the night. Rich wine with spices, blackberries, black pepper, black licorice, Garrigue and stone. Long finish and super complex. While drinking amazing now I could see some cellar improvement.

2011 vintage

Hedonistic Wines! (Jason's House) : PnP into a decanter and served immediately Wow....I thought the 2019 Andremily EABA that preceded this wine was awfully tasty, but this took it to the next level! With 13 years of age on it, even with a PnP, this wine was singing right out of the gate! Loads of dark fruit, coupled with wild game, tar, earth and black pepper. Layered with silky complexity and a plush texture that is a hallmark of SQN. …

2011 vintage

Splash decant. Deep dark brick red color. Blackberry, plum, white pepper, and subtle arugula. Smooth, dry, spicy, and oddly tart palate. Firm tannins on the long finish. This was good, but not necessarily great. I’ve had a number of SQN’s at this point and few have blown me away. Even so, it was very fun to drink this and I very much appreciate Jason (MN Wine Junkie) opening it at his hedonistic gathering (the wines, not the attendees).

2011 vintage

Big Red's : Well, this is why I keep buying Sine Qua Non. It may not be fair to compare this to the 2019 Andremily EABA in the same flight, but this is the same profile taken to the next level. Smoked meats, black fruit, earthy, herbal.

2011 vintage

This wine has settled into its fruit. Blueberries. Yes, beautiful blueberries, and a fragrant nose. No need to wait. This wine is ready now, and delivers a great show of what Syrah grapes can do.

2011 vintage

Previously tasted in 2015 and 2021. Tasted over two nights. Still dark garnet and totally opaque. Very viscous. Moderately pronounced aromas of dark cherries, plums and blackberries. Very concentrated dark fruit flavors, powerful but one-dimensional, without elegance or complexity. Tannin has softened since the prior bottles but it remains hot on the late palate and very long aftertaste. Went well with full-flavored grilled steaks. I don't think it will improve, so time to drink my remaining bottle. Ric

2011 vintage

Tellement massif et tellement jeune, ce vin sera éternel mais pour moi c'est beaucoup trop intense, tannique et riche. Je comprend l'enthousiame envers SQN mais ce n'est pas mon style.

2011 vintage

Decant needed, 17C. Mufflon potatoes and sardell. Big on fruit, acidity and balanced tannins. Great match with brie and thyme flawors Lemon and Dijon mustard match excellent. https://www.jaktojagare.se/mat/stekt-mufflonfar-med-kramig-potatisbakelse/

2011 vintage

Decanted briefly. Spectacular showing for my last bottle of this. Deep and balanced with thick furry tannins and savory black fruit with some tertiary notes of sous bois and herbs. Wonderful, probably at peak.

2011 vintage

dark blossom, drank with some home made Cheese burgers Pop n pour, Hated myself for it, but I told people it would “blossom” with some air, sure enough, it did. Inky in color, plush modern Med aromatic intensity - ripe black plum, smoke, plush boysenberry, blackberry, topsoil, black olive, licorice, black , bay leaves, peppercorn, med+/high tannin, med+ acidity , alcohol 15.5% - legs visible, but hides the alcohol incredibly well. Well balanced (somehow!!) 93-94pts

2011 vintage

To set the stage, first see my TN from almost five years ago: “A hard wine to get excited about, frankly. Tannic and backward, with little typicity. Some savory dark fruit notes, pepper and oak. Maybe the vintage is showing itself, or perhaps time will reveal something more interesting.” Fast forward to 2023, and it’s an entirely different story. Popped and poured, at cellar temp (and I think it showed its best while relatively cool). The wine is just singing. …

2011 vintage

Beautiful dark fruit, floral notes with sweet tannins, full bodied and inviting. Hides the 15.5% alcohol well, long long finish. Very enjoyable.

2011 vintage

Another lovely, rich, expressive black pepper and smoked meat laden Syrah from SQN, Dark Blossom is not as showing or concentrated as some of the other offerings over the years, but that takes nothing away from this outstanding wine that is in a perfectiy mature spot right now and is a good deal if you can find it for <$300 in this inflated market.

2011 vintage

Seabrook Beach Trip 2023; 7/8/2023-7/15/2023 (Seabrook Island, SC) : Darker fruit than the B20. Blackberries, açaí, blueberry. Some earth and tobacco. Leather. But it’s not funky. Fresh and modern. Cooler vintage. Chocolate and black pepper.

2011 vintage

Dark purple, spicy nose, cranberry and vanilla also on the nose, well balanced, moderately intense, dark fruits

2011 vintage

In rereading my previous note from several years ago, all comments still apply in spades with the addition of this: this is a focused, pure and profound wine with a long life still ahead.

