Decanted (off a fair amount of sediment) for an hour and a half and the wine continued to open into dinner. Dark purple in color with black fruits, red fruits and earth on the nose. The medium plus bodied palate showed blackberry, black currant, black cherry, cranberry, and raspberry plus spice, earth, and a touch of minerality. The juicy acidity was nicely balancing and the tannins were integrated. A very satisfying bottle of wine that is ready to deliver considerable pleasure right now (with air), and probably for several years to come.
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Smooth, balanced, medium fruit/subtle chocolate presentation. Plush. Moderate long finish. Decanted and tasted over 4 hours Would decant an hour upfront next time around
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My first Saxum James Berry. Reading others' notes, decanted, aired for 4 hrs. before dinner. Some sediment. Garnet. Nose: Beautiful 9/10. Black and blueberries. Palate: 9/10. Full body. Tasted so young after opening. But very balanced after 4 hrs. Excellent mouthfeel. Great viscosity. My brain thinks sweet, but not in the mouth. Fruits, tannins, acidity are well coordinated. Finish: Long 9/10. Brilliant. Long and beautiful. Ended with notes of soft milk coffee. Never had this before. Price: 8/10 ($125 after taxes in 2023). Enjoyment: 9/10. Drink now. Would buy again: Yes. Big, savory wine, all in the good way. Definitely with food.
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Opened 2.5 hours prior to dinner. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Still a beautiful wine. The last of that case.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of ripe black raspberry, black cherry, grilled meat, spice and underbrush. Black and red fruit, grilled meat, bramble and spice on the palate. Very long, layered finish. Full bodied. Served with hickory smoked beef ribs.
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Soft red color with translucence at the edges. Bright nose of plums, cherries and lavender. Soft bit not blowsy on the palate, cherries, blueberries, licorice, spice. Precise tannins beautifully resolved. Lovely acidity, great balance. Finishes long, long and precise. Spice and red fruits. Lovely and may continue to improve for another 3 to 4 years. Drink for 6 to 7 years beyond that. Great wine.
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Not as good as the bottle I had in the beginning of March mainly because that was a 6 hour slow ox and this was only 1.5 hours. Time does make a difference. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Still a beautiful wine.
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Continues to drink beautifully! Delicious black berry and floral notes on the nose and rich palate with spice and refreshing acidity on the long finish.
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Stood the bottle up the day before opening. Decanted for 2.5 hours to the start of dinner - with lots of sediment - and the wine continued to improve during dinner. The color was a deep dark inky purple. There were red fruits, black fruits, and earth on the nose. The medium plus bodied palate showed black cherry, cranberry, raspberry, blueberry, lots of baking spice, earth, and touches of pepper and minerality. The juicy acidity was nicely balancing and the tannins were integrated. A wholly satisfying bottle of wine that is certainly ready to deliver considerable pleasure right now (with enough air), and probably for several years to come.
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Really singing. Beautiful red and dark fruit, full(-) bodied, tannins resolving but present, smooth mouthfeel, balanced, multifaceted with a long finish. Very enjoyable.
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Decanted for two hours, drank over two nights. A massive wine that is well balanced. Was delightful with a BBQ ribeye. Bouquet of dark ripe berries and baking spices, with some pepper. Pepper noticeable on the taste, along being very earthy and dark fruit. Second night still outstanding. Mr. Justin Smith, Bravo!
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 30 minutes. Nose of ripe black raspberry, gamey meat, black licorice, bramble, spice and forest floor. Blackberry, gamey meat, black licorice, spice and forest floor on the palate. Very long layered finish with excellent depth. Full bodied. Served with apple smoked baby back ribs.
It has been over a year since I last tried a bottle. Opened and slow ox'd for 6 hours. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Just a beautiful wine. 94+
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Dark garnet color--nearly opaque, with aromas of blackberries, cherry, and leather. On the palate, I note blackberries, red fruit, and hints of herbs, olive juice, and mineral/limestone. Nicely full bodied with medium-firm tannins, medium acidity and a finish that lasts and lasts; really well integrated. Based on the relative strength of the tannins, I think this will continue to offer rewards for another 7-10 years--but it's drinking beautifully right now. We enjoyed it with a Flannery California Reserve New York Strip (Berserker Day!), reverse seared and medium rare. Yum!
Garnet, almost opaque, dark for a mostly grenache wine. Reserved dark fruit aromas but one-dimensional. Full-bodied flavors, but also straightforward, without any elegance or complexity; soft tannin in the background. Long aftertaste. Ready now, but disappointing. I rated the previous bottle 98, so maybe some variation. No change the second evening. Ric
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Excellent. Just like the bottle of 1 year ago but better. 2 hour Slow ox for first night. Pnp the second night. Blackberry, raspberry, herbs, light tannin, rich texture.
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Opened, decanted and served about 1 hour later. Enjoyed with food (roast pook and roasted potatoes with spinach, in case you were wondering). Dark purple color Floral nose with blackberries and some wisp of wood smoke. Rich and full bodied with a big mouthfeel. Wonderful dark fruits. 15.8% abv but shows no heat. Enjoyable.
Not the best James Berry, but still very good. Wonderful mouthfeel, long finish, and some true (funky, meaty, savory) syrah notes, even though syrah is a smaller component of the mix. But, just a lovely wine.
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Dark red in color. 15.8% ABV. 52% Grenache, 26% Mourvedre and 22% Syrah. Pretty nose of red fruits, roasted herbs and flowers. Medium body with perfect acidity. Notable balance. Concentration and power in spades. Black cherry, raspberry liqueur, iron and menthol on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and seamless. I've always been a fan of the '10 lineup from Saxum and this wine is no exception. Aging beautifully but likely best over the next several years.
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Big, fruit forward with expressive blackberry fruit. Notes of milk chocolate, mocha and cassis. Drinks like a Napa Cab and gets even more intense after a two hour decant…it keeps evolving in the glass with its silky tannins that will give this wine more time in the bottle.
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Bright deep ruby red color, dark cherry and spice aromas, no alcohol burn here. Medium to full body, moderate acidity, with smooth tannins, licorice flavors on the extremely long and luscious finish. Beautiful balance.
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In terms of appearance and aromatics, no meaningful change, but there is some difference on the palate - more seamless integration of fruit with secondary notes, smoother (albeit assertive) tannins, and a silkier texture from midpalate through to the long finish. Best performance of this bottling to date.
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A step below my previous bottle but this was delicious. Opened at Hitching Post II and it went so well with the Filet. Still have another five to begin get to drinking over the next few years.
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Last one, and I have to say, still not ready. If I had any more of the 2010 I'd stash them for several more years. But can't say I'm seeking out any more.
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I still honestly believe that this wine is getting better with age. Opened and slow ox'd for 6 hours. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Just a beautiful wine. 94+
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6 hour slow ox. Dark garnet color, long legs. Aromas and flavors of black fruit, cherry, leather, and garrigue. A tiny bit of heat in the first pour disappeared soon after more oxygen hit the bottle. Full bodied and well integrated with firm tannin, medium acidity and a super long finish. The tightness observed the last time I opened a bottle (in 12/2018) is no longer present. Just a lovely wine that has improved with cellar time. Will likely continue to be great for at least 5, and possibly 10 more years.
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15.8% abv. Medium dark ruby, excellent aromatics. Cherry, black cherry, sage and a floral component. Very enjoyable, although the alcohol is beginning to intrude a bit. Drink up!
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Three months since I last tried a bottle and I still honestly believe that this wine is getting better with age. Opened and slow ox'd for 6 hours. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Just a beautiful wine.
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Decanted for an hour. This has aged very well. Great balance and no heat. One of the more restrained Saxums I have had. Probably in its prime drinking window.
