SQN Eleven Confessions

Dinner at Rex.

2012 Sine Qua Non In the Abstract - 35% chardonnay, 32% roussanne, 17% viognier, 16% petite manseng. Very prominent nose of tropical fruits, so fragrant, lots of popcorn and toast, very floral, very ripe, with apricot notes. Very big and voluptuous.

2015 Sine Qua Non Entre Chien et Loup - 44% chardonnay, 40% roussanne, 8% viognier, 8% petite manseng. Leaner and more focused, more flint and lemon on the nose. Still got that sweetness but not so vanilla or candy-like. Some 45 minutes after opening there was a bit more acetone, as well as some vanilla on the edges.

2004 Sine Qua Non Ode to E Syrah - 94% syrah, 4% grenache, 2% viognier. Served more than 3½ hours after opening, not decanted. Very ripe, a little minty, with vanilla oak, and blueberries. Pretty damn sweet and very enjoyable. Arguably the wine of the evening.

2005 Sine Qua Non 17th Nail in My Cranium - 97% syrah, 3% viognier. Served 4 hours after opening without decanting but slightly warmer than preferred. A bit more concentrated than Ode to E, with lots of toasty oak, very open and fragrant. This did have a little hint of green notes, with some pine needles. Still drinking very well.

2006 Sine Qua Non A Shot in the Dark - 96.5% syrah, 3.5% viognier. Served 4 hours after opening without decanting. Very ripe and jammy, but still a little sharp on the nose.

2007 Sine Qua Non Dangerous Birds Syrah - 93% syrah, 4.5% grenache, 2.5% viognier. Served almost 3½ hours after opening without decanting. Nose was not as open as A Shot in the Dark, but more concentrated on the palate.

2008 Sine Qua Non The Duel Syrah - 93% syrah, 4% grenache, 3% viognier. Opened a little more than an hour before serving without decanting. Nose was still fairly closed.

2009 Sine Qua Non This is Not an Exit Syrah - 80% syrah, 12% grenache, 7% roussanne, 1% viognier. Decanted 3 hours after opening, and served more than 2 hours after decanting. Very smooth and drinking nicely.

2010 Sine Qua Non Stockholm Syndrome Syrah - 96% syrah, 3% grenache, 1% viognier. Decanted 2½ hours after opening and served some 2 hours after decanting. This was more open than the others in the same flight. Pretty rich but nicely balanced. Clearly the best of the three in this flight.

2011 Sine Qua Non Patine Syrah - 93% syrah, 4% petite sirah, 1.6% roussanne, 1.4% viognier. Served about 2 hours after decanting. Somehow this seemed more developed on the palate.

1998 Mr. K TBA - from viognier. Honeydew, a little acetone, honey, and marmalade. Really sweet on the nose and of course on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.