pretty good first post brother, welcome.
nice decanter too. but be smart, don’t set the girlfriend’s standards too high with SQN on the regular. tough standard to upkeep!
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Thanks a lot for welcoming me!
The decanter comes from Sydonios, a French brand of glasses and wine accessories. I don’t know if it is available in the USA.
Don’t worry SQN is and will remain for us a “once in a year” kind of pleasure!
Otherwise my banker is gonna get a heart attack!
Last night at Higgins in PDX was pretty wonderful. Without intending to, we all made it a Grenache night:
2009 On the Lam white - I always worry that I may be holding on to the SQN whites too long, and that worry always dissolves once I open them. Purity, ample tropic fruit, a touch of flint, long and balanced, with a lengthy finish. Went back toward the end of the night and it had only improved, delish!
2004 SQN Into the Dark - my contribution, my last bottle, and my WOTN. I know Manfred recommends drinking about 10 years after the vintage, but this wine was truly exceptional at almost 20 years. Outstanding aromatics, and fully integrated on the palate. Seamless, elegant, powerful, still plenty of fruit. If you have these, it’s time to open them up, but no rush to do so.
2008 SQN The Line - really excellent, but suffered a bit against Into the Dark. Plenty of powerful dark fruit and structure, pure and balanced. What a treat to taste EBAs against the regular release. No rush on this one.
2012 SQN Rattrapante - again, outstanding, and I’d stay still would still benifit from a few more years. My #2 of the night, and similar profile to the Into the Dark, just younger.
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Nice set there Eric! My prob with the whites is I want to hold them to at least 10yrs, but find them too irresistible and drink them up too soon! I do have a few experiments to see what big age will bring…the 2000 The Boot, and 2005 The Petition…just waiting for the right moment. And agree…that 04 Into the Dark was drinking stellar last time I had it…just one bottle left.
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I think I still have some Petition too, drank The Boot out of magnum in Napa years ago, was something like $400 a mag, I might sugguest you put that in queue sooner than later.
2003 Omega, provided by my friend Steve. This was a perfectly-stored wine and showed appropriately. I would argue (please don’t be offended, Manfred, if you’re reading this) that it is either at the plateau or perhaps on the other side of a long, slow “decline”. But what I mean is that this bottle of wine (which has provided tons of pleasure over the years) is starting to show its age. It no longer has the intense, dense fruit, but it is still lovely and has plenty of fruit left. The tannins are essentially integrated, the alcohol (15.5%) is apparent but not at all hot or off-putting. Sweet strawberry, hints of tea, some very, very, very reticent notes of cola, and a beautiful mouthfeel.
Followed-up with a 2016 The Third Twin Nuestra Señora del Tercel Gemelo. This is still a HUGE wine, but also still HUGELY delicious. I’d probably rather drink the rest of these in the next six weeks than hold on to them for 30-40 years (how long I think they’ll age), but if you have any of these feel free to sit on them for a decade or more.
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Thanks Mark, I’ve been absolutely dying to try that 2016 TTT, but haven’t been able to convince myself to crack in to one yet - sounds like I should!
It’s totally worth drinking one now. I would recommend a 4-6 hour decant (although we popped and poured) to maximize the enjoyment!
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I got 4 boxes last night. I haven’t opened them yet but I’m 99% certain they are the estate wines I just ordered in late January.
Last night at dinner for my son’s 22nd birthday - Next Of Kyn Numero Dois. Plush with a lot of blue fruit, big but not heavy. “Wow, Dad, this is really good!” Maybe he’ll look back on this as his epiphany wine.
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That’d be a great epiphany wine! I love those Touriga Nacionals. There’s just something about them that floats my boat!
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Opened a 2020 Distenta II White at our local sushi place with my Dad. Delicious young with notes of apple, green pear, and ginger. Palate has good weight and balancing acidity. Another 
from M&E.
Gonna be hard to not drink the other 5 and let a couple age.
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Well done Jordan. Not bad for a Sunday night. The Raven is special.
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Always been a fan of Atlantis.
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Awesome!! Amazing lineup!
How was ths 07 labels? Have one left and been debating when to open it.
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Had it in the middle of the pack. I do usually prefer his Grenache
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Saddest part when I went to clean up the next morning, there was about a bottles worth of leftovers
I assume you did not let those leftovers go to waste!!
sadly I did. Was pretty lit at the end as we had a few starters and an auslese to finish
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