Monthly Archive: October 2025

DENNER: State of the Art Gravity Flow and Old World Principles Make Great Wine!

Ambitious Paso Robles Weekend Part 6

THE STORY

Denner Vineyards was our last stop on Day 2 of our ambitious Paso weekend and, perhaps, that wasn’t fair to Denner.  It’s hard to show up in prime tasting form after two huge tastings and no real lunch. We did our best, but they really deserve another visit.

This is the first time I’ve presented Denner wines on Decanting Monterey!

THE WINERY

About Denner Vineyards (from their website)

“Ron Denner built his state-of-the-art gravity flow winery on Vineyard Drive in Willow Creek in 2005 after spending several years developing the adjacent land from barley fields into vineyards.

“Over the years, winemaker Anthony Yount made Denner into one of the great wineries of California through a combination of careful vineyard management (including dry-farming and organic practices) and non-interventionist winemaking. Today, Anthony continues his work at Denner as the consulting winemaker for head winemaker, Mark Williams.

“In the cellar, Denner takes cues from the old world, working with a percentage of whole-cluster in his Rhone blends, relying on native yeasts for fermentation, and bottling their wines unfined and unfiltered. Of course, all of this is to translate, as faithfully as possible, the terroir of a great site, with Denner’s patchwork of calcareous clay vineyards soaring to more than 1,000 feet above sea level.”

THE WINE

I have 5 wines to present to you today from Denner. My reviews are a bit skimpy under the late-in-the-day circumstances. Winery notes come from their website or the tasting sheet, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2023 Denner Theresa, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 13.6% ABV, $55 (#1635) 25% Roussanne, 22% Grenache Blanc, 18% Vermentino, 10% Clairette Blanche

Winery Notes: “Smelling like a warm spring day with delicate aromas of chamomile, oleander, beeswax and a kiss of sea spray.  The wine dances with notes of candied grapefruit, mandarin orange and Asian pear wrapped in sweet brioche.  Medium bodied, the plump and juicy palate dazzles the senses calling you back for another sip.” Jeb Dunnuck: 91 | James Suckling: 93

My Review: Yellow in the glass. Bright nose. Creamy on the palate a big delicious well balanced white. A nice wine. August 2025

2022 Denner Ditch Digger, Paso Robles, 14.6% ABV, $85 (#1636) 29% Mourvèdre, 28% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 6% Graciano, 5% Garnacha, 3% Carignan, 3% Cinsault, 3% Counoise

Winery Notes: “Muddled wild strawberries and mulberries are juxtaposed against citronella and garigue.  Anise seed, petrichor and red plum notes fill out this massively complex wine.  The earthy, savory nature of the blend keeps the open generous textures in check as the finish sails on and on in perfect harmony.” Jeb Dunnuck: 97 points

My Review: This was a very tasty blend. It presented lighter in the palate than the big reds we’d been having, which made it a delightful and delicious wine. August 2025

2022 Denner Gold Digger, 14.7% ABV, $85 (#1637) 52% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon                  

Winery Notes: “Sweet aromas of cinnamon, cocoa powder and clove are joined by red currant jelly and roasted red peppers.  Black cherry and more confectionary spices can be found on the decadent palate where perfectly ripe tannins are round and voluptuous creating a silky finish.” James Suckling: 93 points

My Review: This wine presented like a rich Bordeaux blend. I found it incredibly good. My kind of wine. August 2025

2022 Denner Mother of Exiles, Paso Robles, 14.3% ABV, $85 (#1638) 65% Cabernet Sauvignon 22% petite Verdot 5% Tempranillo, 3% Tannat, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Graciano, 1% Merlot

Wine Enthusiast – 92 points: “Dark and deep aromas of blackberry, mahogany and tobacco are serious yet approachable on the nose of this blend…. The palate is bold and extracted, offering stewed, jammy fruit flavors alongside bittersweet chocolate elements.” Matt Kettmann, May 2025

My Review: Very late in our tasting day, my only comment was “Wow!” We definitely need to revisit this winery! August 2025

2022 Denner Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.2% ABV, $95 (#1639) 79% Cabernet Sauvignon 14% Petit Verdot, 6%Tannat, 1% Carignan

Winery Notes: “Historic 1926 Zinfandel vineyard atop Mt. Veeder, along the steep southern edge of the Mayacamas Mountains. Refined Napa Valley brambly mountain fruits, violets, graphite; signature Mt Veeder tannins with a bright, fresh finish. A Zin that could convert a skeptic or two. Beautiful, even more so with some air.”

