$299.99
98 Points - limited                         Â
99 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Based on two-thirds Syrah, 16% Graciano, 9% Mataro, 5% Roussanne, and the rest Grenache and Petite Sirah, the 2017 Bone Rock is a powerhouse wine that does everything right. Deep purple-colored, with a rocking nose of chocolate, smoked meat, ground pepper, Asian spices, and spring flower, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a plush, sexy texture, good acidity, and a great, great finish. I’d be happy to drink bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years."
98 Points Robert Parker: "The 2018 Booker Vineyard, a blend of 74% Syrah and 26% Mataro, has gregarious aromas of baked blackberries, coffee, dark earth and licorice with loads of spicy accents. The full-bodied palate bursts with concentrated, nuanced fruits, pure notes of chocolate and floral perfume lingering in the mouth. The sheer concentration of flavor is expertly foiled by its fine, silt-like tannins and seamless freshness, and it finishes with tremendous length and detail. I appreciate how drinkable this is straight from the bottle, though it will have more to show with time in the cellar."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
$189.99
Rare new release from cult producer Saxum.
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Petite Sirah-heavy 2018 Four Hearts Vineyard (there’s 21% Tempranillo, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Zinfandel) reminds me of a great vintage of Ridge’s Monte Bello Cabernet (I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some American oak in here as well) with its blackberry, blueberry, cigar, and sappy flower aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and offers a big, mouth-filling texture, beautiful balance, and a great finish. Give it a few years."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles.
One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility.
$299.99
99 Points - limited                         Â
99 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Bone Rock (63% Syrah, 16% Mourvèdre, 12% Grenache, and the rest Graciano) is still resting in barrel, but it certainly looks to be in line, quality wise, with the other 2018s here. Concentrated, full-bodied, and just a massive wine, it has beautiful darker berry fruits as well as some spice and violet notes, a backward, inward, reserved style, ripe tannins, and a great finish."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility.
$199.99
Rare new release from cult producer Saxum. Limited.
98 Points Jeb Dunnuck "A rich, powerful wine based on 59% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 14% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Graciano, brought up mostly in foudre, the Saxum 2018 Heart Stone Vineyard's deep purple color is followed by killer notes of red and black currants, peppery herbs, loamy soil, and assorted meaty, spice notes. It has a Rhône-like spicy, meaty, savory character yet packs gorgeous purity of fruit, full-bodied richness, and sweet, polished tannins that are pure Paso Robles. Enjoy this brilliant blend any time over the coming 10-15 years. Along with the 2007, this is the finest example of this cuvée I've tasted.
97 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Glass-staining purple. Powerfully scented ripe dark fruit, potpourri, incense and olive paste qualities on the nose, along with a smoky mineral flourish that builds as the wine opens up. Boasts superb depth as well as energy and displays sharp definition to the sweet blackberry, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and candied violet flavors, which are sharpened by a jolt of spicy black pepper. Shows distinctly rich yet nervy character, delivering sharp focus, youthfully chewy tannins and a wonderfully long, dark fruit-dominated finish."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles.
$399.00
Limited new release from Saxum.
100 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Another perfect wine is the 2018 Hexe, a blend of 57% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 13% Graciano, 10% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah that’s a 60/40 split from the James Berry and G2 vineyards. Full-bodied, concentrated, and incredibly pure, its vivid purple (it’s not completely opaque) color is followed by ample dark berry and black cherry fruits as well as notes of candied orange, licorice, peppery herbs, and an incredible sense of minerality. It reminds me of a great vintage of Janasse’s Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes and is another tour de force from winemaker Justin Smith that will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 15+ years....
Â
...One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility. And while changes of this magnitude can often result in hiccups in either the style or quality of the wines, that’s certainly not the case here. I think the wines have never been better, and given the scores I’ve awarded in the past, that’s saying something. Today, the Smiths release multiple cuvées, and while the focus in the past might have been the estate James Berry Vineyard, the portfolio includes numerous new vineyard sources and cuvées, most focusing on single vineyards and even specific blocks inside of a vineyard. This report looks at the 2018s and 2019s, and in a nutshell, these wines epitomize what I consider greatness in wine; the ability to offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure; intensity and richness without heaviness or any sensation of weight; singular profiles; and the ability to improve with bottle age. In addition, the purity and precision this estate can achieve are incredible, and certainly, many estates and winemakers in Paso Robles need to be tasting these wines to understand why they’re great and what is possible from these incredible limestone soils. As a critic, it’s always a challenge to try and understand why wines show differently and why one estate can produce brilliant wines and others struggle. Given the prodigious wines the Smiths release year in and year out from different vineyards (and now even from different winemaking facilities), it’s become increasingly apparent that the quality coming from Saxum is due to the genius of Justin Smith. After being lucky enough to taste these wines every year for well over a decade now, I can say that no one in California does Rhône varieties and blends better. I’ve written this many times in the past, but I’ll say it again, this is one of the few mailing lists worth being on.
$550.00
Limited new release from Saxum.
99 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Also deep purple/blue-hued, the 2018 Hexe is 43% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 13% Graciano, and the rest Syrah and Petite Sirah that’s still aging in a mix of barrels. (There's a small amount of amphora.) Lots of jammy blackberry, crushed flowers, smoked meat, and chocolate notes give way to a full-bodied, opulent, incredibly sexy barrel sample that has silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
$225.00
Rare new release from cult producer Saxum.
previous vintage 96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Petite Sirah-heavy Saxum Four Hearts Vineyard (there’s 21% Tempranillo, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Zinfandel) reminds me of a great vintage of Ridge’s Monte Bello Cabernet (I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some American oak in here as well) with its blackberry, blueberry, cigar, and sappy flower aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and offers a big, mouth-filling texture, beautiful balance, and a great finish. Give it a few years."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles.
One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility.
$299.99
99 Points - limited                         Â
100 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Saxum 2019 Bone Rock was scheduled to be bottled in August and is based largely on Syrah with smaller amounts of Graciano, Petite Sirah, and Roussanne. It's another thrilling 2019 from this reference point estate that has a wealth of black and blue fruits, classic Syrah gamey, chocolaty, peppery nuances, a rocking mid-palate, building tannins, and a monster of a finish. It might just be the finest vintage of this cuvée to date.
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility.
$199.99
Rare new release from cult producer Saxum. Limited.
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2019 Heart Stone Vineyard is mostly Graciano, Grenache, and Syrah but has a small amount of Mataro, Petite Sirah, Viognier and Touriga Nacional. Rocking levels of red and blue fruits, white pepper, and sandalwood all emerge from the glass, and it’s full-bodied, with a pure, polished mouthfeel, silky tannins, and one heck of a great finish. It has some up-front appeal, yet I see no reason it shouldn’t evolve for 15 years or more....
...One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility. And while changes of this magnitude can often result in hiccups in either the style or quality of the wines, that’s certainly not the case here. I think the wines have never been better, and given the scores I’ve awarded in the past, that’s saying something. Today, the Smiths release multiple cuvées, and while the focus in the past might have been the estate James Berry Vineyard, the portfolio includes numerous new vineyard sources and cuvées, most focusing on single vineyards and even specific blocks inside of a vineyard. This report looks at the 2018s and 2019s, and in a nutshell, these wines epitomize what I consider greatness in wine; the ability to offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure; intensity and richness without heaviness or any sensation of weight; singular profiles; and the ability to improve with bottle age. In addition, the purity and precision this estate can achieve are incredible, and certainly, many estates and winemakers in Paso Robles need to be tasting these wines to understand why they’re great and what is possible from these incredible limestone soils. As a critic, it’s always a challenge to try and understand why wines show differently and why one estate can produce brilliant wines and others struggle. Given the prodigious wines the Smiths release year in and year out from different vineyards (and now even from different winemaking facilities), it’s become increasingly apparent that the quality coming from Saxum is due to the genius of Justin Smith. After being lucky enough to taste these wines every year for well over a decade now, I can say that no one in California does Rhône varieties and blends better. I’ve written this many times in the past, but I’ll say it again, this is one of the few mailing lists worth being on
$550.00
Limited new release from Saxum.
