2019 | Saxum Vineyards | James Berry Vineyard

A powerhouse wine, deeply structured and a bit decadent, but not weighty. Plump with personality, this reveals bold blackberry, garrigue, dusky spices and smoked pepper tones, building richness on the long, polished finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 James Berry Vineyard is an alluring blend of 58% Grenache, 27% Mataro, 6% Syrah, 6% Graciano and 3% Counoise. It has aromas of rhubarb, citrus peel, earth, bitters and tea leaves with a flourish of spicy accents. Medium-bodied, the palate is silky and fragrant with bursts of refreshing acidity calling you back on the long, spicy finish.

• Vinous: Saturated violet. Heady, smoke- and mineral-accented blackberry, kirsch, fruitcake and candied lavender aromas show fine delineation and pick up a botanical herb note with aeration. Sweet and energetic in the mouth, offering concentrated cherry and dark berry preserve, exotic spice and floral pastille flavors braced by a core of juicy acidity. The impressively long, penetrating finish shows vibrant mineral cut, an echo of juicy blue fruit and well-judged tannins that sneak in late.

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.

DISCLAIMER** This is a single item listing unless otherwise noted in the description. Retailer advises either in stock or in route to their location. Usually ships within one to four business days. Longer processing times may occur especially around holiday(s). Some items may become backordered or delayed without notice due to demand & will ship out upon arrival. Overseas 700ml products typically have longer processing/transit times. You can always verify product availability by calling 1-888-548-0333. Please refer to our cancellations & returns agreement or reach out to our support team at help@caskcartel.com for any additional questions.

Our dedicated team specializes in creating personalized shopping experiences. If you’re looking for a specific item or collection that isn’t appearing on our marketplace, please reach out to us at concierge@caskcartel.com or fill out the product inquiry form and one of our dedicated team members will be in touch.  Whether it’s a product you’ve experienced while traveling or a rare, hard to find item you’ve been searching for, we have an established global network of retailers with the ability to locate and source the rarest and hardest to find products.