My Review: Another good wine from Denner with a tannic finish. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

“Nestled in the hills of west Paso Robles, Denner Vineyards produces award winning wines from our beautiful estate. We invite you to visit us for your next Paso Robles wine tasting experience. Come for the wine and stay for the views.”

5414 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles 93446 | (805) 239 4287

Find more info and make an appointment here: https://www.dennervineyards.com/visit/.

If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

TURLEY ROLLS OUT THE 2023 FALL RELEASE WITH A PARTY!

Ambitious Paso Robles Weekend Part 5

THE STORY

We are now smack in the middle of our weekend in Paso Robles at the winery which brought us there –  Turley. When Turley announce this first pre-release tasting, we decided this was a rare opportunity for once to try the wines before buying.

We were hosted as though we were wine judges, seminar style, in the winery by certified sommelier, Christina Turley. Christina is the oldest of Larry’s 4 daughters. She did a fabulous job educating us on the vineyards and the vintage. I thought this was excellent marketing – a way to get members down to their Templeton tasting room after closing their Amador one. Our bonus was tasting some library wines, all of which was accompanied by some charcuterie – if you could pull yourselves away from the tastings! But the icing on top was free shipping on our Fall order – if we placed it then.  Smart!

You can read my last post about Turley here: A NEW TURLEY FROM PASO ROBLES!

ABOUT TURLEY (from their website)

“Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Napa Valley by former emergency room physician Larry Turley in 1993. Under the direction of winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, Turley now makes 50 different wines from over 50 vineyards across California, primarily Zinfandel and Petite Syrah, with many vines dating back to the late 1800s. By farming organically and focusing on old vine vineyards of these varieties, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.”

There is a great story on their website about how emergency room doctor Larry Turley got into winemaking and co-founded Frog’s Leap Winery, leaving it to start Turley Wine Cellars in 1993. But what I liked even more was this description, which explains why Turley makes so many wines from so many vineyards:

“Because Larry has never met an old vine vineyard he didn’t like, Turley now makes 47 separate wines from over 50 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s.  Often weak and decaying, these old vine vineyards require extra care and attention in order to restore them to their former glory.  After twenty-five years in the emergency room, Larry can now focus his resuscitative skills on the various old vineyards that comprise the wines he loves.”

THE WINE

I have 8 wines to present to you today from Turley. Interestingly, none are Central Coast!  Winery notes come from their website, unless otherwise indicated. As a rule, I don’t correct typos from winery websites. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Zampatti Vineyard, Sonoma, $50 (#1627)

Winery Notes: “A miniscule jewel of an organic vineyard, planted 1915. Raspberry preserves, violets, and holiday spices, evocative of the orange and clove pomanders we make at home each year. Juicy and mouthwatering with plenty of lift, freshness, and zesty energy. A lovely pairing with either “Mule Skinner Blues” and “Love is like a Butterfly.”

My Review: Blueberry on the nose. Rich and delicious red fruits and blueberry on the palate. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Dog Town, Clements Hill AVA, Lodi, $50 (#1628)

Winery Notes: “A jewel of Lodi, these organically farmed ungrafted vines were planted in 1944. An ambrosial mélange of cranberry, currant, gingerbread, orange peel and cigar box-like spices. Refined and elegant, tea-like tannins combined with the baker’s chocolate and dried raspberry on the palate make this wine a must-have from 2023. Enjoy with the haunting beauty of “Silver Dagger.”.”

