Which SQN Estate Syrah to serve?

Hi all,
I want to serve the best Sine Qua Non to a couple of friends, who never really tried SQN. I want it to be the Estate Syrah from Eleven Confessions Vineyard. It will be served against the 2002 Grange and 2007 La Mouline fwiw.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a vintage available that old, I have 2011 and 2013-2018. I have only had the 2011 and 2014 before outside of a corked 2015. I have been saving 2016+2017 because they are the birthyears of my kids but I think I have enough that I can open one of either, if is the best choice here. I found the 2011 to be lacking a little bit and loved the 2014 back in november 2018.
One of the friends prefer a colder style of wine, so he asks me to bring a wine from a cooler vintage, but I’m not sure I need to take this into account. After all, SQN will never be that, so he might as well try the true SQN with all that it brings. Which in my opinion is a rare level of balance despite the proportions being so extreme. Also, I’m not sure what vintages were warm or cold down there.
Thank in advance for any help.

Of the vintages mentioned, 2011 was certainly a cooler year . . . But as you opined, the vintage may not matter as much with these wines.

I’ll let others chime in with more specifics - just wanted to note that 2008 and 2011 would be considered cooler years down here.

Cheers

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Thanks Larry, appreciate it👌

Not the Eleven Confessions, but I did open a 2014 Piranha Waterdance Syrah last night with Texas-style Barbecue (smoked sausage and beef brisket) and it seemed to be in a good place.

Cheers,
fred

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Don’t they pretty much all taste the same…sweet fruit, alcohol and lots of oak?

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No.

I had the SQN Raven 2006 3 weeks ago which is in a good spot, but I don’t know the 2011s.
2007 Guigal LM is a very elegant wine, outstanding but completely the opposite of SQN - like Leonard Cohen against AC/DC …
so both should be not compared, but enjoyed.
Grange can be compared to SQN

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I haven’t tried 2011 Patine, but the 2011 Dark Blossom was excellent with 10 hours open on counter. Brighter acidity due to vintage and a bit cooler fruit profile.

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I was only talking about SQNs

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Kris,

Honest question - did you try the wine upon opening before decanting and was there much of a difference? And if there was, what differences were there?

Cheers

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I have probably drank 10 of the 12 bottles I got, the last one prepped above brought out more balance with red and black fruit more equivalent to acid spine, and more savory notes like olives and meat.

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