J Chechik

9.3

Besides having a great, cool label - Herman Story wines are so spectacular. This is not your standard “red blend” & the Tempranillo/Petit Verdot give a great complexity. Easily paired w/ a huge range of food. — 4 years ago

Pablo Cetlinski

10

Surely the god of wine "blessed" this vineyard.Oakville sun and soil trapped in the glass. After 24 years it is very mature and still vivid. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The mouthfeel is a velvet glove. Just gorgeous and soft on the palate. Its hit a good phase & will still improve for another 7-10 years. Floral fruits with a raspberry heavy lean, blackberries, dark cherries, suppressed blackberries/black raspberries and a touch blue fruits. Soft graphite, used leather, dark rich soil, dry stone, crushed rock powder, fresh tobacco with brilliant florals that are purple, blue and framed in a field of violets. The acidity round & beautiful. The long elegant, well knitted & balance finish shows all the aged finesse & elegance that is classically Marqaux.

Photos of; Chateau Lascombes, modern & stylish barrel room and our Allen Brothers Ribcap, Crispy Potato Wedges and Caramelized Cooked Carrots. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Haut-Bailly Dinner in SF with Veronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly.

The 2008 is good but, has fallen back into a sleepy phase. Muted blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, black tea, dark cola, dry top soil, stones, dark, turned earthiness, dry fresh & withering flowers. Good mouth feel. It was better a few years ago. But, this will open up again and be much nicer. Hold another 7-10 plus years.

Served with Coq au Vin. Baby Carrots, Mushrooms, Pearl Onions & Red Wine Sauce. This is excellent preparation. So good! @Mathilde French Bistro

Photos of; Clyde Beffa Owner of K&L Wine Merchants & Veronique Sanders, dinner menu & pairing & dinner guests. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Tawny purple, opaque. With 3 hours of air the nose blossomed and exhibited the grace and power of a great Vosne. Notes of black cherries, Asian spice, some menthol, dark moist black soil, some sandalwood and a little rose petal. This powered up with air and showed its stuff over several hours of consumption. Great wine. — 6 years ago

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. — 6 years ago

with Weston and Mark

Shay A

9.2

Ali Story, of Smith-Story Wines, was in town and did a nice tasting at Classic today. A pleasure to meet and very unique and enjoyable wines.

This is an elegant style Pinot...lots of brambly notes, kirsch, and cedar bark. All red and black fruits here. Ali said that the barrels this pinot is done in comes from Russell Bevan. Quite the opposite style! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I opened this bottle a few nights ago. It's still drinking nicely tonight but it does show that it's had a fair amount of air. The other night it was throwing huge amounts of coconut. Generally, a sign of a fair amount of American oak use. The wine is nicely resolved. Tannins are still present but are quite smooth. Ripe and juice blackberries with pancakes, blueberries, black raspberries, raspberries, dark cherries, violets, touch of lavender, dried red roses, coconut, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & a hint of vanilla, underbrush, granulated volcanic minerals, crushed dry rocks in rich, moist dark soil, black tea, black cherry cola/licorice, soft suede style leather, fresh tobacco leaf, beautiful acidity, length, smooth even tension & a nice balance of fruit & earth in the long, ripe, elegant finish that lasts over a minute. Maybe, 9.3 when the bottle was fresher but it's still very nice tonight. The 05 will drink well another 5-10 years easily...proper storage of course. — 8 years ago

Young Bock Lee

9.4

deep, dense perfume of violet, lavender. dried cherries, hint of muddy soil. balanced among fruitness, acidity(med plus), structure. med plus tannin. lovely! — 10 years ago

Carola Wagner-Schonherr

10

One of my favorites! I love South African wines — 10 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

And now for something completely different. Tasted blind. Deep, dark and opaque. Herbal nose. Red fruit, tobacco leaf, menthol, some old cedar planks, some stone and some moist dark soil. Luscious in the mouth. Long finish, lingers forever. In a perfect spot. I guessed 61 Mouton. So regal, with big shoulders. Bottles like this have many more years of special delivery. Top top old Bordeaux... Thanks Stan! — 4 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.2

An enjoyable cab with plenty of oomph, yet enough nuance and finesse to keep things interesting. Baking spices, blackberry cobbler, worn saddle leather, and some sweet tobacco. — 5 years ago

with Becca and Krystal

Eric Naslund

9.1

No surprise to see a Herman Story review from me but this Grenache was real nice. It had a very rich mouthfeel and coated your entire mouth in a satisfying blanket of goodness. The flavors waited a minute and came rushing in. It was a bit of a strip tease frankly. This is a richer and more fulsome Grenache with complex stories to tell. Very much enjoyed this! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

2016 is such a beautifully, ripe and elegant vintage. The 16 stands tall from the other vintages we tasted.

The body is rich, bold and thick. Beautiful dark fruits of ripe, ruby; blackberries, plum, dark cherries, strawberries and amazing blue fruits shine as it sit on the palate. There is more balance in the 16...fruits and earth. Saddle-wood, tobacco, leather, dry soil, dry & moist clay, dry stone, rich dark earth, lead pencil, bright, fresh, red, blue, dark flowers with violets. Very nice acidity with a beautiful finish.

Don’t even touch a bottle for 15 plus years. This nice now but, you will only be cheating yourself out of a very special wine 15 plus years from now.

