Saxum Vineyards is located in the Paso Robles AVA of Central California. Founded in the early 2000’s by Justin Smith, a young winemaker who had previously been part-owner of Linne Calodo, Saxum leapt into the limelight in late 2010 when its 2007 James Berry Vineyards wine was named the #1 Wine of 2010 by Wine Spectator. Smith owns the winery with his wife Heather, and produces up to 2,800 cases of wine a year.
The James Berry Vineyard is the Smith family’s estate vineyard. It is located 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean with an average elevation of 1200 feet.
Dark red in color. 15.5% ABV. 69% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 2% Counoise and 1% Roussanne. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, anise, violets and pepper. Full bodied with notable acidity and balance. Lush and polished. Blueberry, black cherry liqueur, kirsch and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and smooth with subtle tannins. The 2011 Saxum lineup has consistently shined over the years and this wine is no exception. Best over the next 2-3 years.
My rating: 96 points.
Current wines from Saxum are available via the mailing list at $98 per bottle. There is a several year wait before you can expect to receive an offer.
I’ve written about Saxum previously in Winery Mailing Lists: The Fab 5 and The 2020 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.