My Review: Texture like tea steeped for a while. Cassis or prune on the palate. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Judge Bell, Amador, $43 (#1629)

Winery Notes: “Ungrafted vines planted 1907 in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sweetly scented of cherries, cranberries, chapparal, baking spices, and sappy evergreen. The fine-grained granitic dust tannins are softened up with a pleasurable candy-coated-like texture from the ripe fruits. A true delight, evocative of the ancient mountain soils.”

My Review: Dark slightly cooked fruit. I kinda like it. We have enjoyed the Judge Bell year over year. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, $76 (#1630)

Winery Notes: “Legendary 1888 planting on Moon Mtn., along the southeastern edge of the Mayacamas. Fragrant dark fruits, black pepper, orange peel; palate is boldly full bodied with plenty of richness. If you are a fan of the Dragon, don’t miss Monte Rosso. Lay down and/or decant before enjoying.”

My Review: More sophisticated. The Monte Rosso has become one of my favorites. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Brandlin Ranch, Napa, $53 (#1631)

Winery Notes: “Historic 1926 Zinfandel vineyard atop Mt. Veeder, along the steep southern edge of the Mayacamas Mountains. Refined Napa Valley brambly mountain fruits, violets, graphite; signature Mt Veeder tannins with a bright, fresh finish. A Zin that could convert a skeptic or two. Beautiful, even more so with some air.”

My Review: Delicious nose. We are long time fans of Zinfandel from this vineyard and ordered some. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Dupratt  Vineyard, Mendocino, $50 (#1632)

Winery Notes: “A destination worth the distance, this remote, secluded old vine Mendocino mountain vineyard was planted ungrafted in 1919 at 1500 ft. Wild brambly berries, meat marinade, sarsaparilla, and game. More fruit and plenty of mountain tannin on the palate, with bright balancing acidity and an impressive, dynamic, lengthy finish. Given this site is oft referred to as the “islands in the sky,” it is only fitting to pair it with Dolly’s “Islands in the Stream.” Decant.”

My Review: Medicinal on the nose. Pine needles in the soil. Try the old Dupratts now. Really delicious. Lay down and decant August 2025

2023 Turley Petite Syrah, Library Vineyard, Napa Valley, $71 (#1633)

Winery Notes: “Cherished in the community, this incredibly varietally diverse vineyard was planted 1880-1920. Deep and dynamic, it draws you in with blackberry, currant, tropical fruits, and grilled game. Lay down and decant and enjoy for many years to come.”

My Review: Really dense in the glass alcohol and smooth dark fruit like the bbq we had last night. Sweet and spicy. August 2025

2023 Turley Petite Syrah, Rattlesnake Ridge, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, $66 (#1634)

Winery Notes: “Certified organic estate vines planted at nearly the highest point (2400 ft.) on Howell Mtn, on a windswept ridge overlooking Napa Valley. Classic Rattlesnake notes of berries wrapped in supple leather and surrounded by wild herbs and underbrush. Texture is signature mountain structure, lending length and robustness to the finish. Pair with Dolly’s early hit about a rough yet romantic lonesome soul, “Joshua.”

My Review: No note but I am sure I ordered some. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Want to try a Turley? Let’s head on down to Paso Robles!

Paso Robles Tasting Room: “A few miles inland of California’s storied Central Coast, Paso Robles is a pioneer’s paradise, where surfers, cowboys, vintners, farmers, and ranchers commingle amidst ancient vines, towering oak trees, and rolling hills.”

It is open daily 10 am – 4 pm. If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Epoch Estate Wines: Preserving the Paderewski and York Mountain Legacies

Ambitious Paso Robles Weekend Part 4

THE STORY

After breakfast at Margie’s Diner, we began Day Two of our weekend in Paso Robles by heading to the farthest west destination and working our way back – sort of. We started with a beauty: Epoch Estate Wines. We were treated like royalty with a tailored menu awaiting us and exceptional service. The tasting room is large and regal. The whole experience was impressive.  

