2021 Made

The Herman Story portfolio is packed full of rich, sensual, yet high-energy wines that walk the line of opulence and hedonism yet land on the side of balance. With that said, I recall tasting these wines ten to fifteen years ago, and they are notably more restrained than ever before. Even so, this portfolio is not for the faint of heart. Owner and winemaker Russell From travels throughout the Central Coast looking for new and exciting sites to add to his portfolio. Each visit to the winery in downtown Paso always reveals something new and interesting that From is experimenting with. This year, I tasted the 2019 Chelle Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from a site on York Mountain at 1,800 feet. It holds nothing back yet still comes across as cool-toned and harmonious. Another repeat favorite is the Syrah White Hawk, sourced from sandy soils in Los Alamos. White Hawk also has a way of blending an Old World sensory profile with New World fruit in a way that I find wildly attractive. Herman Story fans can also look forward to the new estate vineyards on York Mountain that will come into production with the 2023 vintage.