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 Broken Stones is a multi-vineyard blend, utilizing all the vineyards that Saxum sources from.
Purple in color. 15.7% ABV. 41% Syrah, 19% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 8% Tempranillo and 3% Roussanne. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, roasted herbs and flowers. Full bodied with ample acidity. The balance is notable. Rich and exceedingly plush. Blackberry, creme de cassis, kirsch liqueur and a hint of white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Everything I expect from Saxum. Stunning wine at ten years of age. My last bottle but this will drink well for several more years.
My rating: 96 points.
Current wines from Saxum are available via the mailing list at $132. Saxum raised their prices several years and I am unclear how that affected the wait time to get on the mailing list.