2014 Herman Story - Syrah Bien Nacido
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Vivid purple. Deeply perfumed, smoke-tinged aromas of cherry liqueur, boysenberry, licorice and cola are complicated by potpourri and incense flourishes. Concentrated, broad-shouldered and appealingly sweet, offering weighty black and blue fruit liqueur flavors that coat the palate and pick up a touch of floral pastilles on the back half. Youthful tannins build slowly on an extremely long, lush finish that leaves a sexy candied violet note behind.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Syrah Bien Nacido (100% Syrah) spent just under three years in 100% new French oak. Like all of Russell's wines, it doesn't pull any punches with is huge nose of blackberries, pepper, smoked duck and lavender. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and layered, it stays graceful and lively on the palate, has terrific freshness (although I suspect the acidity is quite low), and a blockbuster finish. It's a seriously good, hedonistic, unabashed California Syrah to drink over the coming 5-7 years. For whatever reason, I never feel that the wines from Russell From’s Herman Story get the acclaim/recognition they deserve in the market. These are terrific wines that speak both to their site and to the estate, and I hope these notes and scores convince you to give them a try.