Sine Qua Non
Trouver l'Arène Syrah
Central Coast, California, USA
My third red wine from my annual CC hosting (others were 2015 Guigal Ampuis and 2015 SamiOdi Hoffman Dallwitz shiraz).
I remember having this wine in the fall of 2018…it was fairly new, and I was flabbergasted at how good it was so close to release, so I bought a bottle. Here we are 4yrs later, and while slightly different, I found it just as delicious.
Double decanted for about 2-3hrs. While the aromatics aren’t as bombastic out of the glass, the polish of this wine is one of the best in an SQN wine I’ve had in a while. Slightly stemmy/herbal, dark floral/potpurri, with notes of smoked meat (more to the rich side, a la Cote Rotie), dark berry compote and mocha. Incredibly powerful yet elegant on the palate, with a rollercoaster of sweet and savory battling all the way through the insanely long finish.
This is new world through and through, but it’s very much nodding to Northern Rhône. The mid 2010s for SQN seemed (to me) to show a change to incorporate more stems, more white varieties (bigger floral aromatics) and slightly less time in oak (and less new oak too) compared to the 2000s offerings, and the trend is continuing that way with the recent releases as well. Love it.
My third red wine from my annual CC hosting (others were 2015 Guigal Ampuis and 2015 SamiOdi Hoffman Dallwitz shiraz).
I remember having this wine in the fall of 2018…it was fairly new, and I was flabbergasted at how good it was so close to release, so I bought a bottle. Here we are 4yrs later, and while slightly different, I found it just as delicious.
Double decanted for about 2-3hrs. While the aromatics aren’t as bombastic out of the glass, the polish of this wine is one of the best in an SQN wine I’ve had in a while. Slightly stemmy/herbal, dark floral/potpurri, with notes of smoked meat (more to the rich side, a la Cote Rotie), dark berry compote and mocha. Incredibly powerful yet elegant on the palate, with a rollercoaster of sweet and savory battling all the way through the insanely long finish.
This is new world through and through, but it’s very much nodding to Northern Rhône. The mid 2010s for SQN seemed (to me) to show a change to incorporate more stems, more white varieties (bigger floral aromatics) and slightly less time in oak (and less new oak too) compared to the 2000s offerings, and the trend is continuing that way with the recent releases as well. Love it.
The stunning, profound and downright decadent ‘Trouver l’arene’ Syrah is an opulent blend of 80.5% Syrah, with 7% Petite Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 2% Grenache and 3.5% Viognier, which were sourced from their estate vineyards. The wine was aged in both neutral and new French oak for 22 months prior to bottling. On the nose this exudes class with sagebrush accents that collide with the blueberry pie, blackberry cordial and potpourri aromatics that all build steam in the glass. The texture to this wine exudes class. Ripe black cherry syrup, Turkish coffee, tar and leather with shades of sweetened licorice all impress on the palate. While a delight to savor in its youth, this stunning wine will evolve well over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 99
The stunning, profound and downright decadent ‘Trouver l’arene’ Syrah is an opulent blend of 80.5% Syrah, with 7% Petite Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 2% Grenache and 3.5% Viognier, which were sourced from their estate vineyards. The wine was aged in both neutral and new French oak for 22 months prior to bottling. On the nose this exudes class with sagebrush accents that collide with the blueberry pie, blackberry cordial and potpourri aromatics that all build steam in the glass. The texture to this wine exudes class. Ripe black cherry syrup, Turkish coffee, tar and leather with shades of sweetened licorice all impress on the palate. While a delight to savor in its youth, this stunning wine will evolve well over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 99
Jul 29th, 2019
Deep ruby red. Decanted for almost 4 hours. Powerful nose with olives, black bramble berries, tar, baking spices and gravel. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Layered palate with black currants, black olives, a touch savory, herbs, cinnamon and a little dark bit of dark crushed gravel. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2038. (97+)
One of my favorite Syrah based wines for sure. This 2015 is made up of 80.5% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Viognier and 2% Grenache. The fruit comes from three of the four estate vineyards: 37% The Third Twin, 36% Eleven Confessions and 27% Cumulus. Fermented separately with around 34% whole bunches and then aged for 22 months in a mix of new and used French oak barrels. Thank you Drew for givining this some extra decant time for us!
$$$$$ - Purchased at RARE Steakhouse in Washington, DC for Restaurant week for $165.00, yes that is the price. Average retail is around $364.00.
Deep ruby red. Decanted for almost 4 hours. Powerful nose with olives, black bramble berries, tar, baking spices and gravel. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Layered palate with black currants, black olives, a touch savory, herbs, cinnamon and a little dark bit of dark crushed gravel. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2038. (97+)
One of my favorite Syrah based wines for sure. This 2015 is made up of 80.5% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Viognier and 2% Grenache. The fruit comes from three of the four estate vineyards: 37% The Third Twin, 36% Eleven Confessions and 27% Cumulus. Fermented separately with around 34% whole bunches and then aged for 22 months in a mix of new and used French oak barrels. Thank you Drew for givining this some extra decant time for us!
$$$$$ - Purchased at RARE Steakhouse in Washington, DC for Restaurant week for $165.00, yes that is the price. Average retail is around $364.00.
Tremendous depth, length and intensity. Rich blackberry, black raspberry, phenomenal palate coating texture, a hint smokey, spicy herbs, exotic flowers and spices, incredibly long finish. Dynamite.
Tremendous depth, length and intensity. Rich blackberry, black raspberry, phenomenal palate coating texture, a hint smokey, spicy herbs, exotic flowers and spices, incredibly long finish. Dynamite.
Oct 8th, 2018
Typical beast of a wine from SQN. Some nice aromatics considering this needs at least 5 years. Discriptors would read like everything I usually hate in wine yet somehow Manfred makes it work, and quite well
Typical beast of a wine from SQN. Some nice aromatics considering this needs at least 5 years. Discriptors would read like everything I usually hate in wine yet somehow Manfred makes it work, and quite well
Sep 26th, 2018As 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.
I couldn’t count how many people kept picking up their glass to smell this over and over. For me, this was nose of the night (maybe the weekend?). Blueberry pie, nutmeg, cinnamon and milk chocolate shavings on the nose. The palate is massive and young...needed hours to come around. Powerful core of pipe tobacco, tar, smoked meat, and grilled dark fruit. This will likely hit perfection (for my style) in a few years and am glad to own one. Thank you for bringing, @Carl Fischer .
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.
I couldn’t count how many people kept picking up their glass to smell this over and over. For me, this was nose of the night (maybe the weekend?). Blueberry pie, nutmeg, cinnamon and milk chocolate shavings on the nose. The palate is massive and young...needed hours to come around. Powerful core of pipe tobacco, tar, smoked meat, and grilled dark fruit. This will likely hit perfection (for my style) in a few years and am glad to own one. Thank you for bringing, @Carl Fischer .
Yeah: awesome. And totally approachable right out of the gate. Just fantastic.
Yeah: awesome. And totally approachable right out of the gate. Just fantastic.
Jul 25th, 2021