Guillermo Gonzalez

9.3

Superb. Needed something to stand up to a bone in rib eye as well as an unruly 1 year old. Deep garnet color. Lot of berries on the nose with hints of smoke and bacon fat. Beautiful long tannic finish. — 5 years ago

Trent Loi

9.1

Easy drinking red. Good value — 6 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

I’d go so far as to call it great! Nice work Toad’s Hollow. — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.5

1999 Sine Qua Non “Ox” Pinot Noir from the wonderful Shea Vineyard in Yamhill County, Oregon. 14% alcohol. I’ve always loved the simple label on this gigantic bottle with the cavernous punt. And I was all ready to wax poetic about the romance of opening one of these older SQNs as, based on a couple of recent tastings, I was told that this bottle is well over the hill. Well, that just ain’t so. At least not with this bottle which has been lovingly stored since release. Now I’m not going to try and convince you that the “Ox” is at its peak, but the old girl still has some tricks up her sleeve. Crystal clear, bright, medium garnet appearance. A little bricky on the edges. Smokey notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, truffles and clove on the nose. Quite vibrant palate of sweet strawberries and cola as well as spice box with a hint of vanilla, toast and that clove. A touch earthy. Nice acidity. Super silky mouthfeel. Short, but decent smokey finish with a bite reminiscent of Sweet Tarts candy. Tangy! Extremely enjoyable! Well made is well made. Chapeau Mr. Krankl! — 8 years ago

Eric

9.6

Total beast. Did a quick double decant since it's 12 years old but should have let it open for a couple of hours. Eye watering nose of dirt, nutmeg, cinnamon, bramble, and camphor. Massive palate with plenty of fruit and tannin left. 45 second finish. What an awesome cab blend! — 10 years ago

Brittany Buonocore

9.9

Sweet and floral and fresh — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Tasted alongside the 2015 vintage. Both wines were opened about eight hours in advanced and allowed to slow-ox at cellar temp (51°F). Comparatively, this was more open for business. Dark cherry, gym sock, dried herbs, leather, and tomato leaf on the nose. On the palate, dusty cherry fruit with black tea and dried herbs. Rustic. Quite an old school charmer! Towards the end of the bottle, this started to tighten back up a bit but it was still my favorite of the two vintages tonight. I expect this to enjoy a long life. — 5 years ago

Nurse Mike

9.6

Firewater, this is the first expensive wine I've ever had. Brought over by friends to accompany a perfectly marinated rib eye grilled medium rare with crazy char on the fatty ends. Its smooth, great body, great flavor with a strong but not overwhelming california cab. I can imagine buying this wine even though I couldn't imagine paying this much money for one wine that I could buy 4 or 5 wines for the same price. — 7 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.2

Boldly bitey in the best of ways. Dark blueberry cappuccino. Coffee notes take the lead from lovely berries. Drink now. — 7 years ago

Euphrates Dahout

9.0

Surprisingly good for boxed wine. Balanced red sec, dried Italian cherries up front (though not too jammy) and notes of clove of the back end. — 9 years ago

Mike Allas

9.0

Good body lemon meringue flavor with white peach, with good acidity. — 9 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.0

4 hours of slow ox + 3 in a decanter, did a bottle good — 9 years ago

Christopher Ciesiel

9.5

Eye: Ruby
Nose: Black cherry, currant
Palate: Nice tannins, baking spice, subtle oak
— 10 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

Newish vintage, 600 cases produced. 94/6 blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne from three vineyards: Boushey (81% GB), Weather Eye (13% GB), Olsen (6% R). Pale yellow white, excellent clarity. Floral, vanilla and mild aldehydic barnyard aromas. Guava, lactic flavors, tropical fruit finish (banana then coconut? But this ain’t no Piña colada). Lingering cherry and heavy (skin and seed) tannic aftertaste . This is either serious experimental winemaking, or ultra craft-focused ‘blanc de noir’, or is this just their iteration of a pale “orange” wine? Massive tannins for a “white” wine. Not a wine for the faint of heart. Dry, just enough acidity, fruity but still pondering this one... The trop fruit flavors backed off, with cherry and other red fruit and Grenache character flavors emerging after 30-60 minutes. Tannins also softened somewhat, with patience — 6 years ago

Norma Munoz

8.9

Was sold as Meomis Momma. Since I love Meomi, I tried it. Wasn’t disappointed. Drank incredibly well for such a young wine. Paired with a rib eye steak and great conversation. It’s a bit pricey though. — 7 years ago

Jessica Clark

9.3

Delicious wine, smooth, great with rib eye. — 8 years ago

Joakim Bogström

9.1

Garnet. Orange medium-sized rim.
Lovely balanced with aromas of cigarbox, dried red apples, figs and chocolate. Really a blend of red ripe fruits and dark fruits. Peppery.
Dry. Medium acidity. Medium high plus tannins. Medium plus alcohol. But very well integrated. Full, lean body.
Great balance.
Serve at 16 degrees celsius with braised ox, cabbage and butter fried artichokes.
Drink now ord hold for another 4 years. — 9 years ago

Andrew Belzer

9.2

fresh cut grass with tropical nots of passion fruit, guava, and citrus — 9 years ago

Austen Ito

8.9

Floral and flinty. Ripe pear and melon. Medium+ body. Medium acidity. — 9 years ago

Matthew Marcino

9.0

cigar/tobacco on the nose, and deep rich long fruits on the finish. Paired incredibly with Oysters Rockefeller and Dry-Age Bone-In Rib Eye! — 10 years ago