From a central California vineyard, Sine Qua Non's 2006 Grenache Raven Series *** (8% syrah, 26% whole cluster fermented and aged in about 40% new French oak) is a purple color turning ruby on the rim - not opaque - but there is a certain density to the color here. The nose is extraordinarily complex even after just opening, with plums, spices, and dark cocoa. Smooth on the palate, with nice acidity through the midnote. The cocoa reemerges on a finish with mellow menthol, crushed peppers and herbes de provence. Too much alcohol by volume for perfection (15.5%) in my book, but this is damn close.
Do you think this is worth the price? Also, have you tried the Raven series Syrah? If so, how is it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you have any idea how the numbering on the bottle works? I've seen bottles numbered 6, 7 and 9.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Shea! To be honest I really don't know if this is worth the price. It's hard to ever justify buying a wine for $135, which is what this was released for. ... Anyway, I guess my guideline is always the question, "Would I buy another, or prefer a bottle of a similar wine for less?" For $100, I could walk out my door right now and buy a bottle of Clos des Papes 2006 at Sherry Lehmann. I think I might prefer that instead, because the alcohol in this is not concealed well or not integrated into the whole. I'm holding off on the Syrah until it's had a little time to rest, after my experience with this, which I just couldn't resist opening immediately.
ReplyDeletePs...the numbers, I think, are coded to the image of ravens on the label.
I've got a post in the works on Bonny Doon after a tasting last night at City Winery. You sparked my interest in this producer with your Rhone post a couple weeks back. I had never taken them seriously before. I'd like to know what you think when it's up.
Cheers,
Sean
Thanks for the info on SQN. Looking forward to your post on Bonny Doon.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteTwo months ago, I had 23 vintages of Guigal's Côte Rôtie La Landonne from 1983 thru 2005, all blind served (yes, we knew it was that wine), and one of the sommeliers of that tasting, through in (fully blind) the Raven Syrah, and believe it or not ... it was considered to be the best wine in the show. We were 12 tasters, all very experienced, and some of them frankophiles (I'm both, but really love California wines - I've been to 350+ wineries in California).
I told Manfred Krankl of Sine-Qua-Non, whom I know, about this tasting, and he was of course both proud and curious. For sure, the La-La's of Guigal are heavy wines with a spicy oak character, but still they have a touche of minerality. For the last few years, SQN wines has shown more and more finesse, and that's because Manfred now uses his own vineyards in the cool Santa Rita Hills appellation. For sure that's been successful.
I love his syrah's and I taste a lot of his wines. But to be honest, the last years evolution of Grenache has been impressive!
Michel Jamais, sommelier and wine writer in Sweden.
Dear Michel,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment! And what an incredible tasting that must have been. Please be sure to invite me next time :)