Herman Story 2018 Syrah “Nuts and Bolts” Santa Barbara – 96 Points

Winemaker Notes: “After several steins of lager last night, it’s a miracle the man is standing, let alone baking some of the best damn sweet rolls you’ll ever taste. He shut down the bar at two and was warming up his ovens at four, blasting German death metal and whistling along. Approach the counter, you’ll get a grunt and a nod, but never a smile. Behind him, the ruins of his drunken experiments – Berliners full of black garlic, prosciutto-wrapped canalé, fennel scones. Mere hours ago his tattooed arms were braced against sticky bars and wrapped around gyrating bodies, but now he’s serving espresso, brown sugar strudel, and black licorice cookies. Does he ever sleep? Is he still drunk? You might never know, but when you bite into that flaky croissant, does it really matter? DRINK NOW: 30 minute decant CELLAR: Now through 7 years.”

Tasting Notes: Dark purple. Powerful, smoke- and spice-accented aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry liqueur, vanilla and olive paste are lifted by a suave, building floral element. Sweet, seamless and deeply concentrated, offering plush black and blue fruit preserve, cherry-vanilla, mocha and floral pastille flavors that spread out steadily on the back half. The sweet, pliant, impressively long finish is given shape by slow-building tannins that fold slowly into the wine’s lush dark fruit. 83% new French oak.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “The 2018 Nuts & Bolts checks in as 100% Syrah from a mix of vineyards that spent 18 months in 85% new French oak. This cuvée always delivers the goods. The 2018 sports a deep purple color, rocking Syrah notes of blackberries, ground pepper, smoked meat, and roasted meat, full-bodied richness, remarkable purity, and silky yet present tannins. This pleasure-bent, sexy, yet pure, balanced Syrah can be enjoyed any time over the coming 7-8 years. It’s the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted..”

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