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Tasted with 1995 Seavey and 1997 Ch. Mousar. This was our clear favorite. Garnet, almost opaque, dark for a mostly grenache wine. Very aromatic, sweet red and black fruits. Full-bodied flavors with plenty of fruit, soft tannin in the background. Long aftertaste. Ready now, but will easily last many years. Outstanding! Ric
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Didn't know I had 1 more. Powerful wine, potent, but well made and blended. Needs time in glass and even leaving some in bottle for another day is recommended. Incredibly well made cork and I really liked the raised label; looks like some sort of branches, perhaps grape vines, to me. Could have aged this more and most certainly can age at least 5 more years. Recommended.
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This wine is getting better with age. Opened and slow ox'd for 6 hours. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Just a beautiful wine.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of ripe black raspberry, cherry, anise and dried herbs. Black and red fruit, licorice, herbs and chewy tannins on the palate. Long, layered finish. Full bodied. Served with grilled rack of lamb and garlic herb butter.
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Another great bottle after a 1 hour double decant. Although darker & a slightly different nose, it tasted very similar to the 12 Maracssin Marcassin pinot that I had recently.; always amazes me how blind, US grenache & pinot can be so similar. Having no luck trying to age this further....
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A big, bombastic wine with tons of dark brooding fruit. It mixes a very fruit-forward style with finesse & elegance, but after 3 hours of decanting it was still tightly closed, so we trudged through and drank it up. All of the typical superlatives apply, but it was not at it's best.
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Probably time to refresh this note. Pop and pour into a decanter (throwing some fine sediment right at the bottom of the bottle, so watch your decant). In the glass, clear rose-red at the rim, fading rapidly to near-black at the core. On the nose, raspberries, raspberries, and more raspberries. On the palate, grenache liqueur, with secondary saline and floral notes, and persistent tannins on a moderately long finish.
I find it really difficult to judge most Saxum wines for aging potential - usually, they are extremely fruit-forward, but the tannins are there, hiding behind the well-disguised alcohol. I've yet to drink one at any age that seemed like it had budged at all from its precocious youth. This one seems a bit different in that the tannins aren't hiding, but at the same time, it also doesn't feel like it's evolved in any substantial way over the past decade. I'm leaving this as a reminder to myself to let the last bottle sit for a very long time, as a test....
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Delicious black berry and floral notes on the nose and rich palate with spice and refreshing acidity on the long finish. Hides the high ETOH fairly well.
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Just brilliant. the nose was dark berries and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, red plums, tobacco, chocolate and a touch of cedar. THe finish just goes on forever.
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Saxum Tasting (Zurich): Comprehensive vertical tasting of several Saxum vineyards and a total of 24 wines. Most wines on a good to very good level in the 93 to 95 points range, just one on an exceptional (97+ points) level (James Berry Bone Rock 08). The consistency of the wine-making at Saxum is impressive but the tasting proofed to be rather a bit boring with less difference between the vineyards and vintages showing than expected and wished for. Heart Stone stood out a bit (bigger vats used, little new oak) thanks to more terroir expression. James Berry (mostly Grenache) and James Berry Bone Rock (elevated complexity and sexiness) were great. Best vintage (we tried wines from 2003 to 2011) is clearly the 2007 which produced the wines with the most depth.
TN: I'm a big fan of Central Californian Grenache based wines as the combination of the warm climate with the elegance and light-footedness of grape seem a match made in heaven. Hence it is no wonder that the highest scores in this mini-vertical (6 vintages) went to the wines with the highest share of Grenache in the blend (perfect correlation!). The 2010 consists of 52% Grenache (rest Syrah, Mourvedre). ). I like the nutty component here with roasted almonds and hints of burnt sugar on the nose and palate. Herbal component and rather dense dark fruit are other components. Dark, dense but well-embedded in a fresh structure with fine tannins and a good acidity. Medium complexity, good to very good focus and length. Not decanted. The nose was a bit muted, hence I would go for an extensive 3-5 hour decant. And it will certainly benefit from 5 more years in the cellar. Very promising showing.
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Similar to prior notes, but still continues to improve (& still not at peak!); outstanding, drink or hold. I will try to hold my remaining bottles for a few more years (or just find more)
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Grand Saxum Tasting (Gustav in Zurich): Grand Saxum tasting over several vineyeards and vintages. 23 wines in total. What was remarkable is the consistancy in aromatics across vintages and partly also across vineyards. Big and powerful wines but not without elegance. As a vintage 2007 stood out as exceptional across all vineyards. Booker stood out as the most consistent on a high level while James Berry vineyards had the highest range, but was oustanding in some vintages. The top wines for me were 2008 Bone Rock and Booker 2007.
Tasting note: Ripe fruit, more red type. Some herbal notes and dark choclate but overall less intense than 2011 or 2009 with a palate that is a bit more dry.
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Opened a few hours before dinner. A beautiful nose of dark berries and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, charred meat, tobacco, some cedar and chocolate. The finish goes on forever. Just a great bottle of wine.
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After about a 45-minute decant, this bottle was in tremendous drinking shape. Dark fruits and chocolate on the nose. Smooth tannins and a long finish from the first sip, but this continued to develop and just get better over the 90 minutes that I enjoyed this. Like all the JBV’s that I’ve had, there is no doubt this has a long life ahead and will continue to develop, but you’ll be happy to enjoy what you have all along the way. The only unhappiness any Saxum has ever brought me is when I realize I’m out.
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Very reticent on the nose. Deep red fruits, cherry, raspberry. Firm tannins, great acidity and balance. Double decanted for 3+ hours. Not as expressive as my last bottle, but still great with a lot of runway in front of it.
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Popped and poured...very dark with a muted nose...took an hour to open and even then the finish was a bit harsh...scored an 86 with potential...left the bottle sitting on the counter for two days...drinking beautifully tonight with no hard edges...dark cherry, pepper/spice...some tannins on the finish, though paired perfectly with a spicy pasta dish.
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Yeah, it's big fruit, but it's not just that alone. Rich black cherry and pepper nose. Gorgeous fruit, intense, but not overbearing. Cherries from the grenache, some blueberry, cracked black pepper, a bit of tarragon. The tannins are still big -- decant this wine for a few hours or just wait for it to age a few more years. However, they don't get in the way of enjoying this wine now. Vibrant acidity, great structure. A long, long finish of dark fruits that fades gracefully at the end. Powerful, yet still elegant. No where near peak yet. 52% Grenache (done in concrete), 26% Morvedre, 22% Syrah.
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PnP of a bottle I brought to BLT Steak. Nice enough, but still tight after an hour decant. Needs time in bottle, and at least several hours if opening a bottle now (12/2018).
Opened 7 hours before dinner. Re-corked and took to Fascino's in Montclair, NJ for my daughters birthday dinner. Dark fruit with hints of chocolate on the nose. The palate is dark berries, plums, charred meat, tobacco and chocolate. The finish goes on forever.
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RustyRudy nailed the notes and score. Had in a vertical with the 08, 11, and 14 at a wine event last night. This was exceptional and I think needs more time to reach its peak. Most thought the 08 was the winner but I thought the 10 was better and a couple of folks agreed. Both were exceptional but the 10 was slightly different than the 08, 11, 14 in overall style. Wonderful treat and glad I have a bunch to work through over the next few years.
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Dark red in color. One of the many things I like about Saxum is the huge nose of warm blueberry cobbler, black raspberry and a hint of cedar. The wine is complex and fruit laden, but not over extracted. It has enough acidity to balance the fruit , but it is not overly tart. There are still mildly drying tannins on the finish even after two hours of being open to indicate the wine is evolving but not yet likely at its peak. I will save my remaining one bottle for a few years from now. Good job Justin!