Epoch Estate Wines was new to me and I’m glad we got to taste their wines.  I deeply appreciate that our tasting fees were waived in advance by the manager. That made it possible for the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod North to experience their wines. We are also grateful that we could order charcuterie there, as our grand ideas for packing a lunch dissipated – it was a great plate, easily shareable by all of us. 

THE WINERY

About Epoch Estate Wines from their website:

“A huge part of our story at Epoch is about preserving two integral pieces of Paso Robles history. When we purchased our Paderewski Vineyard in 2004, not only did we hit the jackpot as far as soils and views were concerned, we were also buying a property that was once owned, planted, and cherished by Polish pianist and Prime Minister, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. In 2010, we were fortunate enough to purchase the old York Mountain property, which was the site of the first bonded winery on the Central Coast. To own two properties that boast such rich history is a dream come true, and we make it a priority to preserve and share both the Paderewski and York Mountain legacies through our wines and the Epoch experience…” So much more of the history to read on the website.

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you the 6 Epoch Estate Wines we tasted. The notes are amplified by the “Decanting Monterey Wine Pod North.” Winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the bottle or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2024 Epoch Rosé, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles AVA, 14.1% ABV, $40 (#1621) 63% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache, 11% Syrah

Winery Notes: “Sunsetty in color and character, our 2023 Rosé is an exhale that brings instant relaxation. As aromas of juicy watermelon, lime zest, newly-mowed lawn, fresh sage, and dewy spring flowers fill the senses, flavors bring acid-driven texture to the mix, summoning wild strawberry, liquid minerals, fresh cream, banana, and sweet hay. Mouthwatering at first sniff, experience the evolution of aromas and flavors as the Rosé warms and breathes in your glass. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker” 

My Review: Melon and peach on the nose. Slightly sweet – honeydew and honey, crisp on the palate with tons of minerality and strawberry on the finish. A pleasant backyard wine. August 2025

2023 Epoch White, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles AVA, 14.3% ABV, $50 (#1622) 51% Grenache Blanc, 40% Viognier, 9% Roussanne

Winery Notes: “The 2023 White lures you in immediately on the nose and palate – crisp apricot, crushed gravel, flint, pineapple, lemon blossom, vanilla bean, and powdered sugar – all the while leaving you with the impression that you are inhaling a refreshing sea breeze. Don’t be fooled into thinking these bright, zingy flavors can only be enjoyed young. Our White ages just as well as any big, bold red. It is also one of the food-friendliest whites (heck, wines) out there, bringing freshness and enjoyment to diverse flavors from scallops and oysters to Indian, Thai, and BBQ cuisines. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker”

My Review: Pale yellow in the glass. Bubblegum lemon, lime zest, in the nose. Peach and Meyer lemon on the palate with a touch of asphalt in a good way – quite a delicious white. August 2025

2021 Epoch Sensibility Grenache, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles AVA, 14.9% ABV, $100 (#1623)

2021 Epoch Estate Blend, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles AVA, 15% ABV, $70 (#1624) 40% Syrah, 24% Mourvèdre, 12% Grenache, 9% Graciano, 8% Tempranillo, 7% Carignan

Winery Notes: “Purity of Grenache, specifically from Paderewski’s west Paso limestone-studded, dark grey soils, speaks so clearly through the 2021 Sensibility, our 50% concrete aged, iconic expression of our beloved “Pinot of the Rhône.”  Aromas of fresh red raspberries, wild strawberries, crushed stone, coastal chapparal, naval orange, and citrus rind echo in the flavors on the palate.  Crisp and textured, with structure setting in mid-palate, this wine’s characteristic Grenache tannins ease their tightness as it breathes in your glass, broadening the palate and lengthening the finish. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker.”

