I’ve been busy and not done a ton of browsing, unfortunately. I have had some good wines, though. Here’s the latest from E&M since I last checked-in:
2015 Eleven Confessions “M” Syrah
2018 Next of Kyn
2014 The Third Twin Graciano
2015 “Trouver l’arène” Syrah
2012 Eleven Confessions “Touché” Syrah
All drinking well, all drinking young. The Graciano was fantastic–too bad there is so little of this. The '15s are excellent, but will be even better with another 2-3 years of age. The '18 NoK is one of my favorite vintages of that label, right there with the '13. And the “Touché” is really in a good place and will likely remain there for 20 years.
Had the 2014 CAPO DEI PUTTI Syrah yesterday. Was a bit left in the decanter this morning and when I tasted I realized I should have decanted the bottle for more than 2 hours. Like maybe 20 hours. It was that good this morning. I think this is going to be a 40-year wine, although not sure I’ll be around to enjoy it…
Drank the 2009 SQN The Thrill of…Syrah eatlier this week. In a really good spot, and as usual I enjoy less heralded vintages. Dark fruits and oak spice on the nose, palate is lithe and balanced with some dark fruit, licorice, spice, and balancing acidity.
In a good spot at age 13, will drink any others I come across in next 2 years.
2000 Sine Qua Non Syrah In Flagrante - USA, California (12/19/2022)
Found this leaking a couple months ago…so, oldest daughter turns 22…pop the crumbly cork…and here we go! 88% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 2% Viognier…sourced from Alban/Stolpman/White Hawk/Bien Nacido vineyards…14.9abv…pretty dark garnet, pink orange rim color…GORGEOUS nose of Alban tar, olive tapenade, crushed berries, smoked bacon, dusty oak barrel, menthol tobacco leaf…blind nose I’d guess Alban right here…in the mouth…THIS is where you go elsewhere…SMOOTH and quite silky for such richness…the crushed liqueured berry fruit has lightened and polished up…showing an elegance to the was once a beast of blackness…really nicely integrated with harmony…flavors as the nose, with the olive and tar really standing out, melding well with the sweet fruit and pretty violet and white flower florals(thanks viognier)…finishes with complexing depth…layers of wafting smoke and perfume…sour tart kick and white pepper spice smack the palate in the end…making you beg for another! As was the 2000 Incognito a few years ago…a flat out gorgeous wine! The leak and crumbly cork had no adverse effect. (96 points)
So… this a “what should I open?” post. I’ve been asked to supply an EBA syrah to put in a blind tasting with several other big name syrahs. I’m guessing Alban and Andremily will be in there and probably a “regular” SQN. I could choose any EBA syrah from 2012 going forward. CT notes suggest they may all be too youthful. If I was going to choose a regular SQN, I’d probably pick the Hated Hunter, but I have not had any EBAs younger than Patine.
Very aware, but Mark said a regular like Hated Hunter and I don’t think its as good as Pirahna. I wouldn’t open a Estate wine, unless it was 17th Nail or something pre-2009.
I’ve been buying Sine Qua Non from the mailing list for over a decade. This past weekend I ran into my first dud.
We opened a 2011 Dark Blossom Syrah with Christmas dinner. The cork broke on opening. Notable mostly because I’ve not encountered that before with a SQN.
Poured a small sip, and then decanted for about two hours before the first glass. The initial sip was a little flat. The first glass two hours later was the same. I followed it for the next couple of hours, and no real change. Same on day two.
It wasn’t “bad” per se. It didn’t have much of anything going on. It lacked the big fruit and energy I expect from these. Just (somewhat nondescript red) fruit. Nothing else of interest going on. None of the spice. None of the floral or savory elements I tend to get from SQN. Not much in the way of tannin. Okay, I suppose I just described a “bad” wine.
I’m fairly sensitive to TCA, but didn’t get that here. Perhaps it was there and just below my perception level. I dunno. First poorly performing Sine Qua Non. Not a bad track record given the number I’ve had the privilege to taste. Sadly, this was my last Dark Blossom. Might have to dig up another Manfred creation to pop this weekend.
agreed with Mark, that doesn’t anything like this wine, I would let them know. Sounds like heat damage (which sounds unlikely in this case) or low level TCA
Dark Blossoms were amazing for 8-10 years. I think it was a tough vintage that isn’t going to have the legs of 2013 (for example). I had a Syrah a year ago and it was excellent, but not on its upslope. I say that knowing it might bum out Manfred, but I think the “off” vintage wines are so friggin’ good young there’s no reason to wait. DB and the ‘17s are some of my faves young, but that would change at 15-years old or more.
I also agree that EBAs probably need 10+ years to show their best, even if they’re quite delicious young. And I think the last ten vintages (+/-) are 30-year wines easy.
One more thought to agree with some other posts—unless you’ve stored these perfectly, it’s a crap shoot after ten years. I’m not saying you stored them poorly, but if they didn’t come directly from SQN and go straight into your 55° cellar then all bets are off. I seem to recall Parker saying storage was paramount to longevity and I’ve found that to be true the longer I’ve been in this game.
Doesn’t match my past experience with Dark Blossom either. If I didn’t know the history of the bottle I might have guessed heat damage, except there were no stewed notes. I bought this bottle direct and it has been well stored since. I’ll likely reach out to them just to let them know. Low level TCA is my best guess.
