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.
Purple in color. 15.8% ABV. 43% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah and 10% Counoise. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, Whitman Sampler box and violets. Full bodied with perfect acidity and impeccable balance. Exceptionally rich and plush. Black raspberry, blueberry, cassis liqueur and charred meats on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Absolutely stunning wine that flirts with perfection. Best over the next several years.
My rating: 98 points.
The 2020 version of this wine was offered to members of the mailing list in the upcoming year.
Current wines from Saxum are available via the mailing list at $132 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.