My Review: A delicious nose of intense, crushed berries and brown sugar. A bigger, richer Grenache than typical on the central coast. Slightly tannic palate and alcohol on the finish. August 2025

Winery Notes: “Serious and starting off tightly wound, our 2021 Estate Blend is begging for a decant or to be opened hours before consuming.  Weighing more heavily on the savory, saline, and brine elements at first, the aromas start to evolve as this wine opens like a large hardback novel with the pages fanning out.  Kalamata olives, leather, wet forest floor, and roasted game open to pure blackberry, black plum, tobacco, bay leaf, vanilla, anise, and graphite.  Powerful structure juts out in all directions as the wine fills the mouth with abundant texture and spice.  Keep this bottle open for several days and witness how long it continues to offer different perspectives and textures – a true harbinger of the age-worthiness of this wine. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker”

My Review: Sweet, dark plum and earth and gamey notes on the nose. Smooth palate of well blended fruit. A much lighter wine which would go well with a meal or on its own. Tannic finish. A well-made wine. More Bordeaux-like in style. I like this August 2025

2021 Epoch Authenticity Syrah, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles AVA, 14.7% ABV, $105 (#1625)

Winery Notes: “2021 Authenticity is an intense, energetic, and powerful Syrah that straddles bold Paso Roblean fruit and cool climate freshness. A yin-yang effect sets in on the nose and carries through the palate as this wine waxes and wanes between concentrated red/black raspberries and savory raw/cured meats, violets, and fresh ground pepper.  Herbs de Provence and coastal chaparral grace the nose and palate from start to finish. Vibrant acidity and chalky minerals play with the tannins and get your salivary glands moving, yielding a palate that will go the distance in your cellars. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker”

My Review: Menthol and caramel, licorice. Wow, what a palate – big, rich, red fruit goes to leather and tobacco. Puckers you up until you get to the back end – in a good way. Would go fabulously with charcuterie. August 2025

2021 Epoch Ingenuity, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles AVA, 15.2% ABV, $85 (#1626) 74% Petite Sirah, 10% Grenache, 7% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah, 3% Viognier

Winery Notes: “The 2021 Ingenuity begins with a brooding and dark bouquet of savory and reductive notes – dark earth, umami, tar and roasted mushrooms, roasted game, and herbs. As soon as oxygen hits the glass, fruit and spice elements join the mix, offering notes of blueberry coulis, huckleberry, violet, tobacco leaf, and vanilla bean. Its bold and structured palate showcases its Petite Sirah lead and is laced with minerals, big rich tannin, and a bright acid lift on the back palate. This multifaceted wine needs to breathe, so open it a day early, decant, or age it in your cellars – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker”

My Review: Inky in the glass. Alcohol on the nose. Grapey and juicy on the palate a grapey, medium fruity front palate with a tannic finish. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

“Visit our historically-storied tasting room to sip our delicious 100% estate wines and to hear our rich story from our fun and fabulous team!  We love sharing our wine with new friends and look forward to meeting you!”

The Epoch Tasting Room is located at 7505 York Mountain Road in Templeton. Open Daily from 10am – 4pm. You will find more information and tasting options here: Visit Us.

Check them out on Instagram here: @epochwines.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

**FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Indigené Cellars: “Sip and Savor the Terroir”

Ambitious Paso Robles Weekend Part 3

THE STORY

Still on Day One of our weekend in Paso Robles, I was on a mission to taste Monterey wines at Indigené Cellars.  We had a hard time finding them, as they are located off the alley, unlike most of the downtown wineries facing the central plaza. They are tucked away right next to Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ, where we had dinner. As a bonus, we got to meet briefly vintner Raymond Smith while we were at the winery. (For more about our Paso weekend, see all my posts here and subscribe for free to see all the upcoming installments!)

I heard about Indigené Cellars some time back and had corresponded with Raymond about finding a way to sample some of his Carmel Valley AVA wines.  I’ve tasted the Ambiente once before, but this was or chance to taste a broader portfolio of his wines.

THE WINERY

About Indigené Cellars from their website:

“Established in 2006, Indigené Cellars has astounded discerning wine lovers for more than a decade. Our small, family-run winery is dedicated to terroir-based winemaking to produce exceptional and noteworthy wines. We at Indigené invite you to experience our humble translation of art, nature, and tradition.”

