11/24/2023 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Opened my one and only magnum for Thanksgiving. I normally drink Pinot Noir with Thanksgiving turkey but the Janasse paired perfectly with the bird. It's ready to go from the time you pull the cork.

10/15/2023 - msh305 Likes this wine:

An excellent Grenache blend, but most assuredly not worth the $148 price tag. This should blow you away from the first mouthful and that just doesn’t happen. A 1-2 hour decant will enhance your experience.

8/12/2023 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Excellent red blend from winemaker Kurt Venge. Red fruits on the nose, hints of leather and pine cone. Nicely done!

8/12/2023 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Nice little pop-n-pour Pinot from Siduri, I bought this at Total Wine passing through Overland KS., and for $25 you can’t beat it. Lovely nose, great balance, red fruits and and hints of camphor on the nose.

8/5/2023 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Light-bodied Pinot, raspberry fruit, nice balance

8/4/2023 - msh305 Likes this wine:

A hidden gem. I bought a bottle of this at Jack’s liquors in Manitou Springs, CO., and I was incredibly pleased with my blind selection. Medium bodied, beautiful balance, and it’s ready to drink right away. Pinot lovers won’t be able to put it down.

5/10/2023 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Good, not great, may benefit from another year of bottle time. A 2 hour decant would help tremendously!

5/7/2023 - msh305 Does not like this wine:

Disappointing effort from Villa Creek. Muted fruit profile, a bit hot on the alcohol, and a sour after-taste. Drank over a two day period and it didn’t improve. I’ve enjoyed many vintages of Avenger, this is a first.

1/19/2023 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Lovely, moderate priced Cab from Paso. Nice nose with a profile of red fruits, tobacco, and leather. Had this at Malone’s in Lexington KY and the table was happy with the selection. You could do much worse ordering some overpriced, high alcohol Napa cabs.

5/7/2022 - msh305 wrote:

Bought this at a restaurant, it seems a bit syrupy and lacks complexity. Leaves your tongue sugar-coated. Finished on night two and there was no additional development

9/17/2021 - msh305 Likes this wine:

My first of two bottles, so glad I waited to pop the first. Delicious from the very first sip, the wine evolves gracefully in the glass over several hours. I think it's peaking now but will wait a year before enjoying #2.

7/6/2021 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Always a crowd pleaser from Herman Story, the Larner Vineyard is one of my favorite Syrah/Grenache blends.

4/24/2020 - msh305 Likes this wine:

This wine is in an amazing place right now. The Cab Franc blends seamlessly with the Merlot. Beautiful fruit, outstanding nose, you'll have to stop yourself from drinking it too fast!

4/19/2020 - msh305 wrote:

My 4th bottle of this spectacular wine, it just continues to improve. Deep, rich fruit profile with nose of leather and black currant. I'll save my last two for a few more years, there's no need to rush.

4/11/2020 - msh305 Likes this wine:

My third bottle of this outstanding offering from HS, the wine continues to develop and evolve into an elegant, smooth-drinking Grenache. At this point, you can PNP as this is ready to drink right away. I have two bottles remaining and will wait at least 6 months to enjoy the next one, can’t wait to see how it changes.

4/3/2020 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Hints of green apple and lemon, not oaky, great balance and structure. Two bottles remaining and I'll let them go awhile.

2/26/2020 - msh305 Likes this wine:

enjoyed a bottle at Emeril's restaurant in Sandestin FL. Extremely approachable now. medium body, nice structure. I would definitely buy more.

1/18/2020 - msh305 Likes this wine:

My second bottle of this particular vintage, I enjoyed the first in 2017 when it was still very young and I gave it a 93. Great structure and depth, with aromas of chocolate, cherries, tobacco, and leather. Awesome juice, enjoy every drop!

11/22/2019 - msh305 wrote:

Picked this up on a whim, needed a quick pop n'pour wine. Pleasantly surprised. Lots of spice notes, with a healthy profile of dark fruits and berries. Enjoy it now!

8/25/2019 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Enjoying my second of three bottles of this vintage. The first bottle consumed in 2014 I rated 93, but it's now a couple of points higher. This wine still benefits from a 2-3 hour decant, so I can't wait to see how bottle #3 evolves over the next few years.

7/7/2019 - msh305 wrote:

Medium-bodied, muted fruit profile, notes of tobacco and leather. Overall, not very exciting considering the pedigree (and the price!)

6/1/2019 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Hitting all the right notes right now, don't wait any longer if you're sitting on this wine. After a 30 minute decant it's ready-to-go!

3/24/2019 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Big fruit bomb. Lacks some structure which I attribute to its age, I doubt there's any improvement left in this vintage. Enjoyable!

3/8/2019 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Can't believe I waited all these years to open my only bottle, and it didn't disappoint. A massive, inky, dark purple shiraz, with a nose dominated by aromas of coffee, leather, and bacon fat. Elegantly powerful Shiraz!

12/1/2018 - msh305 Likes this wine:

This is my last of 6 bottles, the last one I consumed 3 years ago and I rated that one 93. I drank the first few bottles way too soon, scoring them at 90. It's a solid 94 right now, deep and rich, a real classic grenache. I'm enjoying this last bottle with some baby back ribs (grenache is a perfect BBQ wine). Outstanding effort from Herman Story.

6/24/2018 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Lovely Pinot from one of the best Willamette producers. Bright, expressive nose, lots of cherries, blueberries, and other rich, wild fruit. Nicely balanced minerality. I think this wine is still improving, as I've enjoyed a half-dozen bottles already and it keeps showing more each time.

