Tricia Churnetski

9.7

A Merlot with less tannins, plum/chocolate, we both like it! — 8 years ago

with John

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Deep golden yellow almost a pee yellow. Lovely creaminess like creme brûlée and butter on the nose, even a bit toasty. Thick on the palate, almost like tannins, expecting a high percentage of new oak. A bit of alcohol on the palate, especially in the finish. Has some apples and citrus when cold but overwhelmly lead with oaky notes. Drink till 2018. — 9 years ago

with India

Rachael Holley

9.2

spicy -- good with pesto and Italian sausage! — 10 years ago

with Randall

Paul Stagg

9.1

Very napa cab. A great example@of what California wine is and should be. Very Good — 10 years ago

Andrew McKenzie

9.4

Barrel creaminess. Bright acidity. Delicious — 11 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

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Best of the lineup. India loved this and gave it a 94. Very creamy and slight butter on the palate, loved the finish. Started off with a tropical fruit attack on the palate. — 10 years ago

Donny Sebastiani

Owner, Don Sebastiani & Sons

9.0

Toasty oak and meaty Napa aromas. Should be age worthy. Nice wine, merlot with some heft. — 11 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.8

I find this cab to be a near perfect example of Oakville cabs below $200/btl. The nose takes you into the cask paving the way for a full mouth experience from front to back black and blueberries (like the mouths full I devoured while picking enough for my mom or sisters to make a pie; full mouth/full blast😎) that unctuates (my word) down one's throat smoothly grasping to stay high as it gradually slides "homeward through the haze..."😎 (thx David Crosby)! Buy this wine! Decanted x a mere 30 minutes and it steps up its presence x 4..😎. This is all going on at Salt, the amazing restaurant looking at the ocean at the Amelia Island Ritz; plus, it's Christmas!!! Matt, the bartender is a superstar! — 11 years ago

Sean Hughes

9.4

Fruity but also bold. Well balanced. Served perfectly with a filet mignon. — 8 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.1

These are really good. Not as plush as the Russian River appellation Zin but more structured with more drying tannins. 2hr decant and it’s singing like Bing Crosby. — 8 years ago

Eric Grasser

9.3

Balanced, elegant and delicate from a pedigree of Georges III vineyard. Plenty of blue and red fruit with cocoa powder and Rutherford dust. — 10 years ago

Mirna Mohanraj

9.8

High tea Crosby Street Hotel — 10 years ago

Charlie Evans

9.4

First wine Croaby Roamann ever released. Very special. — 10 years ago

Kacey Suzanne Birdsell

10

This is my *favorite* - I always picture Fred MacMurray & Bing Crosby drinking Pinot Noir in the RRV. Love this wine so much. — 11 years ago