2001 Rien Ne Va Plus
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Tasting notes
(15. 5% alcohol) Pale-medium gold. Exotic peach and pineapple on the nose, with a strong charred oak component. Rich, ripe, exotic and adamantly dry, with complex flavors of peach, apricot, honey, clove and ginger, along with a waxy nuance and a suggestion of white raisin. Can't quite match the Whisperin' wine for definition and freshness of fruit, and shows some warmth on the back end, but this is impressively mouthfilling.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
One of the most amazing dry whites I have ever tasted is the 2001 Rien Ne Va Plus. Fashioned from 100% Roussanne, and aged on its lees for an extremely long period, my initial image when I tasted it was of the great Barsac, the 2001 Climens. However, the Sine Qua Non wine is bone dry with no sweetness evident. It gains in both stature and aromatic dimension as it sits in the glass. At first, I did not like it as well as the Whisperin’ E or the 2003 Proprietary White, but after 30-45 minutes in a decanter, the Rien Ne Va Plus was a symphony of exotic aromas and flavors. Dense, rich, and full-bodied, with impeccable balance, superb honeyed richness, and wonderfully integrated wood, it is undeniably the greatest New World expression of Roussanne made to date. Another dramatic characteristic, its golden color seemed to lighten as it sat in the glass and sucked up oxygen. This is an amazing achievement! Sadly, production is less than 100 cases. (Release date 11/04) Tel. (805) 649-8901
About the producer
The brainchild of Manfred Krankl, Sine Qua Non (commonly known as SQN) is a cult California producer whose wines are avidly collected. The winery focuses on Rhône-inspired blends, however is famously non-conformist with each release totally unique.