Sine Qua Non Poker Face Syrah 2004

Roy Goble

Easily the best Syrah I’ve had. Beautiful.

Alison Prager

Wow! Syrah!!

Jens Hoogstad

99/100 just because 'shot in the dark' was so much better, I could not make this a perfect wine although it probably would be one without the 2006 served at the same evening....

Richard Steinberg

My first 100 pointer of the year. Absurd. Pure Syrah fruit, laser focus and no funk.

Gordon Mason

2004 Poker Face Syrah, bought 3 and have one left. Drank one with friends and the mother of an old girlfriend accidently opened the other. I honestly do not think I have had a better bottle of wine. Tons of delicious flavors with amazing tannins, and a ling silky smooth finish like no other. Maybe adjectives could be used to describe this marvelous bottle of wine.

Kenneth Korsbæk

Fleshy nose, Dark currant and heavy spices. Medium body and sligthly in structure.

Zach Jindra

Ben thought corked. I thought delicious. We were both in the bag. #waterfordanniversaryparty

John Van Trijp

Crazy SQN Night @ Bottles

Joseph Barsky

Now starting to show secondary aging notes. Still a wow wine. Enjoyed for Thanksgiving dinner (BYO) at Albion River Inn. Went with filet mignon instead of the turkey platter and it was a heavenly match. Great week of vacation at the Sea Ranch with wines of significance.

Roman Sukley

So tonite, I’m enjoying two great artists: Miles Davis, “Kind Of Blue,” 1959, and Manfred Krankl, “Poker Face,” 2004. My all-time favorite Jazz recording (consolation prize to Chet Baker), and my knock down, drag out, unwavering all-time favorite Non-barrel aged SQN Syrah. Fairly bold statement, right? Plenty of great SQN Syrah over the years. But none that over-stimulate the olfactory senses, and catapult the taste buds to warp speed every single time I pull the cork. 15.5% alcohol. Impenetrably dark, opaque, achromatic, inky, motor oil appearance. Off the charts aromatic exhibition of incense, spice box, black pepper, Blackberry liqueur, wet stones and floral notes. Similar palate profile. Definitely fruit driven complexity, but less noticeable oak this time along with some developing nuances of mushroom, forest floor and roasted game. Pure silk texture. Positively chewy. Concentrated and dense, yet subtle and nuanced. A huge wine that’s light on its feet. Stopwatch still running on the finish. Miles and Manfred. Always pushing the envelope, but still instantly recognizable styles. Art transcends genres. “Dedicated to M’s adopted Brother.”