Unbelievable perfect 57%Cab Franc- 43% Merlot blend from Russell Bevan. A fruit forward version if a Cheval Blanc from St.Emilion! Full bodied rich stewed black and blue fruits with hints of mint and herbs, lavender and fully textured with a 1-minute long intense finish. Can’t imagine a better red wine. — 4 years ago
Red currant, cherry, and leather with a medium body and finish. — 5 years ago
Pure delight — a Beaujolais-esque expression that’s an easy, beautiful drink. — 7 years ago
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
Apple, lemon curd, cedar, dried apricot, honey and oak. Good acidity and balance. — 3 months ago
2013 Ontogeny Proprietary Red is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, coming from some of Russell Bevan’s favorite vineyard sources – Sugarloaf Mountain, Two Dogs, Tin Box and Tench. Quite flavorful, it is exhibiting slightly more new oak than some of the other cuvées, but is still sexy and opulent, with voluptuous texture, low acidity, and oodles of juicy, succulent black and red fruits, licorice, underbrush and a touch of vanillin. An already irresistible beauty, it can be drunk over the next 20 years. — 10 months ago
Bright and crisp. — 5 years ago
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

I don’t think I’ve ever rated a three dollar wine this hi! Great blend from Rabbit Ridge that’s a short term but at TJs. Immediately got a few more bottles for it will soon be gone. Did I say this was 3 bucks? — 8 years ago
Slightly hazy (unfined?) gold. Abundant nose of honeyed tropical fruits, baked apple, and vanilla tinged orange crème. Full-bodied palate of cooked pineapple, baked apple, hint of orange, yellow lilies, and… how does one say “baseball bat” only subtly? Another quintessential Russell Bevan white that’s a monster in body, but velvet on the palate. A big wine that begs for big, complex dishes. My drinking partner (who suggested the wine was like an Adele song… you think it’s going to be a rustic stumble, but it clearly has much more going on) made an incredible pork loin, root vegetable, and apple entrée that was right where a dish should be to stand up to this wine. Similar dishes will work. Not your grandmother’s Chardonnay. Drink now through 2023. — 5 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
You still in CA?

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 😷
Matt Schwartz
High acidity and light bodied with bright red fruit flavors — 13 days ago