About Raymond Smith:

“Raymond Smith, founder of Indigené Cellars celebrates the origin of the terroir in every bottle of wine he makes. After years of bottling and tasting both fruit off the vine and wine, Smith has found his niche making wines that, as the land, are in a constant state of evolution and known to wow visitors with every sip.

“Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Smith worked as a ship joiner and grocery clerk, relocating to Paso Robles, CA, a small town on the Central Coast in the late 1980’s. He quickly acclimated himself to the many aspects of the wine business. Shortly thereafter he helped build and eventually owned and operated a small fleet of mobile wine bottling lines, developing great relationships with growers and producers, who shared the intricacies of the wine business.  Smith chose to further challenge himself and work to create excellent growing conditions and ideal cellaring practices, focusing on distinguishing aromas, transcending earth-tone textures, a balanced, fruit-driven palate, and a well-structured tannin to create unique noteworthy varietals and elegant blends.”

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you the 5 Indigené wines we tasted. The notes are amplified by the “Decanting Monterey Wine Pod North.” Winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the bottle or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Indigené Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $30 (#1616)

Winery Notes: “Complex and Focused citrus notes brushed with light minerality. Layered tones of almond and quince frame vanilla and asian spice that fade as the medium toast expands.” 

My Review: Honeydew and white peach on the nose. Crisp palate with minerality shining through. Tasty. August 2025

2020 Indigené Ambiente (Tuscan Blend), Paso Robles AVA, 14.1% ABV, $40 (#1617)

Winery Notes: “Smooth aromas of blistered black cherry and cola show on the nose of this bottling. The palate proves to be a pleasantly down-the-middle expression of the grape, offering both cherry and an array of nutmeg and cola spices.”  Gold Medal Best in Class, Central Coast Wine Competition

Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Creamy aromas of caramel and black plum pudding make for a rich entry to the nose of this bottling. The palate is thick in mouthfeel, offering baked berry alongside allspice, pepper and more caramel flavors.” — Matt Kettmann, March 2024

My Review: Rose petal and oak on the nose. Thin dark fruit on the palate with tar and tannin. August 2025

2012 Indigené Venado Grande Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles AVA, 14% ABV, $40 (#1618)

Winery Notes: “Features an expressive mix of flavors built around dried currant, dusty, cedary oak, a gravel pit of newly crushed rock and melted black licorice.”

My Review: Fabulous nose. And a big finish. Holding up well – in its prime.  August 2025

2021 Indigené Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $50 (#1619)

Winery Notes: “Deep garnet hue with rich black cherries, cocoa and new leather nose. Cherry and ripe plum notes are wrapped beautifully in lavender, expresso powder and dark chocolate. Medium to full bodied…”

My Review: Smooth and yummy. A fine representation of wine from Cachagua, Carmel Valley. August 2025

2018 Indigené Parenthesis Syrah, Paso Robles AVA, 14.8% ABV, $50 (#1620)

Winery Notes: “Opaque purple and brilliant violet hue. Floral laced notes of black and blue fruits are medium to full Bodied. A wild herb and olive tapenade slant brings restraint to the earthy minerals and long polished tannins.”

My Review: Rather cassis like. I’m a huge Syrah fan and would like to try this wine again. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

“Come visit us at our downtown Paso Robles location.”

815 12th St Suite B. (off the alley behind the building), Paso Robles. Open Thursday – Saturday, 1 pm-9pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm.”

Check them out on Instagram here: @indigenecellarsofficial.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

**FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Herman Story: “The best wine you’ve ever been served outside a tire shop.”

Ambitious Paso Robles Weekend Part 2

THE STORY

We continue our wine tasting adventures in Paso Robles with a whopper.  I remembered tasting a Herman Story wine with our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod and put it on our list. (For more about our Paso weekend, see last week’s post here and subscribe for free to see all the upcoming installments!)