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Charleston Offlineorama IV; 9/27/2018-10/1/2018 (Charleston, NC (various locations)): 3rd/11 wines tasted. The nose on this jumps out of the glass - sun warmed berries galore! The palate is full of blueberry and ripe blackberry, but it has quite a bit of acidity so the sweet fruit has a nice contrast. There is also a spiciness and earthiness that comes through on the finish adding complexity. Nice structure for a more fruit forward wine.
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Charleston IV - Return of the Collectible; 9/27/2018-9/30/2018 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): This was quite nice. A good balance between the more earthy and spice notes and the fruit. Surprised me since I had expected it to be a bit more intense on the fruit side (I guess the difference between 2007 and 2010 in terms of weather). Definitely lots of blueberry going on here, but then also lots of woodsy notes. It's got some acidity and backbone to it. A bit more forward of a style, but with some nice touches that holds it from feeling overdone.
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Drinking well right now as a PnP. Dark black and blue fruit, loads of licorice and vanilla, almost root beer like, lush velvety texture, great balance. Drink up.
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Opened for three hours then poured through a soiree. Fruit on the nose with hints of chocolate. The palate was blackberry, cherry, plum, a little spice and hints of chocolate. The finish was a typical Saxum finish - they just go on and on. A beautiful bottle of wine and the best thing is I have most of my case to left to enjoy.
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A pending business trip to Napa and some family obligations ended my self imposed sobriety at 86 days (in case anyone is interested it also equates to an 18 pound weight loss) Anyway about the wine - I slow ox'd for 7 hours and then poured through a soiree . The nose was fruit and mocha, the palate was blackberry, cherry, a touch of bacon and hints of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on - just a great bottle of wine.
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Saxum Vertical Tasting (Mathias@Michael): Lovely intense and fresh dark fruit with an impressive flavor depth. Slightly sweet but not in a destructive way. Has some aged flavors of blood, iron and aged meat. A very impressive wine that I just adored! 96-97p
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Rich blackberry and black cherry fruit. This has lost some of its exuberant fruit, and more of its underlying smokiness has been revealed. A nice positive evolution, wish I had another bottle to try in a year or two.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, plum, smoked meat, mocha, spice and vanilla. Palate mirrors the nose with ripe tannins. Leads to a long finish. Full bodied. Served with smoked ribs.
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This wine had one of the biggest noses I've ever experienced - it was glorious. Dark, dark berries as if they exploded in the glass. The taste was consistent - with everything in a lovely balance that made each sniff and taste truly delightful.
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Lots of dark fruit, but also a significant floral (violets?) presence. On a personal level, the more heavily Grenache based blends are not my favorites of the Saxum wines, but this is still a very well made wine.
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Opens with a huge nose of dark berries that almost overwhelms the palate. Thick blackberry fruit overcomes some youthful heat to make this wine a hedonistic adventure in wine drinking pleasure. While it is drinkable now, I will try the next bottle in about 5 years.
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PnP then consumed over 6 hours. This turned out to be an annoying rather than a revelatory experience. The early sips were hot. After an hour the wine began to come together and at about the two or three hour mark it showed great promise. Unfortunately, it reverted to a tannic imbalance through consumption. Maybe I should have stayed with a 12 hour decant.
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Very restrained fruit, slightly raisony flavors, excellent structure, lacking intensity and fullness typical of Saxum wines, short finish, surprisingly disappointing
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Nose of candied apples and crushed raspberries. The Grenache flavors are flat and muted wit a bit of tartness. Finishes with fine drying tannins but not much else. Somewhat disappointing for a JBV. Maybe an off bottle?
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Ripe luscious blackberry, plum fruit. This is big and plush and velvety. It has a flavor profile similar to some of the better Aussie Shiraz blends, but lacking the over-extracted Port-like aspects.
Nose of scorched earth, bittersweet black fruit, lanolin, and dried herbs. Silky in the mouth with bittersweet blackberry jam and minerality. Long finish. A wine of great balance.
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Okay, so I have been enjoying the JBV bottling for years (since 2004?), but I have to say I think this has been my least favorite one so far. It's kind of like sucking on a bitter, burnt piece of wood that has been soaked in Knott's Boysenberry Drink Extract. It's the same reason why I seem to have never found an Hermitage that I enjoy, they are just too extreme and angular. Yes, perhaps with another 15 years this will calm down and become some amazing swan of a wine, but I kind of count on my Saxums to be ready to go with 5-7 years of bottle age. I am sure this will last another 20 years, so enjoy it then if you think you'll be alive at the time.
This bottle has been Coravin'd 4 times in 12 months, this being the final time. The results have been consistent.
Monthly goup Holiday Tasting 2016 (I Nonni): Likely decanted but I didn't hear the treatment. This wine is BIG. I believe it needs more acid or time in bottle. It drank more like a port. Massive fruit that needs some structure to go with it.
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Double decanted the SO'd for a few hrs, deep ruby, black raspberry & blueberry with a touch of spice & pepper, mod. tannins, long finish; delicious, drink or hold (no rush), great juice!
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Solid cork pull, cork stained light magenta. A beautifully balanced wine with a significant palate that is coating and somewhat dense without laying on the tongue like a shag carpet. Kept emerging throughout the night and seemed as if the different blended components kept stepping up to join the party. Wonderful drinking experienceI think Saxum is making the best blended wines in America. Can age more and see CT predicts up to 2034. i think it can go another 5-10 easy. Recommended.
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A huge wine --- a hot climate GSM. The alcohol seems even higher than the 15.8 % claimed on the bottle. Too cloying for my taste. Too concentrated. Too extracted. Too hot too. Maybe next time I'll try adding water. Or, if I want a GSM from California, I'll just get some Tablas Creek or Beckman instead.
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Seriously good wine. Earthy and funky upon opening that leads you to think its old world. After 20-30 minutes in the glass it transforms into an unbelievable balance of red fruits, palate, structure, and finish.
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Very good pure black and red fruits, slight dried herbs note, silky and concentrated but not heavy, ample but integrated oak and a more deft hand as compared to the Carlisle (same v.y. same year). Still very hot though although wore it better than the Carlisle as well.
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Magnum night in the CLE (The Penthouse at IMG Headquarters in Downtown Cleveland): I have had this wine a bunch and it has been anywhere from outstanding to perfect. Tonight was closer to the later. From Magnum, this is still showing a bit young. This has more Grenache than Syrah in it so maybe that is why it stood out in this flight. Just delicious. The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baking spice, and slight pepper. Gorgeous. On the palate, a wonderful texture. Juicy, light on its feet yet powerful. Balanced. worked great with the food. Long finish. Got better all night long. No idea if this got opened ahead of time, but this needs more time to peak.
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Pnp. Nice nose but tasting it lacked depth/fruit, finished thin, acidic, tannic. After 1 hour it filled out better, more fruit, added density & was less acidic/tannic. Very nice wine, but compared to the 2012 we also opened, this 2010 was not as great.
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Tasting from Coravin deciding what to open for dinner: expressive nose right out of the gate but very tight. This needs a little more time to open up than I have to work with. Don't want to waste it so will open when I have a few hours to decant.
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Color: medium-deep ruby core -> medium ruby/fuchsia rim. Positively jammy bouquet of raspberries, boysenberries, loganberries (well, you get the idea) married to oak, road tar and iodine with a touch of smoke. Opened and went through half the bottle then vacu-vinned for this note on the second night. Honestly, I felt this was just too compact and jammy and hot on the first night. After waiting a night, while still showing an overabundance of berry fruit, some complexity finally started showing up by the final glass. Jammy, berry palate still, but some game meat notes creeping in along with iodine, iron and spice. Alcohol still noticeable on night #2 but taken down a notch from the first night (a good omen I think). Fine tannins still notable with good acidity and a reasonably long finish. This still needs a few years to knit itself together, smooth out and gain more complexity IMO. I think the elements are there so the evolution here should be positive. 91 for now which may seem low, but I think there could be considerable upside.
