Chicago SQN Tasting

WINE TALK
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On Friday at Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse in Chicago, 12 fellow SQN obsessives got together for another epic SQN tasting inspired by me finally, luckily, excitedly getting on the SQN list! There were a mix of familiar faces from Yvonne and I’s previous SQN dinners in DC and NYC; along with some new faces - including committed SQN fans James F, Jeff W and Dan G.

This dinner was made possible by the incredible generosity of all the attendees - providing some of the older SQN’s that I’d never tried before. Special mentions to James F for organizing the venue (and paying for everyone’s dinner!!) and Dan G for doing all the heavy lifting decanting all the wines earlier in the day.

the full lineup is listed below:

Cocktail Hour - Shellfish Platters & Shrimp Cocktail
1996 Dom Perignon
1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque
1998 Krug - Magnum
2004 Rejuvenators
2006 The HooDoo Man
2008 Kolibri
2008 The Pontiff Rose

Flight 1 - Carpaccio of Prime Beef, Pine Nuts, Mustard Oil, Sar Vecchio Cheese

  • 1995 The Other Hand
  • 1996 Against the Wall
  • 1997 The Impostor McCoy
  • 1998 E Raised
  • 1999 The Marauder
  • 2000 In Flagrante

Flight 2 - Double smoked bacon, Burton’s Maple - Black Pepper glaze

  • 1995 Red Handed
  • 1999 Icarus
  • 2000 Incognito
  • 2001 Ventriloquist

Flight 3 - Spit roasted Berkshire Pork Loin, Seedling Apple-smoked Ham Hock Chutney

  • 2001 Midnight Oil
  • 2004 Ode to E Syrah
  • 2007 Next of Kyn # 1
  • 2008 Next of Kyn #2
  • 2009 Next of Kyn # 3

Flight 4 - Double Cut Colorado Lamb chop; Merguez Sausage Crust

  • 2003 Li’l E
  • 2004 Into The Dark
  • 2004 Ode to E Grenache
  • 2005 Atlantis Grenache
  • 2005 Naked Truth

Flight 5 - 35 Day Dry Aged Sirloin
Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes, Bordelaise

  • 2002 Just For The Love Of It
  • 2003 Papa
  • 2004 Poker Face
  • 2005 17th Nail
  • 2005 Atlantis Syrah

Dessert - Nutella Creme brûlée, Banana Bread Croutons, Crushed Hazelnuts

  • 1990 Chateau d’Yquem
  • 2000 Chateau d’Yquem
  • 2001 Chateau d’Yquem

I’ll let others chime in with more detailed tasting notes as I’m not a great note taker, but here are some thoughts on my favourites of the night:

  • Hoodoo Man. My first taste of this wine and it seemed one of the most complex of SQN whites that I’ve had. Outstanding

  • 1997 Impostor McCoy. In a great place at the moment and my absolute favourite of all the “older” SQN’s of the night

  • E Raised. Probably needed more decanting as this tasted very tight, but the class was obvious for all to see. One of my favourite SQN wines to drink at the moment. Would love to put this up against 1997 Impostor McCoy again soon with more decanting

  • Next of Kyn #1. I’d never had the pleasure to try any of the NoK’s before and this was the most approachable of the 3 we tried. It’s hard to explain the stylistic difference between NoK and SQN Syrah’s…NoK seems a little more primary and austere, but these wines are still painfully young. Definitely looking forward to revisiting this delicious NoK #1 again in 5 years where I’m sure it will have gained in complexity and will be even more delicious

  • 2005 Naked Truth. Has really improved over the last year and had one bottle Thursday night and one Friday night and both times it showed very well. A less peppery nose than its little brother Atlantis Grenache, but the extra time in barrel has given it a lot more complexity and a deeper flavour profile. Another of my all time favourites but always seems to get a just little overshadowed by…

  • 2005 17th Nail. Again had one bottle Thursday and one Friday. The one on Thursday was popped and poured due to time constraints and it was obvious it needed a lot more air to really strut its stuff…with extra decanting time on Friday, the 2nd bottle was absolutely stunning - peppery character (all of SQN 2005 reds seem to have this), dark fruit and a finish that has you wanting more! There’s still a sense this wine has so much more to give. I think peak drinking is 7-10 years away. The other wines in the flight (a parade of supermodels of course) sadly didn’t stand a chance in the company of 17th Nail.

  • 2001 d’Yquem. Not much more to say than wow. Truly one of the best young d’Yquem’s and a wine I’d happily sip over a course of an evening.

I love the format of these tastings. Of course it’s a lot of wine, but it gives such a unique opportunity to try a lot of outstanding SQN’s side by side, to check on their evolution, to have favourites among them; but above all it gives such an opportunity for new friendships among passionate SQN fans. I can truly say I made some amazing new wine friends that I look forward to tasting with for many years to come.

Thanks again for everyone who contributed, attended and made for the most fun SQN tasting of my life!

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[welldone.gif]

Thanks

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e-raised is probably my favorite SQN. wonderful wine!

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whoa…

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Ho-ly shit!

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Unless I missed something that is 36 bottles (I counted the Krug magnum as two) for 12 people.

Despite the obviously high quality of the bottles, that is way (and I mean a long way…) past the point where I can still enjoy a tasting.

Less is more for me in that regard. I just don’t get that excited about the, say, 15th bottle I taste on an evening, compared to the initial bottles tasted.

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Well thanks for pointing that out.

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Great line up. Sounds like a blast. Some times it’s just about letting lose and having a good time.

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Damn Duncan. Helluva lineup!! While some of these older ones have either tired out or are starting to tire, for me…SQN seems to shine at the 7-12yr mark. Wish I could have made it. Kudos to you (and ALWAYS to Mr. Fogerty) for pulling this together.

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[dance-clap.gif] I am jealous [dance-clap.gif]

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Just curious why Yquem and not SQN sweet wines at the end? Not that Yquem is ever a bad choice . . .

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Ken - no particular reason other than 2001 d’Yquem is one of my favourite wines…plus with 12 people, trying to share a 375ml SQN sweet wine fairly is very hard (especially when they taste so good!)

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Whow, thats quite a tasting!
Shot in the dark was for me a 103 point wine [cheers.gif]
Straw and Nobleman are not of Yquem 2001 quality