Herman Story is located in an unlikely place for a tasting room.  No, not right off the town square, but literally between a tire shop and a welding supply place. We were very happy with the experience and the wines. We tasted lots of wines, got a tour of the facility, and even got to taste a prized Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah. We bought more wine here than at any other winery. I would go back in a heartbeat.

My previous post about Herman Story is here: Herman Story Wines: “…made, schlepped, peddled, and drunk with friends.”

THE WINERY

About Herman Story from their website (which is hilarious, by the way and worthy of a look):

“Here’s a little secret:

“We’re cooks, not chemists. You might be saying, what about terroir? Science? The technical details I read on that one critic’s vintage report? Don’t worry, that’s all part of it. Get grapes from exceptional vineyards, make careful decisions in the cellar, be relentless about quality, you’ll be turning out showstoppers.

“At the end of the day, we make wines that’ll pair just as well with a triple-stacked bacon cheeseburger as they will with an extravagant eight-course tasting menu. Wines you can contemplate at a massive mahogany desk or chug while your friend falls from a keg-stand into an inflatable pool of Jello. Either way, they’re a damn good time.”

About Russell P. From:

“Before he was a winemaker, a self-proclaimed black belt, and an internationally renowned runway model, Russell always had a borderline-concerning obsession with great food and wine. After graduating from Cal Poly with a few winery internships (and a bunch of noise complaints) under his belt, he started Herman Story in 2001 with seven humble barrels of Syrah stashed in his employer’s cellar.” You can read more about Russell here.

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you the 8 Herman Story wines we tasted. The notes are amplified by the “Decanting Monterey Wine Pod North.” Winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the bottle or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2021 Herman Story Witness Protection Chardonnay, Paso Robles AVA, 14.4% ABV, $72 (#1608)

Winery Notes: “This is the Wednesday night book club that turns out to be a front for a sports gambling ring. Up front, refined lemon-meringue formalities and Anjou pear prose, but behind closed doors, reserved suburbanites slamming sidecars and placing bets that would give their accountants conniptions. Take the over on spiced pineapple, call stone fruit to cover the spread, and throw a parlay on vanilla, nutmeg, and that buzzing streak of minerality. Then gather your things, collect your winnings, and tell them you can’t wait for chapter two.” 

My Review: Nice bouquet with peach, a smidge of butter. A good Chardonnay. August 2025

2020 Herman Story On the Road Grenache, Paso Robles AVA, 15.7% ABV, $72 (#1609)

Winery Notes: “These hard-boiled bootleggers know how to make a scene. An hour before, you were at the local juice joint, downing black cherry and black tea elixirs with a couple of licorice-suited cool cats. Then you had to scram, and fast. Now, you’re hightailing a Model T across the frozen Detroit River with the coppers in hot pursuit and this wine in tow. Pop a bottle for good fortune. Candied-blackberry satin, mossy mineral mother of pearl, spiced pie crust pistols, maraschino liqueur, the wind in your face and Canada’s shrouded shores, just out of sight.” 

My Review: No notes. August 2025

2021 Herman Story Bolt Cutter, Paso Robles AVA, 15.8% ABV, $72 (#1610) 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Petit Verdot, 10% Syrah

Winery Notes: “All the brash ferocity of a Clubber Lang left hook, tempered by the gentle nuance of his post-boxing career as a pâtissier. Chef’s whites with the sleeves torn off and sideways toque blanc, hands capable of furious jab flurries, now nimbly crafting marzipan blueberry cannelés, honey-drizzled blackberry tarts, star anise garnishes, black leather vests, crumbled graham cracker, and heavy gold chains, all delicately arranged on tiny alabaster plates. And he pities the fool who sends any of it back.”

My Review: Dirt and dark plum on the nose. I didn’t capture notes for the palate.  August 2025

2022 Herman Story Nuts & Bolts Syrah, Paso Robles AVA, 15.9% ABV, $72 (#1611)

Winery Notes: “Grandma always told you: never get into an Old West-style duel with a flintlock-wielding grizzly bear. But now, you’ve gone and completely ignored that advice. First pace, charred raspberry tree bark. Second pace, leather quivers full of white flowers. Third pace, molasses marble mushroom stew. Fourth pace, roast brisket meat hooks. Fith, mulberry maple-hilted bowie knives. Then you turn to find razor-sharp claws, mineral-tinged fisticuffs, and the answer to the lingering question of how gram-gram got that scar.”

