Deep dark and delicious. Everything you look for in a full bodied Syrah is here. The Grenache adds great balance so it isn't a fruit bomb. Full mouth feel, soft tannins, and sustained finish. Great food wine. Paired with beef/brisket burgers and eggplant fries and helped elevated the wonderful dinner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Superb. The richness of the Syrah is nicely balanced by the Grenache. Full bodied, sustained finish, and full mouth feel. Ric taste of dark berries without being a fruit bomb. Great to sip or to pair with food. Better than a Cabernet Sauvignon with dark chocolate. Barely lasted through dinner even after starting with another wine. This will age nicely for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, deep, intense flavor. New oak. Drinkable now,but should last another 10 years if we don't drink it all before then. The Syrah was almost like a Petit Sirah. Very aromatic. Great food wine. Pepper and clove on the finish. Full mouth feel. Sustained finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First try i wasnt so certain, definitely some funk, but it has while a funk, a fresh, woody nose to it, clearly some new oak there. Big wine , savory syrah and some juicy grenache, this is good and nuanced. Pretty big, solid wine. Cheers
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This gets better every bottle I open. This time drank a bit on PnP and the rest over 3 days. Day 3 was best - nose like asphalt, forest, black berry and cherry compote; sweet grippy tannins still coating the mouth; finish that goes on.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
this is one of those wines that you don't tell too many people about. it is very reasonable in price but sensational in value. ready to go pop and pour. smooth as can be and a great blend. the wine maker should be very proud
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Huge wine. PNP on night one and too alcoholic. Do NOT do that. Had one glass and then vacuum sealed. Day 2 with a 6 hour decant, was absolutely wonderful. Let cellar, or if drinking now, give an 8 hour decant and you will enjoy.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very big wine. 4hr decant seems to have softened tannins a little bit in comparison to last bottle 9 months ago, but still pretty tannic There's a unique smell and flavor here I cannot pinpoint. Defiantly big & smoky. Great HS wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hazy ruby color, medium thick tears, massive nose of Virginia Ham, Chinese Five Spice, Raspberry, Cherry, Violets, noticeable heat, on the palate more cherry, milk chocolate, cooking spices, roasted meats, chalky tannins, medium+ acidity, medium+ body, slight heat on the finish with truly an amazing texture. Great wine again from this producer.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Robust and ripe. Nice meaty, tobacco notes which are softened by the grenache. Some dry tannins on the finish. Several days re-corked didn't put a dent in it. Drink or hold at this point.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Graphite, smoked blue and red fruit, mint nose. Silky mouthfeel with tannins that creep in and grip a bit at the end. Really an excellent wine. Good QPR and one of the more approachable HS wines.
Probably one of the most tannic HS wines I've had yet so this will be cool to see how my other bottles of this change with age. Deep purple in glass with long finish like most HS wines. Decanted and drank solo over 2 hrs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tampa Spring Break (the second); 2/17/2017-2/19/2017 (Various spots (homes, Mis en Place, Capital Grille)): This one seemed to have a special place in Russ's heart - perhaps because it's the vineyard he's worked the longest with. A blend of Syrah and Grenache cofermented (this year was 52% Syrah/ 48% Grenache). I like what that did. A bit more balanced (but that I mean the woodsy characteristics that sometimes come forward in these wines/ Good tannins.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
15.8% alcohol but not hot, just large! Dark purple in glass. Nose of graphite, blackberry, herbs. In the mouth: blueberry, grilled meat, cola, light pepper. Subtle yet full/around the mouth, silky tannins, finish lasts 45+ sec. My 2nd HS wine from this year's line up - can't wait to try the others. Reminds me of Sine Qua Non. Great QPR!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/10/2022 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hr. Drank over 2 days. Day 2 was about the same as day 1. Full bodied tastes of darker fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2021 - bradfriedlander wrote: 95 Points
Deep dark and delicious. Everything you look for in a full bodied Syrah is here. The Grenache adds great balance so it isn't a fruit bomb. Full mouth feel, soft tannins, and sustained finish. Great food wine. Paired with beef/brisket burgers and eggplant fries and helped elevated the wonderful dinner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2021 - Wine Lover 1964 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking gorgeous right now after 2-hour decant. Still plenty of fruit and life left in this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2021 - DrWal Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blackberries and black currants a little bit of pepper. It's a wonderful bottle. It's aged very well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2021 - fredman wrote: 91 Points
One-hour decant. Seven years along and this is still quite a bruiser. Drink with a decant or hold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2020 - DBenke wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very good right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2020 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 95 Points
