July 16, 2017 - Decanted.
Softened in its masculinity since my last note, but just as complex. Scents reminiscent of a walk through the forrest of the Pacific northwest, Redwood, tree moss, moist earthy-forest floor, huckleberries, blueberry and wild berries with aromas of chocolate, dried crushed rose petals, game meats and cigar box.
Exuberant on the palate. Medium-plus acidity, and firm, oaky medium/medium-plus tannins. Impeccably textured, smooth and velvety with medium-plus weight and density. Flavors for me are balanced nicely between fruit and savory. Blueberry reduction, huckleberry, strawberry compote, chocolate, sage, cigar, baking spices, vanilla, dried roses, wood, smoke/ash and herbs with lighter flavors of grilled game meats and earth. lingering with a hint of balsamic. The grippy finish is long and lingers with medium-plus intensity.
November 27, 2016 - Inky dark. On the downswing
May 12, 2016 - Fantastic very hedonistic expression of the variety. Not for the meek, but if you like this style of wine, it's an amazing value.
March 5, 2016 - Yes, it's a massive wine, but done well. In a good window and should be for a couple years. IMO Herman Story wines need 3-4 years bottle age to integrate and show their best.
May 12, 2015 - Decanted for 3 hours at time of of tasting
Aromatically intense and masculine in its approach. Scents reminiscent of a walk through the forrest of the Pacific northwest, Redwood, tree moss, moist earthy-forest floor, huckleberries, blueberry and wild berries with aromas of chocolate, dried crushed rose petals, game meats and cigar box.
Exuberant on the full bodied palate, and a masculine style. Medium-plus acidity, and firm, chocolatey medium/medium-plus tannins. Impeccably textured, smooth and velvety with medium-plus weight and density. Flavors for me are balanced nicely between fruit and savory. Blueberry reduction, huckleberry, strawberry compote, chocolate, sage, cigar, baking spices, vanilla, roses, wood, smoke/ash and herbs with lighter flavors of grilled game meats and earth. lingering with a hint of balsamic. The grippy finish is long and lingers with medium-plus intensity.
Overall a masculine style grenache, but well done. I recommend air time to let bloom. This still has a way to go but so far aging very well.
May 31, 2014 - One-hour decant. A very good bottle of wine for sure but not one of my favorites from this producer. I'll try another bottle in a year or so but am not overly confident that the results will be any different.
January 22, 2014 - PNP, pretty tight initially, opened up after 1 hr, but still not as good as I remembered it. Day 2, much nicer
November 20, 2013 - Another dark, somber, listless bottle of this wine. Stored in Eurocave since release. Glad it was my last.
November 16, 2013 - PnP and had a glass, based on several of my favorite CT'ers reports that this wine may not be aging well. My glass, at first whiff and sniff, was typical HS. Nothing was any more out of balance than I typically come to expect in these big, bold, velvety, fruity wines. I will drink this hedonistic pleasure-bomb over the course of a few days and add to the note...if I remember.
Ok, I remembered. This TN is 2 days later as I'm finishing bottle.
Deep ruby color at the core, fading to med ruby at the rim.
The nose is developing, and shows off med intensity aromas of blueberry pie and boysenberry syrup. If I really think about it, there is a hint of creosote, and a violet floral quality in the upper register. Mostly fruity and straightforward.
On the palate, this is a dry, full bodied wine, relatively high in alcohol (15.7% abv listed). There are med(+) intensity flavors of black cherry pie and boysenberry syrup, echoed from the nose. Also present is a black pepper spiciness. There is a bit of heat noticeable from the alcohol, but nothing that pulls the wine too far off balance. The med level tannins are round in texture but a bit drying as they lead into the med length, fruit and spice-laden finish. There is med acidity, keeping the wine from being off balance...for what it is (this is Paso, baby).
This is another big, bold wine from HS, drinking well now, but I do actually think this wine will be fine, and maybe actually further improve, over the next year, and drink well through 2016 or so. Those who buy these wines know what they are getting into up front, and I can say when I want a crowd pleaser wine, I always grab a HS, never seems to fail to please. This wine was pretty yummy, even on day 3.
October 26, 2013 - Popped and poured. Much better than our last bottle. Vibrant fruit. Just a very pleasurable drink.