William Hughes

9.3

Tar, brambley dark fruits, and desert rose. Really a beautiful nose. Very silky mouthfeel. This was aged for 18 months on lees. No hint if the new French oak either! This is a real delight and I want to share the next 2008 (and a 2007) with friends. — 5 days ago

Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum

9.9

Get some 07 if you don’t have any, so good — 6 days ago

Gil Castro

9.4

Nice compliment to a cool night and fine dinner. I’ve been saving this for a few years and it has aged beautifully. — 15 days ago

James Forsyth

9.4

My father in law is a big Syrah fan, so I served this gem from Paul Lato. Hugely expressive, the 2013 Cinematique is juicy, slightly velvety, succulent and a hit with my wife’s dad, which is what counts! — 14 days ago

Jesse Pender

Assistant Winemaker Delicato Family Vineyards

9.0

White pepper and violets. Good tannins and depth. — 4 days ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.2

Purple color. Spice, cocoa, toasted oak on nose. Full body, smooth, dry but not overly so. Blackberries, blueberries, chocolate on palate. A couple of points better than the 2014. — a day ago

with Michael and Joe

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.1

A plum on the way to prune, in the best of ways! Purple licorice. Fruit beyond age, so it could have been better last year or even year prior, but a respectably different wine. — a day ago

Roman Sukley

10

2001 Sine Qua Non "On Your Toes" California Syrah, 14.9% alcohol.
So a few weeks ago, I was pontificating about the SQN G.O.A.T. Syrah on an Jeb Dunnuck Instagram post af “Heart Chorea.” I suggested a 4-way tie among “Heart Chorea,” “Poker Face,” “JFTLOI” And “The 17th Nail.” I was sorely tempted to add “A Shot In The Dark” but then Mark Christensen mentioned adding “On Your Toes,” and I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d tasted it. So Mark, you’re responsible for tonight’s selection. Oh, and by the way, it’s now a 5-way tie because this wine is simply off the charts extraordinary. And I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record on this topic, but that nose!!! Filing the decanter just floods the cellar with a robust bouquet of hot blueberry pie, strawberry preserves, soy sauce, smoked meats, beef blood, Asian spice, white pepper and lavender. Once in the stem, add shaved truffles and mocha frappe to the mix. I remember once seeing a wine’s nose described as “feral” and I’m going to steal it here because it’s absolutely spot on! I wish I could share it because it’s simply mind blowing! Well worth the price of admission on its own. On the palate, all of the above with notes of cedar, caramel and maple syrup. Pure silk. Great depth and complexity. Opulent and powerful yet light on its feet and positively elegant. Possibly the most hedonistic wine I’ve ever tasted! At least that’s how I feel tonight. In the moment. Perfect confluence of time and place. Endless finish. How long can these SQN beauties continue to sing? There’s no end in sight as far as this guy’s concerned. And I don’t usually do this here, but if anyone out there is sitting on a Magnum they’d be willing to part with, I’m extremely interested. Sine Qua Non. My magnificent obsession! — a month ago

Shannon Yorke

9.4

Blueberries, baking spices and bay leaves. Lingering finish — 5 days ago

Scott Petrus

8.9

This may have been a bad bottle as the wine didn’t have the usual pop or personality I’ve come to expect from this producer. Even so, it was a pretty good, more elegant Syrah. — 14 hours ago