2008 Sine Qua Non Estate Allocation

The 2008 Sine Qua Non (SQN) Estate allocations have been announced.  They are 3 x Syrah “The Duel” (WA 96-98) and 3 x Grenache “The Duel” (WA 95-98) all sold together for $1320.  Plus, there is a white wine “The Monkey” (WA 92-94), which is a Rhone-style blend of Roussanne, Viognier, and Chardonnay.  Allocations of “The Monkey” range from three to six bottles at $100 each. 

Buy “The Duel”; it’s a no-brainer for both the speculator and the consumer.  Past years of Eleven Confessions Syrah and Grenache sell for $450 and up, and 2008 SQN “The Duel” should be no different.  A speculator could reasonably expect to sell four of these at auction, paying the 20% auction house commission, and let the profits pay for the last two.  As for SQN “The Monkey”, buy it only if you want to drink it.

Followers of the ratings will notice that the barrel sample scores for the 2008 SQN “The Duel” are a couple of points lower than past years.  Don’t worry, it’s the same great wine, just a different critic.  The WA reviewer for the 2008 SQN is Antonio Galloni, not Robert Parker.  Galloni is taking over responsibility the Wine Advocate reviews for California and Washington.  Buy the 2008 SQN Estate bottlings with confidence.