Photos of; Clyde and Alfred at the bar, their Amphora style cement tanks they ferment part of each vintage now, road signs of the good neighbors they keep and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 6 years ago

Ian Staub

8.9

Profoundly earthy, with a great helping of pyrazine. Restrained fruit- blackberry and raspberry, and a garden-full of freshly turned soil, herbs and spices. Great balance of acid and tannin. Rustic and compelling - curious to see where this goes in a few more years. — 6 years ago

Ron R

9.2

Superb SB.
From the cellar of @David L. Thank you, sir. Our love to you and yours! — 7 years ago

Daniel M

10

Last wine in our flat in Paris before relocating to Warsaw, Poland. A 10 because this wine in this vintage is probably the one I’ve had the most over the time we’ve spent here. Nose of rose petal, cherry, a bit of a humid forest soil scent too which I haven’t smelled with this one before. The palate is, as always, a model of balance with striking acids, lots of fruits (cherry, red forest berries). A light kick in the end of the palate with a nice finish with cherry and raspberry. A nice grip all along the palate. Not as wide and opulent as I recalled it but much more subtle, contemplative. I like it so much! Now I can’t wait to taste my first wine in our new flat in Warsaw! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A redo after that disappointing 2002 Pichon Lalande two weeks ago on #steakandclaret night. While this is not again what I expect from this producer, it is better than the 02. Nose of cedar, fresh tobacco, stones and dry soil, quiet baking baking spices, ripe & lean; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, pomegranate, hues of blueberries, light mushroom, soft leather, black licorice cola and fresh red florals. The body is leaner to medium and well resolved. The fruits are fresh & bright. Dark cherries, cherries, lean blackberries, strawberries, cherries, pomegranate & cranberry juice, hues of blue fruits, saddle-wood, sweet suede leather, fresh tobacco leaf, cedar, dry stones, top soil & rich turned dark earth, limestone minerals, dry stems, slight touch of dry herbs, round, mouthwatering acidity and lean, long, well balanced fruit & earth, good structured finish with length. Finish lasts a full minute. Still 8-10 years of good drinking ahead. 9.3 with the ribeye. — 8 years ago

Sarah Stierch

Food & Wine Editor Sonoma Valley Sun

9.6

Best rose of the year — 9 years ago

Kyle Groombridge

9.3

"I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon"... I can see why Nicolas Alexandre Marquis de Segur said these iconic words after having this wine in my glass. The nose is so inviting with warm spice, cigar smoke, embers, and toast. Raspberry syrup, plums, vanilla, and toffee on the palate. Nice thread of smoke throughout with nice balancing fresh fruit. What an enjoyable wine! 20 months in new oak - obviously the more accessible style the new owners are going for... the Pinot the other night gave an experience, this one tells a story. — 9 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Dark regal tawny. Opaque. Awesome nose. Notes of black fruit, cigar, menthol, mocha, old wood, moist black soil, some camphor and some dry brush. Great fruit in the mouth with substantial structure and a lasting finish. Silky smooth. Love this wine. — 4 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Color - dark purple garnet. A bold expressive funky perfume fruit nose so classic of Cayuse with mineral-meat, smokey and mint notes lingering with a vanilla toast scent. Juicy and elegant; rich with dark plum-cherry flavors intertwined with a smokey soil bacon bitters taste—the mineral-iron characteristics follow with a tobacco long finish. Looking forward to seeing how the flavors change with different foods and as the wine opens up. Bionic Frog is favorite and definitely a wine to try and store in your cellar. Christophe Baron does it again! — 4 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Allison Lyzenga

9.2

Medium pink; medium plus intensity aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberry, red currant, mushroom, forest floor, limestone mineral; dry, medium acid, high alcohol, full body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; long finish, ripe red fruit and funky earthy perfume fills palate, big wine but well balanced, outstanding — 5 years ago

Kirk F

9.2

A richly textured wine aging gracefully. A slathering of almond, honeysuckle and tropical flavors coat the palate entirely. Still so delicious! — 6 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.3

Yesterday I had the pleasure of having the 2014 Luciano Sandrone Le Vigne Barolo. This was my 4th in succession starting with the 2011 and they were all very similar in style and very structured.

On the nose is the ever present cherry, raspberry, red currant, clove, licorice, dried roses, some alcohol and dusty soil.

On the palate the nose is confirmed with dried cherries, raspberry, red plum, licorice, mint, herbs, graphite, a little burn of alcohol and newly tilled dry soil.

This wine and the others is medium to full bodied with medium + acidity and high fine chewy tannins that lead to a long fruit filled finish. As I went back through the 2011, 2012, 2013 and now the 2014 it brought back memories of each one and how similar they all were and expressing a distinct sense of place. The weekend is upon us and I wish all well. Enjoy a weekend of wine and happiness. Please be safe and have fun. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 years ago

Brent Morgan

9.3

Nice black fruits with a little with of cocoa and a little bit of dust. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 7 years ago

Oscar Rosales

8.9

Complex red, bold, semi dry, lots of flavor, strong red! — 8 years ago

with Celia

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The fruits run dry to juicy. Blackberries, dry black cherries, stewed black plum, expressions roast, herbs, black licorice, black cherry cola, tough leather, black tea, dry dark soil with stones, dry underbrush, touch of lead pencil shavings, solid acidity, tannins still need work but the structure, length, balance are excellent. However, I still won't open my for another 10-15 years. I had this a few years ago and it was seriously not ready. Good movement since then. — 9 years ago

Eric Egan

9.5

Another level... Still dense at the core, with steady, attractive bricking: Wonderfully dense nose of blackcurrents, pencil shavings, fine tanned leather, and a hint of woodland floor (fine moss, leaves, and fresh soil after an autumn shower). Velvety tannins and great acidity. Along with the '66 this is one of my all-time favourite Bordeaux vintages. Seems to be keeping up better than the '61s I've had over the last few years!

We drank half of it from the coravin before waxing the top in case the cork had lost too much elasticity to self-seal. I'll have the rest with my brother in a few weeks' time! — 9 years ago