Sine Qua Non, Backward And Forward, California
Sine Qua Non · California › United States of America
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
91
/100
Reviews
10
professional
Vintages
No vintages
NV
Community Reviews
2525
Reviews
90.9
Avg Score
94
Highest
Taster #5077
· Sep 2, 2025
94/100
This was obviously more mature, with more oxidation leading to a nutty nose. As the wine opened up the nose got more and more fragrant, with marzipan and a little flint. Still got the acidity on the palate, which was pretty nice.
1998 vintage
Taster #5717
· Nov 25, 2020
94/100
Bottle was in great shape. Dead ringer for Northern Rhone Blanc. Also served along side a 1994 Chapoutier Blanc and most people had a hard time picking which was French and which was Cali.
1998 vintage
Taster #6890
· Mar 15, 2019
First time trying. Taking to Zinmans.
1998 vintage
Taster #4686
· Oct 27, 2018
92/100
Oxidized but in a gorgeous way. Thick, evolving tremendously in the glass, and complex.
1998 vintage
Taster #4261
· Jul 26, 2017
94/100
A Night of SQNs (Direct and Indirect) (Santa Monica, CA) : This well-stored bottle was a revelation. Not on the list, but the kind Somm offered it up at the same price as The Petition, which I've enjoyed there several times. Neither fresh nor tired, this was fully resolved and mature, with a viscous texture and rich, complex flavors that continued to emerge as the wine warmed from cellar temperature. The Roussanne seemed most prominent early on, with notes of …
1998 vintage
Taster #7484
· Sep 21, 2016
To paraphrase Mark Twain, "Rumors of this wine's death have been greatly exaggerated!" To be fair, we tasted two bottles a year apart. The first was likely done years ago. The other, consumed just a few weeks ago, was a shocking treat. At this point, the Roussanne has pushed its way to the forefront with a pleasant waxy texture creating a substantial wine. But there is still lots of spicy melon fruit from the Viognier. A totally enjoyable, and remarkably …
1998 vintage
Taster #8370
· Sep 15, 2016
Completely oxidized. Dark golden color. Original owner. Surprise the sqn white wines aren't meant to age
1998 vintage
Taster #4755
· Aug 14, 2016
Unfortunately, gone. Very oxidized. Dark yellow almost brown. Some interesting notes on the nose but astringent-like on the palate. This one has seen its day......
1998 vintage
Taster #8216
· Feb 23, 2013
89/100
S FL WS Group tastes 1988 Bordeaux (and others) (Jupiter, FL) : Thick and viscous texture, reserved and fading pear and melon fruit with minerals and crushed stones on the finish. The fading fruit allows the alcohol to come through more as well. Past its prime, but still interesting to drink.
1998 vintage
Taster #3247
· Dec 29, 2012
oxidized, over the hill, kaput. no way to rate this bottle unfortunately.
1998 vintage
Taster #6220
· Oct 29, 2010
oxidized
1998 vintage
Taster #5840
· May 8, 2010
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 3rd Annual; 5/7/2010-5/8/2010 (Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC) : Others thought this was still hanging on, I thought it was far enough gone that it's not worth giving it a score. Oxidized significantly more than the Boot. Hopefully a storage or other issue, as I would hate to see the Boot end up here in two years...
1998 vintage
Taster #1254
· May 8, 2010
Corked...
1998 vintage
Taster #3247
· Aug 23, 2009
aghhhh, the tragedy
1998 vintage
Taster #5840
· Mar 28, 2009
89/100
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 2nd Annual (Le Paradou, Washington DC) : my second least favorite of the whites, i found this didn't quite have the complexity and acidity of the others, leaving it a little flabby.
1998 vintage
Taster #9034
· Oct 6, 2008
BYO Californian (Le Sommelier) : Amber color. Orange peel, sherry and similar oxidized and sweet impressions on the nose. Similar taste were the oxidized notes dominate and the fruit seem to be gone or lacking. I presume this wine has seen better days, otherwise it was in a closed and dumb phase were air over the next hour or so did not seem to improve on the wine.
1998 vintage
Taster #6582
· Jul 26, 2008
88/100
Still has some liffe left in it but not of the same quality as SQN's other whites. The color is dark golden. The fruit has faded a bit and the oak seems to be dominating. A bit too acidic. Not bad but not great. Tasting now like an SV Kistler with age.
1998 vintage
Taster #1254
· Jun 26, 2008
90/100
Sine Qua Non Extravaganza (RJ's) : I can really taste the Roussanne even though there is more Chardonnay, great tropical fruit with butterscotch and vanilla. There is a lot of power here but is well refined at this stage. Compared to some of their other whites however it does not shine.
1998 vintage
Taster #2393
· Mar 30, 2008
blue-chip boredom (Compass) : DOA. Smells and tastes like a premoxed white Burg.
1998 vintage
Taster #5077
· Nov 21, 2007
This needed some time to warm up before the nose really developed in the glass. The nose was pretty buttery and nice, and typically Viognier.
1998 vintage
Taster #5317
· Apr 7, 2007
Dumbfounded by Dominus (Kirkland, WA) : A faint nose, slightly oxidative. Palate is better, big and oil with nuts intermingled with lemony acidity.
1998 vintage
Taster #8302
· Mar 8, 2007
91/100
Very nice.
1998 vintage
Taster #0912
· Oct 28, 2006
Chicago SQN Postcard Offline (Mel Hill's home - Barrington, IL) : This one seems tired and on the down slope. The nose has musty and waxy fruits. In the mouth the fruit lacks vibrancy allowing the oak flavors to over-assert themselves. The fruit is very pure suggesting this wine was likely once something great.
1998 vintage
Taster #4443
· Oct 28, 2006
Sine Qua Non "Postcard" Dinner (Chez Hill - Barrington IL) : Tired.
1998 vintage
Taster #9015
· Jul 10, 2004
88/100
High pitched aromatics with notes of lemon, lime, petrol and apples. Dense, full bodied. On the palate, sweet, lemony, lime flavors with a spicy quality. Slightly hot finish. This was not a wine I enjoyed. For me, it was too over the top. It had too much of everything. It reminded me a bit of Turley’s White Coat. As a reference point, I liked the Albino much more.
1998 vintage