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Nose of forest and briar fruit. Quality of fruit on the tongue was very good. Stewed cherries, bramble fruit. Long finish but still fairly high acid content. We'll drink another in 3 years or so.
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This was drank at home using the Corvin system. The wine was slightly cloudy at first and mid deep purple in colour with a slight brown tinge to it. It had quite a noticeable nose of bacon and smoke alongside with some dark berries to it. In tasting, I got flavours of dark cherries and vanilla as well as some pepper. It was also quite a sweet wine and had some hotness to it. Finally, the acidity was light and the tannins were at a nice mid level. This bottle was in a very good place tonight.
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Drinking extremely well now, extracted fruit, loads of bacon and ham, cooking spices, great length and smooth texture, just silky smooth. Drink now and over the next 5 years.
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Peppery nose.dark blackberry. Strong graphite. Well integrated tannins, full mouthfeel. The Grenache is forefront and very appealing. Can tell Syrah at the back with the backbone but not the big flavor. Still youthful. Follow you can feel the tannic nature. Will be good to try again in about 2 years.
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A saxum tasting at Cooking School (ICASI): This may end up being the best of the four but today, it is very tight and powerful. Usually, I say five years from vintage is a good time to start drinking but this still seems very tight and brooding. Dark purple in color with some ruby at the rim. The nose shows dark cherries, black raspberries, a fair amount of vanilla and spice. On the palate, this is still pretty monolithic. A wall of fruit. Firm tannins. It is delicious, and I know people who love a wine like this. For me, next to the other vintages, this showed more in potential. With some vigorous swirling it start to show a bit more, but then it is time to move on. It was also paired with a Waldorf salad which did it no favors.
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New Years Eve (Donnhoff, Realm and Saxum) (Our home): This baby is singing. My wife without knowing what it was said, this was really good. Allowed to breath for an hour but not decanted. Inky purple in color. This kept getting better but we did save some for day 2. The nose is great with black raspberries, grilled meats, slight decayed meat, white pepper, and a slight flora note. On the palate, this is a big wine but it has that Saxum quality I haven't seen as much lately, that is to say, light on its feet but packing a punch. Ali in his prime if you will. Smooth, no rough edges, no heat. Each sip begets another one. Complex if a bit tight, it unwinds beautifully in the glass. We had to go to a NYE party, and I hated to leave some in the bottle, but I am looking forward to seeing what happened over night. As it turned out we drank cocktails at the party, so this was my last wine of the year. A great end to a great wine year!
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Chocolate notes, medium dark red fruits, cherry, cooking spices, ham, earthy tobacco flavors. Silky palate as usual with Saxum but the Grenache and Syrah don't seem to be in harmony here.
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Nice red fruit, grenache red-berries character with some herbal notes; silky smooth, full bodied, high alcohol but not gooey; very nice, medium complexity, full throttle, just not my style.
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Still too young, even with a two hour decant through a vinturi, Lots of fruit on the nose, blueberry and spices on the palate, the long lush Saxum finish. I think it need another year or so in the cellar or a much longer decant so it can really come together.
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PnP at SY Kitchen, Santa Ynez. A touch lighter in the stem, both in clot and immediate depth. Blue fruit component, easy spice. No noticeable heat. Still young. Looking for the layers to flesh themselves out in the coming years. Hold for the journey or drink now
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I actually had this a few days ago as well, and it's consistent with that notes. Dark fruits, velvety, hugely concentrated but not as complex as other years. Nice wine.
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Sweet nose with meats and cooking spices. Great balance with a silky texture and mouthfeel, it hides the huge alcohol very well. Not as complex as other years I've had but extremely good and drinks well now out of the gate. Should get better with another few years of bottle.
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Drinking extremely well right now, smooth as silk, good extraction and length. No detailed notes but was ready out of the gate and got better with 1-2 hours of bottle air
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Decanted for 4 hrs. Celebrating a new gig that was made official the day before, I wanted something with a little wow factor. Certainly a Saxum wine, no question, but I love the firm structure that keeps this wine pretty reigned for current drinking. Perhaps the 26% of Mourvedre is flexing its muscle as there was a pretty good tannic structure, plus a dark earthy cherry and tree bark qualities that I associate with the grape. A first few sips did detect a trace of heat (15.8) but this sorted itself rather quickly. Sadly, my last of two bottles and I would strongly advocate holding this for a few years before it really starts to shine. Great wine though, no question.
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Nose of meat, blood, smoke, spices and sweet cherries. The nose was interesting though a bit extreme at this point. The palate however was much more civilized lots of primarily red berry fruit, but also Black fruit, roast spices like cloves and allspice, good tannic grip and acidity to back it up. Still Young.
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Decanted 12 hours prior to tasting. Most everything has been said. A very polished effort presenting its silken charm like a sensuous smile. Its breeding and power are palpable marred only by an occasional glint of heat upon its exit.
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Popped and poured -big nose raspberry, plum, big fruity wine slightly unstructured, very long finish ending with a flash of heat. After 3 hr decant structure knitted but can distinguish some of the varietal contribution, even bigger nose, long finish with no heat. 5 days in decanter room temp, wine largely unchanged! Perhaps a bit more acidity that may increase the pleasure for those who prefer this. A world class wine,
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Decanted for 10 min., then rebottled for ride to restaurant. Popped & poured 30 min later. Big fruit, tight & funky. Was great in Dec. 2012, now needs more time to come together.
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Very late note, but I'll do my best. The nose reminded me of Barossa, which I'm not such a fan of these days (albeit the only high end I have had was the 06 Amon Ra - it was very good). While the nose never really kicked in to high gear, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised at how well this drank. Very structured, but still showed quality Grenache fruit, high quality at that. Very pure and focused, not yet super complex, but you can feel good things are coming around the corner. I would hold off and be patient if you only have a bottle or two.
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No formal notes, 3.5+ hour decant and either could use a longer decant or would recommend waiting a couple years to pop a bottle. Certainly an amazingly well made wine with delicious red fruit profile, subtle young wild strawberry, baking spices, and gorgeous balance and long length. There is a lot going on in this wine, another killer from Justin & Co. Can certainly see 96-97 in a couple years.
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Nose - crushed vit C pills, orange peel, wood Mouth - delineated and focused big dark fruit but agree with dale, relatively closed, potential noted but really way too young. Hold.
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Wines with neighbors (John's): This is delicious and the crowd was split on the WOTN. What an excellent contrast in wine between this and the 2001 Clos des Papes. I think the biggest difference was age as I try to remember back to the CdP release. Of course the Saxum is probably a bigger. Right now its about raw power, fruit and smoothness without much subtlety or complexity. Still, it was quite enjoyable.
A nose of black and red raspberries, some spice, some pepper, some camphor. Great lush texture. Smooth with no heat or tastes of alcohol. Delicious raspberries on the palate. Long finish.
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Voluptuous and sinuous, the Grenache fruit literally dazzles on all angles, then floats for a very long time. Longer than most Cure concerts, the James Berry of '10 is a more luscious creature than the last three vintages and very attractive at a young age. Red Velvet Cake, Soy Sauce, dark cherry, roasted chicken and cashew, with some lovely earth. The acidity is quite tranquil, with the most comforting ending; then the tannins are of the finest silk. Drink 2015 - 2032.
