Sine Qua Non, Ratsel 16, California

Very similar to previous note. Wasn't quite as good as last one but still best Syrah I've ever tasted.

2016 vintage

dark blueberry, pepper, smoked meat and layers and layers of flavor

2016 vintage

On the nose, tobacco and dark plums, ripe blueberries, hints of spice and green pepper as well. The complexity is just off the charts, constantly evolving in the glass, with minerals in the background. For me, mouthfeel is not quite there for 100 pts, but otherwise it really is the perfect wine. The alcohol is so well integrated, could have never guessed it was 16.1%!

2016 vintage

Outstanding wine. Big in character but balanced and seamless.

2016 vintage

per vivino

2016 vintage

Wow this is an intense wine. Dark, almost black in color. Highly concentrated dark fruits with a noticeable alcoholic punch that balances it (16.1% ABV). Tons of complexity, immense finish. I was actually stunned on the first sip, this was so intense. Needed major decanting, I did 6 hours. First sip out of the bottle was totally different and made me worry , since it was not great. I refrained from a higher rating since I thought it was perhaps …

2016 vintage

Best Syrah I've ever had. Not sure why this one was cheaper than many other SQNs but I'm def seeking out more of it. Had with Japanese A5 Wagyu steaks and it went perfectly. We put it up next to a 2010 La Mouline and the SQN was the winner between those two, although both are extremely top notch.

2016 vintage

This was fantastic. A spectacular wine. Wonderful fruit. Perfectly balanced. Right square in its drinkability window. Paired incredibly well with the slow-cooked beef short ribs with porcini mushroom sauce, which I cooked for 5 1/2 hours. This wine spoils you and makes you think all wines should taste like this. Wow!!

2016 vintage

The previous bottle was clearly flawed as this was more of everything in a good way. This was decanted three to four hours prior to dinner. Very inky dark in color showing no age in appearance. Loads of dark fruits and white pepper on the nose. Palate was similar but with additional blueberry and game. Mrs. TLV was a few points less, but mostly due to balance. This is less elegant and more of a heavy weight punch in the …

2016 vintage

Ski trip - Four wino familes; 2/16/2024-2/19/2024 (Wisp Resort) : Expressive nose displaying ripe concentrated red and black fruit, blackberry liqueur, maraschino cherry, liquid smoke, caramel, black pepper, cumin, turmeric, and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated red and black fruit, rich and sweet, bright acidity, earthy mineral, and a long concentrated red and black fruit driven finish. The acidity is super bright, perhaps acidifies? This is a textbook example of SQN syrah.

2016 vintage

Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar donkerrood. Aroma / bouquet: Donker bouquet, vers donker fruit (bramen, zwarte bessen), gedroogde dadels en gedroogde pruimen, zacht zoetige kruidigheid, kruidkoek, drop. Smaak / Afdronk: Prachtige en krachtige SQN-Syrah, beperkte zuurgraad, romige en droppige tannines, dik-sappig, geconcentreerde power. SQN in al haar opzichten… Algemeen / potentieel: Tsjah… SQN presenteert zich elk jaar anders en zal ook elk jaar wel anders zijn. Maar de overeenkomsten tussen de verschillende wijnen zijn groot. En deze gaan me nimmer vervelen. 50 …

2016 vintage

Do not drink this wine for another ten years.

2016 vintage

This was spectacular. Wow!! Truly a treat. We took this to dinner with friends at Adelaide. I cannot say enough good things about this wine. Truly special. Great fruit. Polished. Smooth. Memorable.

2016 vintage

On Tuesday, October 24th, I had my first Sine Qua Non. Wanted something special for the gift of Summer temps in my backyard smack in the middle of a Northern Illinois Autumn. Decanted 7 hours. Should have instead slowly sipped this wine in my non-existent, mahogany-paneled, rare-book-filled study at midnight with the sounds of a crackling fire and distant thunder that would inevitably grow closer. Alone, brooding over the Devil’s Deal that tantalized untold success and revenge against my enemies …

2016 vintage

Blind, decanted. Easily Syrah, not too hot, chocolate, inky, dark fruited, full-bodied. Very smooth tannin. Reportedly the winery is having trouble naming new wines due to running out of words... 94

2016 vintage

Expressive milk chocolate flavor, smooth tannin. Hides the high alcohol really well but certainly feeling it on the finish

2016 vintage

This was an inky purple-black behemoth. Great aromatics right out of the gate but it took about 30 minutes or so for the palate to fully come together. The other varietal components paired perfectly with the dominant shiraz for a veritable smorgasbord of aromas and flavours. Brambly blackberries, violets, kirsch, loam, Indian spices and some chocolate and mineral notes. Surprisingly light on its feet given the serious concentration. Hugely enjoyable now but with the stuffing and structure for at least …

2016 vintage

Tasting notes for both wines. No formal notes. Drank next to Ratsel (Syrah). Grenache is so giving right now with pure fruit and an ethereal mouthfeel. Everything is in balance with a high flavour and aromatic intensity. The Syrah is more structured and the oak slightly more obvious today when comparing side by side. I believe the Syrah will age a little better, but the Grenache is drinking better at this stage. I would rate the Ratsel 1 point higher …

2016 vintage

4th Saturday Group (S&J's) : Blind, but again easy to pick out as the SQN, and at this point everyone was looking for it too. Inky color. Aromas of roasted game, pepper and black fruit- very clearly syrah. Firm, fine-grained tannins with flavors of blackberry liqueur, plum, cassis, pepper and bacon. Black raspberry and pepper finish. Long finish. Excellent. This had been double decanted over 7 hours before the flight was poured.

2016 vintage

You know what you’re going to get with this producer: concentrated, almost viscous, wines full of flavor and complexity (and alcohol — here 16.1%). Every time I drink them, I question whether this is really what wine should taste like. My answer today: no, it isn’t. The wine is far too heavy on the palate, and the high ripeness makes it taste flat. I respect this producer’s achievement, but I do not consider this a great wine.

2016 vintage

Decanted 4+ hours, did not make that much a difference compared to previous bottle I decanted 2+ hours. Excellent wine!

2016 vintage

Deep ruby color. Aggressive fruit forward nose of black fruits and black pepper. Dry, full acidity, grippy tannins, palate follows through. Plump body, good balance, long finish. Pity too in-your-face and one dimensional.

2016 vintage

This is a silky smooth and lovely wine. We consumed it with great friends on our annual Labor Day camping trip to the Uintas. Paired great with bone-in rib-eyes and lobster tails that we cooked over a hard wood fire. The wine was delicious. It could benefit from a few years, but is drinking well now. Silky smooth fruit and a wonderful finish. Cheers!!

2016 vintage

Opened and decanted for 4 hours before dinner. Notes of black fruit and blueberry, but not much else. Mrs. TLV loved it, but it was just meh for me. A quarter of the bottle remains, and I will revisit it tonight. No score on the off chance this bottle is tainted, as it in no way resembles any other bottle of SQN I've ever had.

2016 vintage

Tasting: This is just overwhelming and too much - much too much. My third wine from this producer and they certainly seem to go for big wines.

2016 vintage

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Sine Qua Non, Ratsel 16, California

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