2014 True Believer Wines Red Wine
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Tasting notes
Cured meats, gamey black fruits, ground pepper, iron, and spring flower notes all soar from the 2014 True Believer, a deep, opulent, sensationally textured red with ripe tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's still youthful and showing even better today than on release, which is always a good sign.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
A small step back from the total mind-blowing 2013, the 220-case 2014 True Believer is still incredible stuff and checks in as a blend of 51% Grenache, 27% Syrah, 11% Mourvèdre, 8% Petite Sirah and the rest Viognier and Roussanne. This deep ruby/purple colored beauty offers tons of ripe blackberry, currants, smoked herbs, pepper and melted licorice-like aromatics. Deep, sumptuous and decadent on the palate, with low acidity, it stays light on its feet and graceful, and certainly delivers loads of pleasure. Drink this blockbuster style beauty anytime over the coming decade or more. I continue to love these wines from Chris Hammell, and these are stacked, pedal-to-the-metal beauties that deliver loads of character. The 2014s are a small step back from his 2013s, but we’re splitting hairs and if you like the wines of Sine qua Non, Andremily, Herman Story, etc., you’re going to love these.
The barrel sample I tasted has the lowest percentage of Grenache so far, with about 20% whole clusters and also more white grapes than in the past. Tasted but not recommended.