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Decanted 21 hours then consumed at dinner alongside an '09 Buccella Cuvee Katrina Eileen. Still reticent after the decant but this clearly shows the elegant power I often associate with Saxum. Fabulously complicated and compelling aromas of truffles, coriander seed, and a caramelized tangerine note join fresh cherries and a slight whiff of alcohol. The deep and juicy palate, while still tight, shows a similar profile with a bright but integrated acid streak, refreshing minerality, and fine but firm tannins. Silky, almost glassy texture. Gorgeous wine with layers of complexity and tons of potential but still only letting loose a fraction of its potential. This is a definite hold... say 3-5 years at least. 95 today but with cellaring I could see this 96-98.
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You got to love James Berry! On the elegant side, but very complex and still super powerful. Quite impressive for such a cold year. very long finish. Quite dominated by the grenache nose, cherries and minerals. Fantastic wine!
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Great showing. Pnp. Purple in color. The nose has cherries, black raspberries, coffee grounds, black pepper and floral notes. On the palate, this reminds me of Saxums from 5 years earlier. It is light and spry on the palate, despite have a huge nose and lots of fruit. Nimble. Complex and layered with a lovely texture. Long finish. Went great with some Indian food.
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Decanted for two hours before service. In the glass, deep red, with hints of pink at the rim. On the nose, crushed raspberries, grenache liqueur, and floral notes. On the palate, saturated dark fruit, with secondary grenache notes and a slight toffee note lurking far in the background, with a moderately long and somewhat alcoholic finish.
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Typical Saxum nose, bright red fruit with loads of spices, although Grenache is noticeable as would be expected, the Syrah really shows through given the percentage. Really good balance, but really lacking in complexity which is surprising giving the wine. Good stuff but this bottle is shockingly over-priced.
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A lovely and intense nose full of perfectly pure and clean Grenache fruit. This vintage also exhibits a lot of white flowers and a ripeness which is just lovely. A very big and nice effort. The palate is rather muted and not very expressive. I would recommend holding off popping for a couple of years or be sure to decant properly. All Saxum wines are true gems and the 2010 is no exception. Compared to the 2007, 2008 and 2009 the 2010 is a bit less complex and does not provide the same balance - Maybe this will change with time though. Overall impression is that of a super effort. A truly magical wine! (Tasted in a flight with 2007 - 2010 Saxum James Berry)
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Boom! Nose of beef, berries, herbs. The palate is young but oh so delicious. Full of juicy meats and all kinds of berries and vanillin. This needs a lot of time but it is a big brawny delicious drink now. Long in the finish and outstanding in its power.
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(Ashford & Simpson "Solid as a Rock" song playing in background..... Chevy commercial song if you don't know...for others....) Damn fine juice. Young but layered fruit that is baby-powder smooth. Lush finish. What a ride so early on. I'd guess the well runs deep and I look forward to her few years of sleep before our next visit.
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Lots of wines at Tommy's Clambake (Tommy's): Love this wine. After so much wine, a little bit was plenty. Tons of fruit. Still light on its feet. Black raspberries. Smooth. Very young.
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A big, tasty wine that I think will improve substantially with some bottle age, but at this time more backward than previous Saxum wines I've had. Hold or give it a serious decant if drinking now. 92++
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Yes, very young but I wanted to try one! The alcohol definitely shows on the finish. Serving this at 60 instead of room temp might make quite a bit of difference. Other than that this is beautiful, and a very good bottle of wine. Layers of aromas and flavors, smooth.
Leave it alone for a few more years. The decant helped, but this will come together a bit more in the bottle.
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Very good wine of this style, but "this style" comes with some downsides--obvious heat, strong uber-ripe flavors, with the fruit really being the main (only) attraction here. Good if you're in the mood for that....but I'm generally not and this holds little appeal with food--better perhaps as a wine of contemplation (think Amarone).
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chocolate covered cherries and dark berries. thick, but didn't saturate in quite the way one might expect from a wine of this density. short finish. uninspiring really.
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Upon opening, I thought for sure this huge, concentrated blackberry filled wine would be in my top wines last night. Just delicious. 94-95 pts. Unfortunately, with time and maybe warming a touch, unrelenting heat overwhelmed the wine. Became undrinkable for me. Others didn't feel the etoh was as oppressive. 85 pts.
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Another huge night on a night of huge wines. Like many of the others, Saxum finds the right amount of harmony which makes you forget the bigness of the wine and extraction (though the next morning certainly reminds you of it). I wish they would find a way to get just a bit more complexity into these wines, James Berry is always good, in fact very good, but just seems to be missing a certain something to bring it up to truly great. Perhaps tone it down a bit, and perhaps let a few non fruit elements shine?
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Really silky texture, great dark fruit, blackberry, licorice and smoke. Some heat at the end, but very young. This should get better in a few years and will be epic.
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Perhaps I had too high of expectations. My first Saxum. Dark berries with a touch of cherry at finish. What a great velvety texture. Obviously very young and I will hold my other bottles for a few years before opening.
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Some great wines over Thanksgiving (Kapcsandy, Saxum, Pott, Huet, Autard); 11/21/2012-11/25/2012: This is obviously VERY young and should get better. Right now it is delicious with air. This was decanted for around an hour then consumed over the next hour. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, raspberries, leather, blueberries, charred wood, and black pepper. What a lush texture. There is definitely some heat and alcohol that can be tasted. The restaurant had a dish called "Jean L. Chave & Mushroom Risotto" which not only paired great with this, but took away the heat. I will say this seemed a bit less spry than a typical Saxum but I attribute that to youth and its recent bottling. We left a glass in the decanter for the waiter, but it was improving all night long. I look forward to revisiting these in a couple of years.
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I know, the card said let it rest a couple of months. That's post Apocalypse, what if the Mayan's are right. Besides, more wine coming, their's not enough room. So I popped one Nose, that familiar Saxum smell, rich, fruity, but not overt. Flavors, yumm, first some little baby sips, fore play. Little pepper, touch of leather, some heat on the close, my mouth is watering. Another swirl, nose is reaching fog levels, big and fruity, mouth is really starting to water. Some more baby sips, more flavors are leaving showing up, bit of chuckieness. Time for a big sip, Rich and packed with flavors wrapped in a very short velvet skirt. The finish is a warm memory, repeat, repeat. Back of the mouth gets just a hint of red cherry, love that.
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12/23/2023 - VlgJeff wrote: 93 Points
Decanted (off a fair amount of sediment) for an hour and a half and the wine continued to open into dinner. Dark purple in color with black fruits, red fruits and earth on the nose. The medium plus bodied palate showed blackberry, black currant, black cherry, cranberry, and raspberry plus spice, earth, and a touch of minerality. The juicy acidity was nicely balancing and the tannins were integrated.
A very satisfying bottle of wine that is ready to deliver considerable pleasure right now (with air), and probably for several years to come.
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12/7/2023 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth, balanced, medium fruit/subtle chocolate presentation. Plush. Moderate long finish. Decanted and tasted over 4 hours Would decant an hour upfront next time around
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10/18/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Similar to prior notes after a 2 hour double decant, best bottle yet (of 10); outstanding & ready to drink, no rush
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10/14/2023 - AlexPS Likes this wine: 94 Points
My first Saxum James Berry. Reading others' notes, decanted, aired for 4 hrs. before dinner. Some sediment. Garnet. Nose: Beautiful 9/10. Black and blueberries. Palate: 9/10. Full body. Tasted so young after opening. But very balanced after 4 hrs. Excellent mouthfeel. Great viscosity. My brain thinks sweet, but not in the mouth. Fruits, tannins, acidity are well coordinated. Finish: Long 9/10. Brilliant. Long and beautiful. Ended with notes of soft milk coffee. Never had this before. Price: 8/10 ($125 after taxes in 2023). Enjoyment: 9/10. Drink now. Would buy again: Yes. Big, savory wine, all in the good way. Definitely with food.
