Herman Story Casual Encounters GSM 2017 with BBQ Rib Dinner

Herman Story Casual Encounters GSM 2017 with BBQ Rib Dinner

Following our gala dinner last week with a spectacular wine and food combination pairing of duck and GSM, we pulled another GSM to pair with BBQ ribs.

This is one of our favorite pairing combinations, BBQ with a hearty Syrah or Syrah blend. 

Proprietor and winemaker Russell P. From began Herman Story Wines in 2001 with 7 barrels stashed in his employer’s cellar. This has grown to a broad portfolio of big, opulent, structured, bold wines primarily based on Rhone varietals Syrah and Grenache. The branding pays homage to his grandfather with every label offering the tribute: "Herman Story was a Rancher, Logger, Swapper, Banker,  Philanthropist, a Teller of Tales and my grandfather." 

The range of labels are sourced from 30 top-tier vineyards from seven different growing regions along the Central California coast between Santa Barbara and Paso Robles. He sourced fruit from Vineyards Bien Nacido, Slide Hill, Larner, Shadow Canyon, Chelle Mountain, Luna Matta and White Hawk. 

All Herman Story wines are big, bold, crafted in a forward opulent style not for the faint of heart. Each label features a whimsical name and a front label photograph depicting imagery somewhat related to or depicting the name. Examples of other Herman Story wine label names are: Nuts and Bolts, Bolt Cutter, Milk & Honey, After Hours, First Time Caller, and Smash City.

According to Russel, "Casual Encounters takes its name from the orgiastic nature of its origins as a blend of small cofermented lots."

Herman Story Casual Encounters Paso Robles GSM Blend 2017

This is a a classic Rhone River Blend that the French, and in the new World, the Australians, call GSM, for the blend of the three Rhone varietals, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. 

The 2017 Herman Story "Casual Encounters" is a Blend of 40% Syrah, 35% Mourvedre, 19% Grenache, with small amounts of the Rhone varietals Carignane, 4%, and 2% Tannat. 

Fruit for this particular label is sourced from several vineyards throughout the Central California coastal region of Paso Robles - Chelle Mountain, Bien Nacido, Paderewski, White Cliffs, Lunda Matta and Jespersen. 

This release was awarded 96 points by Jeb Dunnuck and 95 points by Wine Enthusiast.

Dark inky garnet colored, full bodied, concentrated sweet black fruits are accented by a layer of charcoal, smoke, smoked meats, pepper and what Wine Enthusiast describes as Gingerbread Spice, caramel and root beer.

 

RM 92 points. 

 

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