Tim Casady

9.0

1, 2, buckle... — 6 years ago

with Kristin

Sean Herriott

8.9

Loaded with blueberry jam flavors...and notes of blueberry jam. Buckle up! — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

10

2005 Sine Qua Non "The 17th Nail in My Cranium" Sta. Rita Hills Syrah
Buckle your chinstraps folks because tonight we’re headed to the wine world equivalent of the summit of Mt. Everest. The absolute pinnacle in the Universe of wine for yours truly. The “it just don’t get any better than this” moment as far as grapes are concerned. Let me begin first with the name of this magic elixir. If memory serves, it was derived from a combination of the fact that this was the 17th Syrah produced in the Garage d’Or otherwise known as Sine Qua Non, and, in that same year, Manfred was felled by a rogue barrel requiring several staples to close the gash to his cranium, hence... "The 17th Nail in My Cranium"
The wine is a blend of 96.5% Syrah and 3.5% Viognier which was aged 38+ months prior to bottling. % alcohol. 4 hour decant at cellar temperature. Achromatic Raven black motor oil in my Zalto. Undoubtedly, the wines I find most compelling are of the “swirl, sniff and contemplate” variety, and this one might just set the benchmark. Explosive aromatic potpourri of blackberry jam, roasted coffee, fresh ground black pepper, graphite and spice with a faint floral arrangement lurking somewhere in the background. On the palate, sweet cherry compote and black currant with undertones of roasted game and black olives. A big, full bodied wine that’s light on its feet. A tightrope walker. A powerhouse with impeccable manners. Elegant and lithesome. A ballet dancer. Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov in his prime. Complex, with layers of flavors in beautiful, perfect harmony. Crosby, Stills & Nash singing “Suite Judy Blue Eyes.” The Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations.” Perfect balance. Pure, silky mouth feel. Immeasurable finish. And I mean that literally, as in it just continues on and on. Just utter perfection. A wine that is in fact so entirely perfect as to eliminate the need for a search for an alternative. The last word. To paraphrase The Bard, this wine “might (just) be the be-all and the end-all.”

— 8 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.7

Salinity, maple, cashew butter and cinnamon. Actually quite dry. This makes knees buckle. I cannot explain the perfection that was the pairing with house made pb&j doughnuts w peanut brittle. Absurdly good!!! — 9 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.2

This is seriously underrated but I understand why. Imagine blackberry-infused bacon fat. Period. Bacon fat dripping down your throat in spades has to be your thing. If it isn't, ignore the Parker rating and don't even think of trying this. If it is, buckle up and enjoy the ride. Huge QPR. — 10 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

2014 - year of the horse

Double decant and pour. A medium dark ruby red color. Buckle up, your going to enjoy this ride. On the nose: sweet raspberry, forest floor, some vegi, slight menthol, with a little cinnamon. Taste: black cherry, gravel, minerals, currents, with a smokey graphite long finish. A rich, soft, savory mouthfeel (this is no cherry cola Russian River bomb).

West slope is a limited production wine from the middle portion of the west slope block in their Carneros vineyard...get some if you can and give it some time in the cellar.. — 6 years ago

with Brenda

Shay A

9.2

Jack & Arden put together a wonderful evening of delicious food and great wines, and a few of us attendees contributed some bottles to enjoy as well. Great night!

The epitome of full throttle. Buckle up and hold on. Like rocket fuel! Baked blue and black fruit pie and dark cocoa shavings on the nose. High octane on the palate, with a chocolate a-la-mode and creme de cassis finish. Very cool @Benjamin Keator — 7 years ago

with Arden, Jack and 3 others

M. Christopher Roebuck

8.9

It's got that thing that I hate. Will do my best to give it time.

Well, I can't buckle under the pressure of pros and prior reviewers. This sucks. I don't like their base cab nor this reserve. I'm not sure what I'm missing. But no.....

89 points — 8 years ago

Diane Withrow

8.9

Blackberries, old leather belt, well worn and made- with a brass buckle. Dark cherries tannins. Bitter chocolate. Deep and dark. — 9 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.1

Tasted blind you could tell the warm vintage but It does have a beautiful minerality — 9 years ago

Kirk F

9.4

Celebrating #20 with Mrs F this evening with yet another great effort from Mr. Russell From. Agree with the one hour recommendation. After that, buckle up or get another bottle open! — 10 years ago

Nick DeNitto

9.2

$20 for this $40 wine is a joke! I feel like I'm stealing. It feels so wrong but tastes so right. Pair with a gamey bolognese and buckle up. I recommend decanting or aerating. Can age 5 more years no sweat. — 10 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

1.5 hour decant (lots of fine cloudy sediment)...really needs a 2 hour decant for the nose and taste to open up. A phenomenal deep dark garnet color..little signs of aging. Buckle your seat belts..the wine was fresh, full body with great structure. On the nose: floral, pine tree, cedar, dark fruit, currents. Taste: Big chocolate, dark cherry, tobacco with a touch of tannic bite on a smoky pencil lead long finish. — 6 years ago

with Brenda

Bobby Gilbane

9.5

Just make sure you buckle up before engaging the warp drive. — 7 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.1

Such a cool wine and wonderful interpretation of this obscure variety. Perhaps not for all, but do embrace it, buckle up, and experience the rowdy playfulness of the tannins and the vibrant freshness that is keeping the wine tight and bone dry and bringing the wine forward, everything balanced by a complete mid palate that is keeping the wine far from being hollow. Transparent but with plenty of substance, both to drink without thought and for more philosophical drinking occasions. — 8 years ago

Nicholas Costin

9.2

Buckle in for a wild ride on the funky train — 8 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.0

Sucking down the entire leather belt plus the pewter buckle at the end. Amazing aroma! — 9 years ago

Lauren S

9.2

Nose is oaky with vanilla. Flavor shows vanilla and caramel. Medium body. Oaky and delicious! — 10 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.1

Sacred Thirst tasting. Buckle up folks. Here comes the no oak Tempranillo lineup from Zorzal. — 10 years ago

Adam Jesberger

10

The most absurdly long finish i have ever experienced. Had about 1.5 oz from a coravin pour. Cant wait to taste the rest. Already so polymerized for such youth. Blackberry preserves with vanilla like cashew flavors. Mossy wet soil like nose with a marshmallowy brown sugar like oak finish followed by candied red peppers. Un freakin believable. Needs more time, tannins are still quite coarse, but overall, this is going to evolve into silk. The best Bryant i have tasted. With age it will make knees buckle. — 10 years ago

with Jenelle