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9/10/2023 - Backdoctor wrote: 94 Points
Drinking perfectly.
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9/5/2023 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened 2.5 hours prior to dinner. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Still a beautiful wine. The last of that case.
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8/5/2023 - hoservin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of ripe black raspberry, black cherry, grilled meat, spice and underbrush. Black and red fruit, grilled meat, bramble and spice on the palate. Very long, layered finish. Full bodied. Served with hickory smoked beef ribs.
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5/30/2023 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Soft red color with translucence at the edges. Bright nose of plums, cherries and lavender. Soft bit not blowsy on the palate, cherries, blueberries, licorice, spice. Precise tannins beautifully resolved. Lovely acidity, great balance. Finishes long, long and precise. Spice and red fruits. Lovely and may continue to improve for another 3 to 4 years. Drink for 6 to 7 years beyond that. Great wine.
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4/4/2023 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
This was a magnum and was superb
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3/27/2023 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Same as previous notes. Consumed over 2 days. Smoother and more ebullient on the second day.
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3/19/2023 - Sour Grapes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Agree with previous notes. Popped and poured - well balanced at this stage.
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3/12/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. Time has mellowed this wine. To the point of not being over the top, but still quite fruit forward. But, excellent fruit and a nice finish.
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1/25/2023 - ogres3 wrote: 93 Points
Big & bold, youthful, probably doesn't need to have my chair, crowd pleaser. Drank in little Cayman.
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1/4/2023 - rogerr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well. Good integration and balance. Many years of hopefully interesting development ahead.
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12/30/2022 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful wine.
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12/30/2022 - galewskj wrote:
A 4-top at Broders: Pop and pour. Waiting for the owner to tell me how it was the next day.
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12/26/2022 - Lord Rodney wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful - real class - great balance in the dense wine. Still on its way up
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12/4/2022 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding wine, drinking well.
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11/24/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding & ready to drink, no rush
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10/19/2022 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank with Phil in San Diego.
Celebrating successful start to start-up
Full-bodied, great fruit, pretty smooth.
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7/17/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not as good as the bottle I had in the beginning of March mainly because that was a 6 hour slow ox and this was only 1.5 hours. Time does make a difference. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Still a beautiful wine.
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6/27/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Continues to drink beautifully! Delicious black berry and floral notes on the nose and rich palate with spice and refreshing acidity on the long finish.
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6/26/2022 - VlgJeff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stood the bottle up the day before opening. Decanted for 2.5 hours to the start of dinner - with lots of sediment - and the wine continued to improve during dinner. The color was a deep dark inky purple. There were red fruits, black fruits, and earth on the nose. The medium plus bodied palate showed black cherry, cranberry, raspberry, blueberry, lots of baking spice, earth, and touches of pepper and minerality. The juicy acidity was nicely balancing and the tannins were integrated.
A wholly satisfying bottle of wine that is certainly ready to deliver considerable pleasure right now (with enough air), and probably for several years to come.
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6/26/2022 - cavedivr Likes this wine: 95 Points
No real notes, but delish. Drinks much younger than it is. Plenty of time left.
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5/27/2022 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent -- a lot of like left! A bit of an older school style compared with many Saxums -- some pepper. Great dark fruit / blackberries.
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5/4/2022 - rmarcos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big and Beautiful. So much body. Deep color and smooth. Easily could go another 10 years
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4/30/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant; Outstanding & ready to drink, no rush
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4/14/2022 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Really singing. Beautiful red and dark fruit, full(-) bodied, tannins resolving but present, smooth mouthfeel, balanced, multifaceted with a long finish. Very enjoyable.
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3/15/2022 - kanowsky Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted for two hours, drank over two nights. A massive wine that is well balanced. Was delightful with a BBQ ribeye. Bouquet of dark ripe berries and baking spices, with some pepper. Pepper noticeable on the taste, along being very earthy and dark fruit. Second night still outstanding. Mr. Justin Smith, Bravo!
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3/13/2022 - hoservin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 30 minutes. Nose of ripe black raspberry, gamey meat, black licorice, bramble, spice and forest floor. Blackberry, gamey meat, black licorice, spice and forest floor on the palate. Very long layered finish with excellent depth. Full bodied. Served with apple smoked baby back ribs.
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3/6/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
It has been over a year since I last tried a bottle. Opened and slow ox'd for 6 hours. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Just a beautiful wine. 94+
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2/5/2022 - Immigrator Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dark garnet color--nearly opaque, with aromas of blackberries, cherry, and leather. On the palate, I note blackberries, red fruit, and hints of herbs, olive juice, and mineral/limestone. Nicely full bodied with medium-firm tannins, medium acidity and a finish that lasts and lasts; really well integrated. Based on the relative strength of the tannins, I think this will continue to offer rewards for another 7-10 years--but it's drinking beautifully right now. We enjoyed it with a Flannery California Reserve New York Strip (Berserker Day!), reverse seared and medium rare. Yum!
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1/15/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Double decanted for an hour, deep ruby, similar to a good CDP, but no garrigue, med. tannins, long finish; delicious, ready to drink
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1/15/2022 - leadpencil wrote: 95 Points
Full bodied. Blackberry, raspberry. Touch of chalk and clove.
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12/21/2021 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 93 Points
Garnet, almost opaque, dark for a mostly grenache wine. Reserved dark fruit aromas but one-dimensional. Full-bodied flavors, but also straightforward, without any elegance or complexity; soft tannin in the background. Long aftertaste. Ready now, but disappointing. I rated the previous bottle 98, so maybe some variation. No change the second evening.
Ric
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11/5/2021 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent. Just like the bottle of 1 year ago but better.
2 hour Slow ox for first night. Pnp the second night.
Blackberry, raspberry, herbs, light tannin, rich texture.
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10/24/2021 - Maphill01 wrote:
Splash decanted. Wild blackberry, raspberry, pepper and licorice. Full throttle, but so well made.
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10/10/2021 - t_moderne wrote: 93 Points
Opened, decanted and served about 1 hour later.
Enjoyed with food (roast pook and roasted potatoes with spinach, in case you were wondering).
Dark purple color
Floral nose with blackberries and some wisp of wood smoke.
Rich and full bodied with a big mouthfeel. Wonderful dark fruits. 15.8% abv but shows no heat.
Enjoyable.
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10/10/2021 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 95 Points
Not the best James Berry, but still very good. Wonderful mouthfeel, long finish, and some true (funky, meaty, savory) syrah notes, even though syrah is a smaller component of the mix. But, just a lovely wine.
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8/22/2021 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 93 Points
oozy boozy black/blue fruit w/ smoky wood & some feral qualities
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7/17/2021 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Dark red in color. 15.8% ABV. 52% Grenache, 26% Mourvedre and 22% Syrah. Pretty nose of red fruits, roasted herbs and flowers. Medium body with perfect acidity. Notable balance. Concentration and power in spades. Black cherry, raspberry liqueur, iron and menthol on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and seamless. I've always been a fan of the '10 lineup from Saxum and this wine is no exception. Aging beautifully but likely best over the next several years.
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7/17/2021 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Big, fruit forward with expressive blackberry fruit. Notes of milk chocolate, mocha and cassis. Drinks like a Napa Cab and gets even more intense after a two hour decant…it keeps evolving in the glass with its silky tannins that will give this wine more time in the bottle.
