2011 Herman Story Syrah Nuts & Bolts

Community Tasting Notes (84) Avg Score: 91.8 points

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  7/5/2022 - DanTheRhoneFan Likes this wine: 93 Points

  In the proper drinking window for my palate. Opened 1hr before dinner. Did not decant. Black fruit, lightly smoked meat, olive, herbs, and spice. Long spicy finish reminiscent of peppered bacon. Some minty undertones. Wanted a US wine to pair with a July 4 dinner of steak, peppery broccolini, and potato and this fit the bill perfectly. This is the last of 3 bottles consumed over the past 7 years and was the best of the 3 for me. IMO: Drink up.

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  4/20/2022 - EyeDesign Likes this wine: 96 Points

  We have been collecting bottles of different age statements for Nuts and Bolts and this 2011 is really wonderful. Rich, full bodied, fruit forward, well balanced and finishes so well.

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  1/8/2022 - EdKz@comcast.net Likes this wine: 92 Points

  dark crimson, medium/full body, aromas of cherry, flavors of sweet black cherry and raspberry, low/medium tannins, medium acid, medium finish
  excellent qpr

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  9/4/2020 - YourSomm wrote: 95 Points

  Insanely good, and shows how a big wine can still have a ton of finesse. After a long decant, the flavors of dried cranberry, dark ripe raspberry, green olives, mint, and violets were amazing.

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  8/19/2020 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Wow, what a beautiful surprise. After trying a 2016 Nuts and Bolts, I was prepared to find very heavily extracted/jammy fruit here too (I enjoyed the 2016 but didn't find it super complex nor convincingly balanced). After hearing that Russell did awesome things with the cool 2011 vintage, making a rhone-like wine even over 15% ABV, I had doubts...but he really did. Not mistakable for a Rhone, but shows a clear ability to harness the savory nuance of syrah while still capturing that dark, rich fruit in an effective way. Did so far better than a 2012 Pax Griffin's Lair Syrah, even being a full point higher in ABV, and for a slightly cheaper price too.
  
  Incredible, harmonious, wafting nose of rich blackberry liqueur, cappuccino, black cherry, subtle black olive and floral tones, a pinch of bacon fat; alcohol is obviously present but amazingly shows more as a cooling menthol than jammy heat. Doesn't 'explode' from the glass, but very persistent. Weirdly classy and collected. Palate is less complex, but very well-balanced considering the style. Plenty of black fruit and tangy acids, at least a solid medium acidity if not higher, bringing more than enough lift for this rich, dark style to feel ultimately elegant. Tannins are still hanging around, but have softened into a dense silk. Long black cherry finish showing a touch of jamminess, but by that point, so lovely that it doesn't matter. I'd drink now before the energy dips down.

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