February 20, 2023 - Decanted of the sediment. This 100% Syrah presents with evolved medium-plus aromas of 60-day dry aged beef, leather, cracked black pepper, cigar tobacco, bramble, dried blackberries, black plum, and fig that are accompanied with scents of rubber innertube, smoke, black olive, rubbed herbs, cola, dried violets, premium vanilla bean and hints of earth and toasted fennel seed.
The palate retains good structure with lively acids and polished-grippy-toasty tannins. Mouth filling textures of crushed velvet are accompanied by flavors of muddled blackberry, huckleberry, plum and fig that are met with notes of tobacco, leather, cola, black olive, rubbed herbs, pepper, spice, vanilla, camp smoke and earth. The wine finishes at length
October 30, 2022 - Aged Herman Story w/ Brian & John (Our place): Decanted for one hour and it was NOT enough for this bruiser of a wine. The aromas are heady with a bowlful of dark-skinned fruits and some savory notes. The palate is heavy with dark red, blue and black fruits, spice, some earth, and a touch of tapenade. The acidity was crisp but balancing and there was still some tannin on the finish.
It's easy to understand why this wine is the most popular HS wine and "functions as the Herman Story Gateway Drug" per Russ. This wine is drinking really well right now and should continue to hold at this enjoyable level for several years. To maximize enjoyability you need to decant with purpose.
September 21, 2021 - Decanted for 90 minutes. Great balance, aged nicely but still in prime drinking window. Paired surprisingly well with roasted game hen. Really enjoyed this bottle
February 17, 2021 - Powerful not unbalanced. Still drinking well.
October 16, 2020 - Drinking great
September 1, 2020 - No formal TN, yummy, big and bold, smoke and pepper, black pie fruits.
July 31, 2020 - Gigantic fruit bomb that overtakes any sense of any other potential interest in the wine.
May 12, 2020 - Did not know that I still had a bottle of 2012 Nuts & Bolts - - it was hidden in the back of a cellar rack, and I would have drank it younger had I seen it, as I like the young, rich fruit quality of HS wines. However, this wine is still very much in its prime, with full-throttle fruit, yet also offering some of the aromatics that come with a quality Syrah with some age under the belt. Dark ruby color, with very light orange bricking on the rim. Savory herbal and slight bacon notes on the nose. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with a long finish, and with notes of cassis and other dark black & blue fruits. Drinking very well now, and can probably age at least 3-5 years longer.
April 15, 2020 - Decanted about 2 hours - inky violet color with slight bricking. Nose of brambly blackberries, black olives, dried herbs, and smoke. Alcohol is high upon opening, but became more balanced with decant. Palate was rich with black fruits, tapenade, and baking spices along with black pepper and dried herbs. Tannins were med-med plus, but silky and refined. Big wine with depth and refinement - drinking great now!
April 9, 2020 - Drinking really well after 90 min. Even better on second night. Glad I waited; will drink last bottle in the next 1-2 years to see how it changes, but in a good window now.