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5/23/2021 - kanowsky wrote: 96 Points
Drank over two nights. Decanted an hour, still it was more evolved the second night. Dark fruit, dark chocolate, tobacco, smoke. Wow, what a winner!
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5/9/2021 - Kayentacellars wrote: 95 Points
Bright deep ruby red color, dark cherry and spice aromas, no alcohol burn here. Medium to full body, moderate acidity, with smooth tannins, licorice flavors on the extremely long and luscious finish. Beautiful balance.
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4/24/2021 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
In terms of appearance and aromatics, no meaningful change, but there is some difference on the palate - more seamless integration of fruit with secondary notes, smoother (albeit assertive) tannins, and a silkier texture from midpalate through to the long finish. Best performance of this bottling to date.
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4/17/2021 - travelme Likes this wine: 96 Points
A step below my previous bottle but this was delicious. Opened at Hitching Post II and it went so well with the Filet. Still have another five to begin get to drinking over the next few years.
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3/12/2021 - sonodoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine has improved with age! Beautifully smooth, with plenty of dark fruits, a little floral and a little chocolate. Too bad it's my last one...
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2/20/2021 - jsmorris707 wrote: flawed
Corked, bummer!
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10/27/2020 - shemmy wrote: 90 Points
Last one, and I have to say, still not ready. If I had any more of the 2010 I'd stash them for several more years. But can't say I'm seeking out any more.
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10/19/2020 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 94 Points
Best after 2-3 hour decant, even better next day. Blackberry, raspberry, herbs, light tannin, rich texture.
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9/18/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
I still honestly believe that this wine is getting better with age. Opened and slow ox'd for 6 hours. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Just a beautiful wine. 94+
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8/23/2020 - Immigrator Likes this wine: 95 Points
6 hour slow ox. Dark garnet color, long legs. Aromas and flavors of black fruit, cherry, leather, and garrigue. A tiny bit of heat in the first pour disappeared soon after more oxygen hit the bottle. Full bodied and well integrated with firm tannin, medium acidity and a super long finish. The tightness observed the last time I opened a bottle (in 12/2018) is no longer present. Just a lovely wine that has improved with cellar time. Will likely continue to be great for at least 5, and possibly 10 more years.
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7/26/2020 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 92 Points
15.8% abv. Medium dark ruby, excellent aromatics. Cherry, black cherry, sage and a floral component. Very enjoyable, although the alcohol is beginning to intrude a bit. Drink up!
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7/18/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Three months since I last tried a bottle and I still honestly believe that this wine is getting better with age. Opened and slow ox'd for 6 hours. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Just a beautiful wine.
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7/2/2020 - cookie7 wrote:
Decanted for an hour. This has aged very well. Great balance and no heat. One of the more restrained Saxums I have had. Probably in its prime drinking window.
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6/27/2020 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 98 Points
Tasted with 1995 Seavey and 1997 Ch. Mousar. This was our clear favorite. Garnet, almost opaque, dark for a mostly grenache wine. Very aromatic, sweet red and black fruits. Full-bodied flavors with plenty of fruit, soft tannin in the background. Long aftertaste. Ready now, but will easily last many years. Outstanding!
Ric
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6/5/2020 - bablues wrote: 97 Points
Plush, smooth like velvet. Unfortunately, didn't take more notes, though absolutely delicious.
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5/3/2020 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Didn't know I had 1 more. Powerful wine, potent, but well made and blended. Needs time in glass and even leaving some in bottle for another day is recommended. Incredibly well made cork and I really liked the raised label; looks like some sort of branches, perhaps grape vines, to me. Could have aged this more and most certainly can age at least 5 more years. Recommended.
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4/21/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is getting better with age. Opened and slow ox'd for 6 hours. Dark fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums, tobacco, cedar and a touch of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on. Just a beautiful wine.
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4/17/2020 - Mr T wrote:
Corked? Something not right
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4/11/2020 - hoservin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of ripe black raspberry, cherry, anise and dried herbs. Black and red fruit, licorice, herbs and chewy tannins on the palate. Long, layered finish. Full bodied. Served with grilled rack of lamb and garlic herb butter.
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4/9/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Another great bottle after a 1 hour double decant. Although darker & a slightly different nose, it tasted very similar to the 12 Maracssin Marcassin pinot that I had recently.; always amazes me how blind, US grenache & pinot can be so similar. Having no luck trying to age this further....
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3/22/2020 - Sanlucar Likes this wine: 94 Points
A big, bombastic wine with tons of dark brooding fruit. It mixes a very fruit-forward style with finesse & elegance, but after 3 hours of decanting it was still tightly closed, so we trudged through and drank it up. All of the typical superlatives apply, but it was not at it's best.
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2/21/2020 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Smooth, drinking very well, still ample tannins
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2/7/2020 - kanab ram Likes this wine:
Did not disappoint. Everything you would have expected from this wine.
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12/31/2019 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Probably time to refresh this note. Pop and pour into a decanter (throwing some fine sediment right at the bottom of the bottle, so watch your decant). In the glass, clear rose-red at the rim, fading rapidly to near-black at the core. On the nose, raspberries, raspberries, and more raspberries. On the palate, grenache liqueur, with secondary saline and floral notes, and persistent tannins on a moderately long finish.
I find it really difficult to judge most Saxum wines for aging potential - usually, they are extremely fruit-forward, but the tannins are there, hiding behind the well-disguised alcohol. I've yet to drink one at any age that seemed like it had budged at all from its precocious youth. This one seems a bit different in that the tannins aren't hiding, but at the same time, it also doesn't feel like it's evolved in any substantial way over the past decade. I'm leaving this as a reminder to myself to let the last bottle sit for a very long time, as a test....
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11/24/2019 - jeagle Likes this wine:
Slowly ox'ed for three hours then consumed over the next three. Lovely bottle still displaying energy and style.
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10/12/2019 - pakabear wrote:
Consistent to previous notes.
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10/6/2019 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Delicious black berry and floral notes on the nose and rich palate with spice and refreshing acidity on the long finish. Hides the high ETOH fairly well.
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9/1/2019 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just brilliant. the nose was dark berries and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, red plums, tobacco, chocolate and a touch of cedar. THe finish just goes on forever.
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8/16/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stellar wine in prime drinking window
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7/13/2019 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
Saxum Tasting (Zurich): Comprehensive vertical tasting of several Saxum vineyards and a total of 24 wines. Most wines on a good to very good level in the 93 to 95 points range, just one on an exceptional (97+ points) level (James Berry Bone Rock 08). The consistency of the wine-making at Saxum is impressive but the tasting proofed to be rather a bit boring with less difference between the vineyards and vintages showing than expected and wished for. Heart Stone stood out a bit (bigger vats used, little new oak) thanks to more terroir expression. James Berry (mostly Grenache) and James Berry Bone Rock (elevated complexity and sexiness) were great. Best vintage (we tried wines from 2003 to 2011) is clearly the 2007 which produced the wines with the most depth.
TN: I'm a big fan of Central Californian Grenache based wines as the combination of the warm climate with the elegance and light-footedness of grape seem a match made in heaven. Hence it is no wonder that the highest scores in this mini-vertical (6 vintages) went to the wines with the highest share of Grenache in the blend (perfect correlation!). The 2010 consists of 52% Grenache (rest Syrah, Mourvedre). ). I like the nutty component here with roasted almonds and hints of burnt sugar on the nose and palate. Herbal component and rather dense dark fruit are other components. Dark, dense but well-embedded in a fresh structure with fine tannins and a good acidity. Medium complexity, good to very good focus and length. Not decanted. The nose was a bit muted, hence I would go for an extensive 3-5 hour decant. And it will certainly benefit from 5 more years in the cellar. Very promising showing.