5/29/2018 - msh305 Likes this wine:

I"m used to Roar Pinot Noir that is gutsy and juicy, this vintage is definitely lighter and more mineral-driven in flavor. Good balance and it opens up nicely after about 30 minutes. Not what I was expecting.

5/23/2018 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Deep red in color, with hints of brambleberry, cherries, and strawberries. Faint aromas of mint and camphor on the nose. Luscious!

5/5/2018 - msh305 wrote:

Lots of minerality with a healthy dose of classic Willamette earthiness, but I find it lacking an adequate fruit profile. Not a bad wine, but there are better Willamette valley Pinot's for less $$$.

3/20/2018 - msh305 Does not like this wine:

Grape juice. No structure or complexity. Very fruit forward and no depth. Flat, short finish. Not suitable for drinking or cooking.

3/10/2018 - msh305 Likes this wine:

I think it's peaking right now, this is my third bottle over a three year period and I've steadily raised my score from 91 to 92 to now 93. Huge fruit bomb as always from HS and with lots of structure and depth.

3/5/2018 - msh305 Likes this wine:

My first and only bottle, I've held onto for roughly 10 years and it was well worth the wait. I'm not sure there much development left. My 2008 Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah was totally gone when I opened it a few weeks ago.

1/16/2018 - msh305 wrote:

A somewhat pedestrian wine, simple in structure, a bit "grapey" perhaps. A great choice for pop n'pour night!

11/18/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Easy drinking cab, enough complexity that it improves on day 2. I would raise my score to 89 for the second day. Great Cab to enjoy with pizza, burgers, etc. Don't over-analyze it, for $12/btl just enjoy it!

10/17/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Starting to fade, the fruit seemed a bit tired but still showed nicely. Good depth and complexity. I wouldn't hold any longer

8/27/2017 - msh305 wrote:

A little too vegetative for my tastes, lots of green pepper, some spice, and a nose full of vegetables. Tasted the same on day 2 as day 1 so it's not improving. I have one bottle left and would sell it if I could.

8/20/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Big jammy wine from Herman Story, nothing new there. Better on day 2 than day 1, so this wine is still developing. Deep and rich, this deserves a winter meal like stew, short ribs, or veal osso bucco. Dive in and enjoy!

8/2/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Medium garnet color, pleasant nose, cola and light mineral favors. At $15 per bottle this is an amazing value.

3/19/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Solid if a little underwhelming Yakima Valley Syrah. I was hoping for a little more structure but it seems this is staring to fade a bit. On day 2 the wine had definitely broken down. Still, as a pop n'pour Syrah you could do alot worse. If you have any I wouldn't wait any longer to enjoy it.

1/28/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Just finished the bottle we opened last evening and it was much smoother and mellow on day two, showing great balance. Still improving after all these years! I'll wait another year before my next one.

1/28/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Outstanding, but no longer improving IMO. I'd pair this with anything, but mostly I'd just enjoy it solo.

1/13/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Lots of spice, a bit of tartness, really enjoyable. I think this still has lots of time left to develop so no need to be in a hurry. Over the course of an hour it opened up nicely, showing hints of tobacco, leather, and coffee. I'll let my last bottle go another 2-3 years before opening.

1/8/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Peaking right now, I wish this wasn't my last bottle!

1/7/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Not the 95 that Parker says it is, but not a bad Cab/Syrah. Medium-to-full bodied, it opens up after about 30 minutes. Pleasant, not big at all. May improve with some more bottle age. Overpriced @ $55, I would buy more @ $40 or below.

12/21/2016 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Great minerality balanced beautifully with nice acidity. Cherries on the nose with a somewhat restrained fruit profile that opens up after about an hour. A classic Oregon Pinot, it's unfortunate that some are rating this so low, it's a solid 93.

11/24/2016 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Starting with the premise that this isn't a typical Pinot Noir, keep in mind this is Herman Story Pinot, and I agree with another post that it drinks more like a Syrah. That said, it drinks like a really great Syrah, but lighter and a hint sweeter. On day 2 it was really singing, the sweetness had faded and what was left was awesome juice. This is Pinot Noir you could drink from a Styrofoam cup and still enjoy!

11/24/2016 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Interesting Syrah. Very little fruit but very distinct flavors of coffee, caramel, and chocolate. Balanced profile of fruit and minerality, not your typical fruit-forward syrah. Medium-bodied. I liked it the more I drank it! I'll save my next bottle for at least 6 months to see how it develops.

9/18/2016 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Still smokin' after all these years! The cork was so soft that I had to push what was left of it into the bottle, so I wasn't expecting much. Bright fruit, nice acidity, with hints of tobacco and leather. I'll probably end up finishing the bottle before the BBQ chicken is off the grill. Which means the 2008 is on deck. Cheers!

9/14/2016 - msh305 Likes this wine:

Ok, so I'm in the Westin Hotel at Times Square arriving late and starving. Ordering room service I also order a half bottle of the 2012 Kenwood Sonoma County Merlot because there isn't much else on the wine list. Not expecting much I was pleasantly surprised. Some nice fruit on the nose with a hint of camphor. Very quaffable. If you're in a similar pinch, don't hesitate to order this wine.

9/9/2016 - msh305 Likes this wine:

This has really mellowed with age, in a very good way. All the rough edges are gone. My last of six bottles, it's been two years since I quaffed my last one and the extra time has increased my rating at least 2 points. Probably has reached its ceiling as this was ready as soon as he corked was pulled. Enjoy!