2014 Sine Qua Non Syrah Piranha Waterdance, USA, California, Wine Review

81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1% Graciano. Inky purple in color. This is very different for an SQN wine. It does have 15.8% Alc but there is no sign of that. The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, some roasted meats and herbs and black pepper. On the palate, this is almost elegant. It has a refined quality but also the intensity and concentration one expects. Black raspberry and blueberry fruit on the palate with underlying coffee grounds and char. Great texture. Long finish. This is still quite young and has some upside even as good as it is tonight.

Grade:

A+

Score:

100

Vintage:

2014

America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we discussed the white Rhone style wines offered at the 2008 Rhone Rangers tasting event at Fort Mason in San Francisco on March 18. This month we turn to the reds, of which we tasted 50. Among those we tasted were some old favorites and some wineries or bottlings with which we were not yet familiar. We don’t pretend that we tasted a representative group of wines, because our sample was skewed to wines we have loved in the past and others about which we have heard positive comments.

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2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008 was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective. Unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. The American wines were mostly from California (144 wineries), but a few examples from Arizona (2 wineries) and Washington State (5 wineries) were also included. While this is a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers aren’t represented, there is still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts. The events included two general tastings and a series of focused seminars.

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Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

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2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika, USA, California, Syrah, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$225.00USD

Checking in on a young wine can be fun even if way before peak. This was consumed and enjoyed over two evenings. This is a blend of 82% Syrah, 6.7% Mourvèdre, and the rest Petite Sirah and Grenache. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is great with black raspberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, gravel, black pepper and roasted meats. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Juicy acidity. On the palate, this is delicious. Deep but almost monolithic at the point. Like a wall of flavor. Black raspberries, blueberries, char, lavender and spice. Long finish. At this stage it wil

2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$235.00USD

This is a blend of 82% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 6% Grenache, and 5% Petite Sirah. Like many SQN wines, this weights in at 15.8% abv but there is no hint on the nose or palate. Delicious wine. Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has black raspberries, white pepper, roasted meats and roasted herbs. Full bodied with a lush but lively texture. On the palate, this is surprisingly drinkable even at this young age. Loads of black raspberries with underlying char and black pepper. Deep. Long finish. Drinks great on its own but will work well with grilled, roasted or braised meats

2014 Sine Qua Non Syrah Piranha Waterdance, USA, California, Wine Review

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America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika, USA, California, Syrah, Wine Review

2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika, USA, California, Wine Review