2011 vintage

Deacant needed, 3h aeration. with grilled steak. 16-17C. Dark and blue berries, herbs, newly cut green grass, white pepper. Did not really sing tonight. Bad match, still a good wine. Next time… Better at 18C, eat with garlic plum lamb. 1-2h decant is good.

2011 vintage

Five hour decant but you could drink this pnp, I just like the way it evolves and probably would prefer day 2. But this wine is in its sweet spot of perfection right now, I liked it 3 years ago but even better now and no reason to hold. Dark rich fruit, big and intense yet stays balanced. So smooth. Long finish.

2011 vintage

Decanted for one hour. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, gamey meat, bramble and spice. Ripe blackberry, black plum, blueberry, gamey meat, spice and fine tannins on the palate. Very long finish with waves of flavor. Full bodied. Gorgeous wine that is drinking beautifully. Served with corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and horseradish cream sauce.

2011 vintage

even better the next day

2011 vintage

WIML94 Tasted non blind. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of aspirin, leather, black berries, black cherries and plums. Flavors of black berries, black raspberries, plums and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the short term.

2011 vintage

As good as it gets. Delicious.

2011 vintage

Decanted for one hour. Nose of black raspberry, black cherry, anise, bramble and spice. Ripe black fruit, anise, bramble and spice on the palate. Very long, layered finish. Waves of flavor with excellent depth. Medium to full bodied. Served with reverse seared porterhouse steaks with a Diane sauce.

2011 vintage

Decadent and flawless. Intoxicating nose of dark, dried fruit, baking spice, and mocha. Balanced palate with fruit, soft tannins, and smooth acidity. Drinking really well after a short decant and will develop more tertiary flavors with longer time in the bottle. Drinks well now, can hold for another decade+.

2011 vintage

I don’t usually comment on my wines; however, I was excited to finally drink this one and it didn’t disappoint! This wine is difficult to find, and I’d always wanted to taste what so many people were raving about. It was a beautiful, deep garnet color and reminded me of a Petite Syrah with its depth of rich color. It had an amazing nose of boysenberry, blueberry, and a hint of cocoa. Decanted & served soon thereafter. The deep, rich …

2011 vintage

See prior note. Not much change at all. Four hour slo-ox, 2 hour decant. Basically, insiped and tart. No flavors of brett or wet cardboard, just not a typical SQN (or any other wine for that matter). Oh, well it happens.

2011 vintage

Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Explosief bouquet. Donker fruit, gedroogd fruit. Smaak / Afdronk: Wijn om in plakkerige plakjes te serveren. Dik-sappig. Frisse zuren, boordevol perfect gerijpte tannines, zoetige indrukjes, kirch dus behoorlijk alcoholisch, maar wel in een perfecte balans. Algemeen / potentieel: Wow, briljante wijn. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 14 + Smaak / Afdronk: 19 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 97/100 Colour: Deep impenetrable ruby red Aroma / bouquet: Explosive bouquet. Dark …

2011 vintage

Drank over 1 1/2 hours after 2 hr decant. It continued to open up and become an incredibly smooth mouth feel. I get the black raspberry and white pepper taste and to me a hint of licorice in the back that dissipates as you drink it. This has plenty life left in it and should easily age 5-7 more years. I will try again late 2022.

2011 vintage

Popped n poured. Soaring aromas of black cherry, red raspberries and hints of hot asphalt. Really gained weight throughout the night. Sexy ripe extracted upfront red fruit. A touch warm, yet so fruity and drinkable. Loved it, although acknowledge it’s more of a meal on it’s own then a great accompaniment for dinner.

2011 vintage

Full bodied. Raspberry compote, cinnamon, allspice

2011 vintage

No bottle flaw as described in other CT tasting notes.

2011 vintage

Very strange. Reading the notes for this wine, there’s quite a divergence between flawed bottles and high-90s ratings. After sampling one last night, I may understand or at least offer a possible explanation. On the nose, an unmistakeable note of mousy, wet cardboard, as though the wine was corked; but on the palate the wine was rich and full, yet smoky and much like a ‘dirty’ style of Chateauneuf-du-Pape (which I tend to like). So ... my hypothesis is not …

2011 vintage

For old times sake : Chemical bouquet. On the palate it was clear this was a flawed bottle.

2011 vintage

Inbalance, very untypical taste for SQN

2011 vintage

WIML94 Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 2-3 hours. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Kirsch, black pepper, dried plum and black boysenberry. Rich flavors of black berries, raspberries, boysenberries and a hint of cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or continue to hold.

2011 vintage

Not an enjoyable bottle for me, muted fruit.

2011 vintage

Really singing after a 3hr decant.

2011 vintage

Decanted and served. This needed a couple hours of air to put on weight but then a thick-bodied, pure delight with blueberry and citrus notes. Lovely effort from a cool vintage.

2011 vintage

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Sine Qua Non, Dark Blossom Grenache, California

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