Superb. The richness of the Syrah is nicely balanced by the Grenache. Full bodied, sustained finish, and full mouth feel. Ric taste of dark berries without being a fruit bomb. Great to sip or to pair with food. Better than a Cabernet Sauvignon with dark chocolate. Barely lasted through dinner even after starting with another wine. This will age nicely for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2019 - SalFromCal Likes this wine: 89 Points
Lots of fruit upfront with some muted tannins on the back end along with some light pepper notes. While enjoyable not my favorite Herman Story.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2019 - dontime Likes this wine:
Stunning aromatics lead to a thick and unctuous mouth-feel with full throttled fruit and spice. Fun to drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2019 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark, deep, intense flavor. New oak. Drinkable now,but should last another 10 years if we don't drink it all before then. The Syrah was almost like a Petit Sirah. Very aromatic. Great food wine. Pepper and clove on the finish. Full mouth feel. Sustained finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2019 - wrm Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic on day 2, for which it was rated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2018 - Mattshank wrote: 90 Points
Tasting at Bruce & Marsha C's House: Nose: Almost glue like aromas with black fruit. Palate: Black fruited with big but well concealed tannins.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2018 - Wine G Likes this wine: 90 Points
First try i wasnt so certain, definitely some funk, but it has while a funk, a fresh, woody nose to it, clearly some new oak there. Big wine , savory syrah and some juicy grenache, this is good and nuanced. Pretty big, solid wine. Cheers
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2018 - DaveF Likes this wine:
As others have noted, gets really good on day 3 right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2018 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 94 Points
This gets better every bottle I open. This time drank a bit on PnP and the rest over 3 days. Day 3 was best - nose like asphalt, forest, black berry and cherry compote; sweet grippy tannins still coating the mouth; finish that goes on.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2017 - mliszt Likes this wine: 95 Points
this is one of those wines that you don't tell too many people about. it is very reasonable in price but sensational in value. ready to go pop and pour. smooth as can be and a great blend. the wine maker should be very proud
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2017 - r4Cali Likes this wine: 92 Points
Huge wine. PNP on night one and too alcoholic. Do NOT do that. Had one glass and then vacuum sealed. Day 2 with a 6 hour decant, was absolutely wonderful. Let cellar, or if drinking now, give an 8 hour decant and you will enjoy.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2017 - Wine Lover 1964 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very big wine. 4hr decant seems to have softened tannins a little bit in comparison to last bottle 9 months ago, but still pretty tannic There's a unique smell and flavor here I cannot pinpoint. Defiantly big & smoky. Great HS wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2017 - pakabear wrote: 93 Points
Hazy ruby color, medium thick tears, massive nose of Virginia Ham, Chinese Five Spice, Raspberry, Cherry, Violets, noticeable heat, on the palate more cherry, milk chocolate, cooking spices, roasted meats, chalky tannins, medium+ acidity, medium+ body, slight heat on the finish with truly an amazing texture. Great wine again from this producer.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2017 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Robust and ripe. Nice meaty, tobacco notes which are softened by the grenache. Some dry tannins on the finish. Several days re-corked didn't put a dent in it. Drink or hold at this point.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2017 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same powerhouse blue fruit, smoky, char siu goodness and lamb fat with sweet, sweet tannins. Gets better every bottle. 92.5
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2017 - Babik Likes this wine:
Graphite, smoked blue and red fruit, mint nose. Silky mouthfeel with tannins that creep in and grip a bit at the end. Really an excellent wine. Good QPR and one of the more approachable HS wines.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/25/2017 - Wine Lover 1964 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Probably one of the most tannic HS wines I've had yet so this will be cool to see how my other bottles of this change with age. Deep purple in glass with long finish like most HS wines. Decanted and drank solo over 2 hrs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break (the second); 2/17/2017-2/19/2017 (Various spots (homes, Mis en Place, Capital Grille)): This one seemed to have a special place in Russ's heart - perhaps because it's the vineyard he's worked the longest with. A blend of Syrah and Grenache cofermented (this year was 52% Syrah/ 48% Grenache). I like what that did. A bit more balanced (but that I mean the woodsy characteristics that sometimes come forward in these wines/ Good tannins.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2017 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 92 Points
15.8% alcohol but not hot, just large! Dark purple in glass. Nose of graphite, blackberry, herbs. In the mouth: blueberry, grilled meat, cola, light pepper. Subtle yet full/around the mouth, silky tannins, finish lasts 45+ sec. My 2nd HS wine from this year's line up - can't wait to try the others. Reminds me of Sine Qua Non. Great QPR!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2017 - pecete Likes this wine: 92 Points
52% Syrah, 48% Grenache; Ballard Canyon,Larner Vineyard; 70% New French Oak for 24 months
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment