2016 | Saxum Vineyards | James Berry Vineyard

Deep, rich and layered on the palate, with a massive core of sweet fruit, this beauty builds with time in the glass and has incredible purity of fruit, a mix of richness and elegance that's hard to describe, sweet tannins, and a huge finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: The 2016 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red is beautiful, reflecting this vintage's synergy with Grenache, wafting from the glass with notes of wild cherries, kirsch, spring flowers and licorice. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and firm, with a deep core and chewy, stony structure that is going to demand some patience. The finish is juicy and mouthwatering. The 2016 is a blend of 55% Grenache, 24% Mataro, 13% Syrah and 8% Counoise, and it's maturing in 61% new puncheons, 26% amphorae and the balance in used wood.

• Vinous: Brilliant ruby. An intensely perfumed, sharply delineated bouquet evokes ripe raspberry, blueberry, allspice, candied lavender and incense, and a zesty mineral overtone gains strength as the wine stretches out. Stains the palate with appealingly sweet red and blue fruit flavors that show impressive depth as well as vivacity, thanks to a spine of juicy acidity. The extremely long, floral-driven finish is given shape by fine-grained tannins that are quickly absorbed by the intense, concentrated fruit.

Producer Information

Saxum Vineyards is a Californian wine producer in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. It is known for its portfolio of red blends produced from the key Rhône varieties: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The estate was planted at the end of the 1980s with a majority of vines now over 40 years of age. Located a mere 10 miles (16km) from the coast, unearthed fossilized whale bones have been discovered here requiring a jack hammer to plant the vines. Planted throughout an undulating landscape the vineyards are located on slopes at an altitude of approximately 1200 feet (365 meters). Saxum's portfolio now features a collection of proprietary cuvées. The Rhône varieties reign supreme, but there are small plantings of other grapes like Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, which are used in small amounts. Strict yields inform the limited production of roughly 5500 cases annually. The flagship wine is the James Berry vineyard red blend, made from Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah and Counoise. The Syrah is co-fermented with small amounts of Roussanne instead of Viognier, the white variety commonly blended with Syrah in northern Rhône appellations.

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