Celler D. Russell Smith

Montsant Vino Tinto Garnatxa Negra Samsó 2016

Anthony Hughes

9.1

Red currant, cherry, and leather with a medium body and finish. — 5 years ago

with Nikkisa

Hugh Hamilton

Black Ops Shiraz Saperavi Blend

Al Clark

9.1

Thanks Mr Jason — 6 years ago

Hamilton Russell Vineyards

Ashbourne Pinotage/Cinsault

Adam Knoerzer

9.0

Pure delight — a Beaujolais-esque expression that’s an easy, beautiful drink. — 7 years ago

Bevan Cellars

Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

David L

9.4

Still needs a 45 minute decanting. Russell is making some great Bordeaux style wines. — 7 years ago

David, Eric and 50 others liked this

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

You still in CA?

David L

@Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum Until Tuesday morning. Santa Monica

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Hmm, I’ll see what I can do, fighting my wife’s sinus infection, woke up today with some symptoms 😷

Herman Story

On The Road Grenache 2012

Jim McCusker

9.2

Another winner from Russell From at Herman Story. Great notes of dark chocolate, blackberry, and kirsch on the nose. Beautifully integrated palate with sweet, evolved tannins enveloped in fruit and glycerine, followed by a nice (albeit slightly hot) finish. Terrific. — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Shay, Eric and 11 others liked this

Kelby James Russell

Cabernet Franc 2015

Juan Flurenga

Great wine bought in Ithaca. Bright flavors, great acid. Just lovely. — 9 years ago

Bevan Cellars

Kick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Benjamin Keator

9.6

One of my go-to SB's for the summer. Love the big tropical fruits. Russell is a stud in pretty much everything he touches. Down to my last couple of bottles of the '13 but it is still killing it — 9 years ago

Eric, Shay and 5 others liked this

JP Harbison

Pony Express Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Kevin Ortzman

9.5

Adam's contribution to the Collectors dinner and it sure didn't disappoint. Yet another big wine from Russell Bevan. Full of fruit and awesome! — 9 years ago

with ADAM

ADAM, Shay and 6 others liked this

The Barns at Hamilton Station

Chardonnay 2017

Ron from VA

9.3

Simply exquisite! One of Michael best builds. All round hill fruit :) this was gold in GovCup (2019?) This raises the bar for both terroir and maker! — 6 years ago

Bevan Cellars

Ontogeny Napa Valley Red Blend

Michael Davenport

9.7

What a great wine! Every sips makes me think of fun times with Russell, Victoria and Pumpkin! — 6 years ago

Kirk and Eric liked this

Hamilton Russell Vineyards

Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Chardonnay 2013

John Van Trijp

9.5

World greatest Chardonnay blind tasting — 6 years ago

Eric, Dick and 12 others liked this

Ron R

This is a surprise...

Herman Story

Nuts & Bolts California Syrah 2016

Shay A

9.3

This is my second Herman Story wine. Normally, I’d sock my ‘16 Syrahs away for years, but I’ve seen reviews say this is so enjoyable young, so I decided to experiment. This is like rocket fuel...full throttle. BUT, it stops short of being out of balance/gloopy. These wines make me think this winemaker, named Russell, is like the Russell Bevan version of Paso Rhône varietals...big, bold, & delicious in style.

After only 30mins, this revealed some smoked meat, peppercorn, olive and underripe blackberry. Some sage as well. Massive on the palate...all sorts of dark, ripe fruit with a sweetened core. Bacon fat, roasted plum, and baked berry pie. This is hedonistic in style and not for the faint of heart, but it does a good job of restraining itself from where it could go. A fun wine. — 7 years ago

with Weston and Mark

Mark, P and 42 others liked this

Kirk F

@Shay A you are right on about Russell From. He is a big personality and fun to be around. He visited our home in 2010 on one of his ‘Casula Encounters’ tours. We had a blast! Yet to get to Paso but it is on our short list!

Mark Flesher

This wine poured like motor oil into the glass, and even stained the sides when swirling! The entry is a full throttle gingerbread spice cookie with plums and figs to the middle. Really wasn't getting much of a savory note at all in the first two-thirds of this wine The finish of this wine is just as dense as the front and middle. This is where some of the savory grilled meat characteristics showed, but it was just enough. More fruit, less funk. This one definitely has the structure to last 10 years.... but with it drinking this well, why wait? Great pull @Shay A

9.3

TheSkip

This is full tilt!

Nicora Wines

Russell Family Vineyard Syrah

Eric Naslund

9.2

In keeping with tonight's Central Coast theme, we very much enjoyed this Syrah/Mourvèdre blend. Beautiful wine. — 9 years ago

Hugh Hamilton

Jekyll & Hyde Shiraz Viognier

VotreX Tan

9.8

Full bodied and fruity sweet. — 9 years ago

Bevan Cellars

Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Howard Greenfield

9.5

Tasting 2018’s with Russell — 6 years ago

with Holli

Shay, Eric and 6 others liked this

Hugh Hamilton

Jim Jim The Down-Underdog Shiraz 2017

Jonathan Shoup

9.0

Dark, cherry and delicious! See you next time — 6 years ago

with Jennifer

Addax

Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Frank

9.5

Inaugural vintage of a truly great wine. This wine is pre- Russell Bevan - Luc Morlet is the wine maker. The wine is so soft at this point with a finish that persists in such a harmonious fashion. Absolute treat. The fruit is dark and delicious. The alcohol is >15% but the wine is so well balanced, the alcohol does not seem out of place. Great wine. — 7 years ago

with ADAM

Joe, Shay and 6 others liked this

Hugh Hamilton

The Rascal Shiraz

Nicholas Evans

9.0

Nice lifted fruit, quite smooth. — 8 years ago

with Michelle

Herman Story

White Hawk Vineyard Syrah 2013

Jake Rubash

9.1

White Hawk is such an awesome vineyard, great juice from Russell — 8 years ago

Shawn, Shay and 1 other liked this

Shay A

Have one of these. Will be my first HS wine whenever I open it.

Herman Story

John Sebastiano Vineyard Syrah

Kirk F

9.1

Another gem from Russell From. First time we've had this SV effort and it, like everything from Herman Story, was an in-your-face fruit bomb. Delicious and the first bottle to empty. — 9 years ago

Shay, David and 1 other liked this

Shay A

Hi @Kirk Feyereisen . I've heard of Herman Story but never had any of their wines. It sounds as though this is similar to a wine Russell Bevan would make with the in your face fruit notes. Would you agree? I'm a Bevan fan, so if so, I'd like to try this.

Kirk F

@Shay Aldriedge you will not be disappointed. Start with the Nuts and Bolts Syrah or On the Road Grenache. Next time I'm in DFW I'll bring a couple!

How does one get on the Bevan mailing list? Open?

Shay A

@Kirk Feyereisen : Sounds good! Would love to open some good stuff and share! I'll look for those Herman Story wines.

I believe it's an open mailing list as of now, but the big-100pt wines usually aren't available until you've been on the list a while. But don't let that stop you...his Ontogeny will be available to you whenever it's released and it is absolutely one of the best wines for the money in all of Napa!