Bottle Notes, Syrah

2011 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard – Bottle Notes

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 Bone Rock blend comes from the Bone Rock block of James Berry Vineyard. It is a steep terrace of old head trained Syrah vines on a south facing slope.

Purple in color. 15.3% ABV. Syrah co fermented with a splash of Roussanne and Mourvedre. Breathtaking nose of blue and red fruits, charred meats, pepper and flowers. Medium to full bodied with exquisite acidity. Gritty and well balanced with copious fruits. Blueberry, raspberry liqueur, roasted herbs and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish with prominent tannins. Everything has come together here and the bottle is perfect to drink right now. A triumph for the vintage and a reflection of the vintage at the same time. Best over the next 2-4 years.

My rating: 97 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.

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