Tom Inners

9.6

Lots of fun. @Ian Macdonald opened a stunner and then proceeded to take all my money on the poker table. This wine carries all the richness my wallet once had. — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.7

The advanced notice on this was very positive but I wasn't prepared for how absolutely astonishing it was. I opened around 4pm Saturday and I caught a pretty heavy nose of black cherry liqueur, fox fur and game. From the nose I feared heat. I decanted about 4 hours and served with NY Waygu strip steak and twiced baked potatoes. I was immediately jarred by the depth, purity and balance of this Syrah. There was weight but she (this wine is a sexy she) was also so light on her feet. Flavors of dark chocolate, bourbon barrels and peppercorn and a marked silky mouth feel. This is a special, powerful wine with tremendous structure and a rich, long finish. It's a mythical combination of the funk and depth of a Cayuse Bionic Frog or Charles Smith Royal City and the power, texture and smooth finish of the SQN Poker Face. Such an impressive showing by winemaker @Fraser McKinley and a big thank you to the basketball barrister @Roman Sukley for staying on me and making sure I acquired some of this. I trust Roman's palette without reservation. One last note: this wine was substantially more integrated and more plush and round on day 2. I recommend opening and using the Audouze method at cellar temp followed by a lengthy decant. This will sing loud and clear if you let it explore the studio space. — 8 years ago

Joshua Chan

8.9

Alright. Perfect poker game accompaniment. — 10 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.0

Perfect poker wine — 10 years ago

AJ Blum

8.9

Poker night. Light and easy to drink. — 10 years ago

Wes Hagen

9.6

I bought this wine 16 years ago and recognized it's amazing potential. I open it 18 years after vintage and the wine is just profound! Smoke, earth and dried herbs de Provence, dried cherry and the faintest hints of licorice and barnyard. This would be the perfect definition of 'good Brett', like properly cheating at poker. Harmonious, deep and balanced in the mouth, maybe the greatest nature Syrah I've had from outside the Rhone! — 11 years ago

Roman Sukley

10

2002 Sine Qua Non “Just For The Love Of It” Syrah. 15.2% Alcohol. So I have a confession to make. When this wine was released and Mr. Parker rated it 100 points (and correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this might have been the first Parker SQN 100 pointer), I couldn’t wait to pull the cork. And when I did, I was totally.......underwhelmed! I began questioning Parker. Questioning Manfred. Questioning my palate. What was I missing? What was my problem? Could I continue on in this world? Well, I never did reconcile things, and then “Papa” was released and all was right with the world again. So here we are, 15 years hence, and I’m here to report that Mr. Parker knew what he was talking about after all. We’re talking absolute perfection screaming from my Zalto stem. Notes of exotic flowers, toasty oak, anise and spice box on the nose. Just gorgeous. I could swirl and sniff all evening. On the palate, a predominance of sweet black currant, white pepper, blackberries and plum jam. Juicy, opulent, intense, pure. Stunning really. Endless finish. I haven’t tasted this wine in ten years because as I said, it never impressed me. But it just jumped up to co-number 1 SQN Syrah with me along with “Poker Face” and “The 17th Nail In My Cranium.” One addendum to Mr. Parker’s review which stated this wine would drink well for 10-15 years. This piece of art is just getting started! Remember, “...never for money.” — 8 years ago

Tristan Berne

9.2

This was great. Had it at Rose's. I imagine this is what cherry coke would taste like after you dipped a red hot poker in it -- smokey tannins, ripe cherry, some vanilla oak softening things up. — 9 years ago

with Lincoln

Oleg Lebedev

9.0

Кожа, вишня, немного дуба, тонко, элегантно — 9 years ago

Paul J

9.1

Poker night wine! Rating may be skewed because how much I cleaned up tonight! Solid, smokey nose, with strong hints of blackberry. Definitely a nice wine with a unique, old world tilt! — 10 years ago

Sergey Slakker

9.0

Для своей цены очень даже заебок — 11 years ago

William Bonard

9.3

Very nice Laurent-Perrier. Perfect to accompany an evening of poker playing. — 11 years ago

Ryan d

9.2

Liked this a lot - a funky nose, raspberry, good acidity. Pretty earthy. Would drink this again. Drank while playing poker with Annie's family after a USC game — 8 years ago

Pauline Le

10

Excellent. Poker night. Perfect FRENCH sparkling rosé. — 8 years ago

Timmy Tran

9.8

Last bottle here and very happy. Felt like I was dealt a good hand in poker. — 9 years ago

Paul J

9.2

Perfect compliment to a big win on poker night! Full of fruit, with strong plum and cherry flavors. Extremely smooth but a tad weak on the finish. Was pleasantly surprised and impressed! — 9 years ago

Jeanne gills

9.2

Tasty, full bodied, fruit forward cab. Enjoyed sipping this in Vegas at UTH poker table. — 10 years ago

Jack Bleeker

9.0

Rate 90 HEB $18 ... brought by Jerry Gamble to dinner & poker at Bob Kelsey's home 9/16/15 — 10 years ago

Vito Sergio Parente

9.0

2003 Château Giscours..quaffable poker night's lucky charm - — 11 years ago

Michael Brown

9.2

Great end to a predictable and profitable night of poker! Good times with great people! @marika_vida #wines — 11 years ago