2005 Sine Qua Non, SQN, Over And Out, California, Bottle (750ml)

Sadly, Sine Qua Non?s final Pinot Noir will be the 2005 ?Over and Out? Arita Hills Vineyard. That?s a shame as their Pinot Noir has always been one of my favorites ? always rich and full-flavored rather than a dumb-downed, wimpish, and diluted faux-French imitation. This beauty has put on considerable weight since I tasted it twelve months ago. Made from Dijon clones 115 and 777, it reveals a classic Cotes de Nuits-like perfume of damp forest floor intermixed with sweet cherries, plums, figs, and spring flowers. This could easily be mistaken for a Clos de la Roche from Morey St.-Denis, but with purer fruit and a more savory texture. Dominated by its beautiful fruit and complexity, with the oak component kept in the background, it should drink well for 8-10 years.
Sine Qua Non, Over And Out, California