My Review: Cinnamon and dark plum on the nose. My only tasting note is that “I could drink that.” We opened one of these at home and it proved that to be true.  One of my favorites of the day. August 2025

2021 Herman Story White Hawk Vineyard Syrah, Santa Barbara AVA, 15.9% ABV, $82 (#1612)

Winery Notes: “You didn’t know this old, marble-pillared hotel had a basement bar until you hit the wrong elevator button. A little ten-seater, solid maple, shrouded in sweet tobacco haze, backed by toasted Scotch barrels, a clientele donning mulberry Stetsons and swing dresses – straight from the dark-fruit memories of decades past. The barkeep plates up a perfectly crusted Ribeye, tinged with thyme and spicy pepper, beside a Rob Roy in a crystal glass. Sophisticated and timeless. Except when you try to go back, the concierge says the owner passed in 1958, and it’s been closed ever since.”

My Review: This is an enormous wine – fruity, intense, with tobacco on the finish. August 2025

2021 Herman Story Milk & Honey, Paso Robles AVA, 15.9% ABV, $72 (#1613) 72% Tempranillo, 19% Syrah, 7% Mourvedre, 2% Petit Verdot

Winery Notes: “Like you always say, it’s not a private-school fundraiser until someone throws a punch. To the great dismay of the superintendent, the scrum is upending trays of red velvet macarons and auction ready gift baskets. Benefactors in chocolate-lapelled jackets grappling over pepper-plum tortes. Punch-soaked valedictorians wielding cognac lamb chops like hatchets. Dark-fruit haymakers full of menace and mille-feuille. And by the time the smoke has settled and they’re searching for the provocateur, you’re already in the parking lot, sipping bourbon with the custodians.”

My Review: Really dark and tannic. That’s all I wrote. August 2025

2023 Herman Story First Time Caller Petite Sirah, Paso Robles AVA, 15.7% ABV, $72 (#1614)

Winery Notes: “There we have it, folks: a new champ of Brain Busters. You’ve bested your opponents in a grueling gauntlet of trivia trials. Now, Johnny, tell them what they’ve won. Headed your way is a coveted package including a full truckload of blueberry coulis, Violet-lavender mead, and herb-charred tenderloin. But that’s not all. We’re throwing in an all-inclusive trip to black-licorice shores, Black Amber plum paradise, cacao molé trails, and bramble mountain. All you have to do is answer this final, ever-so-simple question: Can you handle it?”

My Review: Toast, caramel, and a little stinky on the nose. Earthy on the palate. This is a huge wine which will last. Needs to age. August 2025

2022 Herman Story Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah, Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Barbara County, 15.8% ABV, $82 (#1615)

Winery Notes: “There’s a man who lives in a 1961 Shasta Airflyte on the shore of Loch Ness, and word is he can talk to Nessy. So hike out into the berry-strewn, brambly hills, through herb-laden forests and along crumbling slate crags, until you smell the stewed plum and pepper-crusted venison backstrap. There, he’ll outfit you with a huckleberry-flint bowie knife, vanilla-clove paracords, and an old Polaroid 600, then take you paddling in a dinghy, trying to fathom the boundless depths below.”

My Review: Dark, dark fruit and bacon fat on the nose. I’m in love with the fresh dark fruit on the palate of this wine. Bien Nacido is one of my all-time favorite vineyards for Syrah. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Yes, odd location. Yes, a must-stop winery if you like your big reds like I do.  I’d go back in a heartbeat.

“Located between the tire shop & the welding supply place”: 1227 Paso Robles Street, Paso Robles Thursday – Monday, 11am-5pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 11am-4pm.”

Check them out on Instagram here: @hermanstorywines.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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