previous vintage 99 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Also deep purple/blue-hued, the Saxum Hexe is 43% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 13% Graciano, and the rest Syrah and Petite Sirah that’s still aging in a mix of barrels. (There's a small amount of amphora.) Lots of jammy blackberry, crushed flowers, smoked meat, and chocolate notes give way to a full-bodied, opulent, incredibly sexy barrel sample that has silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
$189.99
Rare new release from Paso Robles Cult Winery Saxum. Limited.
previous vintage 98 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Saxum 2018 James Berry Vineyard White is straight-up stunning stuff and showed even better from bottle than barrel. Based on 66% Grenache Blanc, 28% Roussanne, and – wait for it – 6% Chenin Blanc, it boasts a medium gold hue as well as a rocking nose of caramelized citrus, apricots, honeyed flowers, and toasted bread. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has a terrific sense of freshness, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. It's up with the finest whites I've tasted from Paso Robles and will easily stand up to anything coming out of the Rhône Valley today!"
One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility.
$550.00
Limited new release from Saxum. *This is a rare MAGNUM Bottle (1.5L)*
99-100 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Scheduled to be bottled the week after this tasting, the Saxum 2019 James Berry Vineyard Rocket Block is a Grenache-dominated blend that includes 19% Mourvèdre, 7% Syrah, and 4% Counoise. It's a full-bodied beast of a wine revealing a ripe, sexy bouquet of red and black fruits, white pepper, sappy herbs, and flowers. It's one of those wines that brings incredible richness and power, yet still somehow manages to stay balanced, elegant, and light on its feet. There are 880 cases produced.
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
$399.99
*this is a rare MAGNUM (1.5L) bottle*
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2020 Broken Stones offers more classic Syrah character in its ripe blue fruits, black cherries, roasted herbs, and spice-driven aromatics. It's another full-bodied, powerful wine in the lineup delivering terrific balance as well as the firmer, chewy, yet ripe tannins of the vintage."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
$225.00
Rare new release from cult producer Saxum.
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2020 G2 Vineyard, which comes from a great vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles, is based largely on Grenache but includes 21% Mourvèdre, 14% Graciano, 11% Syrah, and 2% Carignan. It shows the denser, chewier style of the vintage but has rocking levels of black fruits, charcoal, peppery herbs, and leather. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it offers good tannins and outstanding length."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility. A
$209.99
Rare new release from cult producer Saxum. Limited.
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Graciano is the leading variety in the 2020 Heart Stone Vineyard (33% Graciano, 31% Grenache, 19% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre, Touriga Nacional, and Petite Sirah), and it's another full-bodied, mouth-filling substantial wine offering plenty of dark, chocolaty fruit, some smoked herb and graphite nuances, a big mid-palate, and some chewy tannins."
...One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility. And while changes of this magnitude can often result in hiccups in either the style or quality of the wines, that’s certainly not the case here. I think the wines have never been better, and given the scores I’ve awarded in the past, that’s saying something. Today, the Smiths release multiple cuvées, and while the focus in the past might have been the estate James Berry Vineyard, the portfolio includes numerous new vineyard sources and cuvées, most focusing on single vineyards and even specific blocks inside of a vineyard. This report looks at the 2018s and 2019s, and in a nutshell, these wines epitomize what I consider greatness in wine; the ability to offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure; intensity and richness without heaviness or any sensation of weight; singular profiles; and the ability to improve with bottle age. In addition, the purity and precision this estate can achieve are incredible, and certainly, many estates and winemakers in Paso Robles need to be tasting these wines to understand why they’re great and what is possible from these incredible limestone soils. As a critic, it’s always a challenge to try and understand why wines show differently and why one estate can produce brilliant wines and others struggle. Given the prodigious wines the Smiths release year in and year out from different vineyards (and now even from different winemaking facilities), it’s become increasingly apparent that the quality coming from Saxum is due to the genius of Justin Smith. After being lucky enough to taste these wines every year for well over a decade now, I can say that no one in California does Rhône varieties and blends better. I’ve written this many times in the past, but I’ll say it again, this is one of the few mailing lists worth being on
$225.00
99 Points - limited                         Â
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Saxum 2020 James Berry Vineyard offers up a more savory, complex, full-bodied style to go with both red and black fruits, notes of peppery herbs and loamy earth, a layered, opulent mouthfeel, and quality tannins. This was a challenging vintage, but this estate did a great job, and this classic Paso red should drink nicely right out of the gate as well as keep for 10-15 years. The blend is 49% Grenache, 21% Mourvèdre, 12% Syrah, 9% Graciano, 6% Grenache Blanc, and the rest Counoise. There were 1,470 cases produced."
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."
$199.99
Rare new release from Paso Robles Cult Winery Saxum. Limited.
previous vintage 98 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Saxum 2018 James Berry Vineyard White is straight-up stunning stuff and showed even better from bottle than barrel. Based on 66% Grenache Blanc, 28% Roussanne, and – wait for it – 6% Chenin Blanc, it boasts a medium gold hue as well as a rocking nose of caramelized citrus, apricots, honeyed flowers, and toasted bread. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has a terrific sense of freshness, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. It's up with the finest whites I've tasted from Paso Robles and will easily stand up to anything coming out of the Rhône Valley today!"
One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility.
$209.99
Limited new release from Saxum.
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Saxum 2020 Paderewski Vineyard checks in as 57% Syrah, 13% Graciano, and the rest Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel. This beauty brings lots of sweet fruit as well as complex notes of smoked herbs, pepper, licorice, and chocolate. It's balanced, has quality tannins and tons of character, and really shows the spicy, complex style of this site as well."
One of California’s unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards, and you won’t find any finer examples of Rhône variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and they’ve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility. And while changes of this magnitude can often result in hiccups in either the style or quality of the wines, that’s certainly not the case here. I think the wines have never been better, and given the scores I’ve awarded in the past, that’s saying something. Today, the Smiths release multiple cuvées, and while the focus in the past might have been the estate James Berry Vineyard, the portfolio includes numerous new vineyard sources and cuvées, most focusing on single vineyards and even specific blocks inside of a vineyard. This report looks at the 2018s and 2019s, and in a nutshell, these wines epitomize what I consider greatness in wine; the ability to offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure; intensity and richness without heaviness or any sensation of weight; singular profiles; and the ability to improve with bottle age. In addition, the purity and precision this estate can achieve are incredible, and certainly, many estates and winemakers in Paso Robles need to be tasting these wines to understand why they’re great and what is possible from these incredible limestone soils. As a critic, it’s always a challenge to try and understand why wines show differently and why one estate can produce brilliant wines and others struggle. Given the prodigious wines the Smiths release year in and year out from different vineyards (and now even from different winemaking facilities), it’s become increasingly apparent that the quality coming from Saxum is due to the genius of Justin Smith. After being lucky enough to taste these wines every year for well over a decade now, I can say that no one in California does Rhône varieties and blends better. I’ve written this many times in the past, but I’ll say it again, this is one of the few mailing lists worth being on.
$399.99
*This is a rare MAGNUM (1.5L) bottle*
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Saxum 2020 Paderewski Vineyard checks in as 57% Syrah, 13% Graciano, and the rest Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel. This beauty brings lots of sweet fruit as well as complex notes of smoked herbs, pepper, licorice, and chocolate. It's balanced, has quality tannins and tons of character, and really shows the spicy, complex style of this site as well.
...Needing no introduction for anyone that’s followed the Wine Advocate or the wine scene in Paso Robles for any time in the past decade, Heather and Justin Smith’s Saxum Vineyards continues to fashion sensational, world-class wines from a number of top sites on the west side of Paso Robles."