Another wonderful Herman Story wine, ripe and lush with extraordinary complexity, in my view full of nuance and interest despite its ripeness and unmistakably Californian style. The nuance elevates it above even the excellent Australian GSM's I've had. Dark berries, cherry, and licorice along with spice lent by the syrah. I'd give it 4-5 more years as the tannin is low and quite soft, the acid sufficient. I see no reason to attack this wine for being hedonistic; it is certainly not a Cote Rotie or a Chateauneuf but that's ok with me. I'd give it 92 points.
Russell From, the one-man show running Herman Story out of Paso Robles, just got some rave reviews from Parker. I hope he won't raise his prices as they make his wines good values in CA Rhone-varietal category.
Parker 93 points
he 2008 Casual Encounters, a blend of 30% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 30% Mourvedre, is another blockbuster. Dark chocolate, cassis, blackberry, licorice, and barbecue smoke aromas jump from the glass of this full-bodied, savory, thick, juicy, glycerin-filled effort. It is an opulent fruit bomb that should drink well for 4-6 years.
Readers looking for super-concentrated, extroverted, exuberant, powerhouse wines from California's Central Coast need look no further than the Herman Story estate. For those who love the wild side of Rhone varietals pushed to the limit (but not over), these are highly recommended. Moreover, prices are exceptionally fair for this level of quality.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment