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. 15.7% ABV. 45% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah and 8% Counoise. Sublime nose of red and blue fruits, Whitman Sampler Box, molten licorice and fresh flowers. Full bodied with mouth watering acidity and notable balance. Exceptionally rich and plush. Blueberry, raspberry liqueur, kirsch and creme de cassis on the palate. The finish is long and silky. This wine continues to get better with time in the bottle. Best over the next several years.
My rating: 98 points.
The 2021 version of this wine was offered to members of the mailing list a little over a month ago.
Current wines from Saxum are available via the mailing list at $135 per bottle. There is a several year wait before you can expect to receive an offer.