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6/26/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to prior notes, but still continues to improve (& still not at peak!); outstanding, drink or hold. I will try to hold my remaining bottles for a few more years (or just find more)
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6/22/2019 - sirpat00 wrote: 92 Points
Grand Saxum Tasting (Gustav in Zurich): Grand Saxum tasting over several vineyeards and vintages. 23 wines in total. What was remarkable is the consistancy in aromatics across vintages and partly also across vineyards. Big and powerful wines but not without elegance. As a vintage 2007 stood out as exceptional across all vineyards. Booker stood out as the most consistent on a high level while James Berry vineyards had the highest range, but was oustanding in some vintages. The top wines for me were 2008 Bone Rock and Booker 2007.
Tasting note:
Ripe fruit, more red type. Some herbal notes and dark choclate but overall less intense than 2011 or 2009 with a palate that is a bit more dry.
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5/7/2019 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened a few hours before dinner. A beautiful nose of dark berries and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, charred meat, tobacco, some cedar and chocolate. The finish goes on forever. Just a great bottle of wine.
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4/22/2019 - Reno-Rhone Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic. Popped and poured with rack of lamb. Thankfully we still have 2 more bottles!
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4/14/2019 - WineBri wrote: 95 Points
Superb. Raspberry and black berry, wonderfully balanced.
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3/9/2019 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Opened up after 1 day of breathing, beautiful, elegant blackberry/blackraspberry fruit, excellent structure, long finish
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2/19/2019 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Explosion de fruit et d'épices avec du chocolat
et une belle acidité, long et voluptueux,
bien fait dans ce style.
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2/8/2019 - bambam Likes this wine: 91 Points
Reticent on the nose with the acidity coming forward. Not my favorite vintage of JB. Maybe it’s just a phase?
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1/30/2019 - rgcanada Likes this wine: 95 Points
After about a 45-minute decant, this bottle was in tremendous drinking shape. Dark fruits and chocolate on the nose. Smooth tannins and a long finish from the first sip, but this continued to develop and just get better over the 90 minutes that I enjoyed this. Like all the JBV’s that I’ve had, there is no doubt this has a long life ahead and will continue to develop, but you’ll be happy to enjoy what you have all along the way. The only unhappiness any Saxum has ever brought me is when I realize I’m out.
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1/21/2019 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very reticent on the nose. Deep red fruits, cherry, raspberry. Firm tannins, great acidity and balance. Double decanted for 3+ hours. Not as expressive as my last bottle, but still great with a lot of runway in front of it.
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1/18/2019 - hanasowner wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured...very dark with a muted nose...took an hour to open and even then the finish was a bit harsh...scored an 86 with potential...left the bottle sitting on the counter for two days...drinking beautifully tonight with no hard edges...dark cherry, pepper/spice...some tannins on the finish, though paired perfectly with a spicy pasta dish.
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12/14/2018 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 96 Points
Yeah, it's big fruit, but it's not just that alone. Rich black cherry and pepper nose. Gorgeous fruit, intense, but not overbearing. Cherries from the grenache, some blueberry, cracked black pepper, a bit of tarragon. The tannins are still big -- decant this wine for a few hours or just wait for it to age a few more years. However, they don't get in the way of enjoying this wine now. Vibrant acidity, great structure. A long, long finish of dark fruits that fades gracefully at the end. Powerful, yet still elegant. No where near peak yet. 52% Grenache (done in concrete), 26% Morvedre, 22% Syrah.
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12/14/2018 - Immigrator Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP of a bottle I brought to BLT Steak. Nice enough, but still tight after an hour decant. Needs time in bottle, and at least several hours if opening a bottle now (12/2018).
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12/1/2018 - rpenn77 wrote:
This wine was the Wine Spectator Wine of the Year in 2010
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11/30/2018 - rpenn77 wrote:
This wine was the Wine Spectator Wine of the Year in 2010
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11/29/2018 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 96 Points
15.8% abv. Dark ruby, expressive aromatics. Sleek, powerful and complex. Still fresh and ultra potent, years of life ahead.
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11/12/2018 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened 7 hours before dinner. Re-corked and took to Fascino's in Montclair, NJ for my daughters birthday dinner. Dark fruit with hints of chocolate on the nose. The palate is dark berries, plums, charred meat, tobacco and chocolate. The finish goes on forever.
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10/20/2018 - travelme wrote: 97 Points
RustyRudy nailed the notes and score. Had in a vertical with the 08, 11, and 14 at a wine event last night. This was exceptional and I think needs more time to reach its peak. Most thought the 08 was the winner but I thought the 10 was better and a couple of folks agreed. Both were exceptional but the 10 was slightly different than the 08, 11, 14 in overall style. Wonderful treat and glad I have a bunch to work through over the next few years.
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10/5/2018 - rustyRudy wrote: 97 Points
Dark red in color. One of the many things I like about Saxum is the huge nose of warm blueberry cobbler, black raspberry and a hint of cedar. The wine is complex and fruit laden, but not over extracted. It has enough acidity to balance the fruit , but it is not overly tart. There are still mildly drying tannins on the finish even after two hours of being open to indicate the wine is evolving but not yet likely at its peak. I will save my remaining one bottle for a few years from now. Good job Justin!
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9/28/2018 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine: 93 Points
Charleston Offlineorama IV; 9/27/2018-10/1/2018 (Charleston, NC (various locations)): 3rd/11 wines tasted. The nose on this jumps out of the glass - sun warmed berries galore! The palate is full of blueberry and ripe blackberry, but it has quite a bit of acidity so the sweet fruit has a nice contrast. There is also a spiciness and earthiness that comes through on the finish adding complexity. Nice structure for a more fruit forward wine.
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9/28/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Charleston IV - Return of the Collectible; 9/27/2018-9/30/2018 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): This was quite nice. A good balance between the more earthy and spice notes and the fruit. Surprised me since I had expected it to be a bit more intense on the fruit side (I guess the difference between 2007 and 2010 in terms of weather). Definitely lots of blueberry going on here, but then also lots of woodsy notes. It's got some acidity and backbone to it. A bit more forward of a style, but with some nice touches that holds it from feeling overdone.
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9/23/2018 - nkirsch Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened for about 2 hours before drinking. Lots of fruit, smooth tannins, nice finish. Really enjoyable and not too big
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8/23/2018 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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8/2/2018 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking well right now as a PnP. Dark black and blue fruit, loads of licorice and vanilla, almost root beer like, lush velvety texture, great balance. Drink up.
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7/30/2018 - AlejandroAcostaPolo wrote: 93 Points
Decant, took 3 hours to open!!
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6/17/2018 - ELH wrote: 97 Points
In a marvelous drinking phase. A two hour decant. Integrated, fruity, intense.
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6/16/2018 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened for three hours then poured through a soiree. Fruit on the nose with hints of chocolate. The palate was blackberry, cherry, plum, a little spice and hints of chocolate. The finish was a typical Saxum finish - they just go on and on. A beautiful bottle of wine and the best thing is I have most of my case to left to enjoy.
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4/14/2018 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
very smooth and well integrated
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4/12/2018 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
A pending business trip to Napa and some family obligations ended my self imposed sobriety at 86 days (in case anyone is interested it also equates to an 18 pound weight loss) Anyway about the wine - I slow ox'd for 7 hours and then poured through a soiree . The nose was fruit and mocha, the palate was blackberry, cherry, a touch of bacon and hints of chocolate. The finish went on and on and on - just a great bottle of wine.
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4/6/2018 - canan wrote: 97 Points
Saxum Vertical Tasting (Mathias@Michael): Lovely intense and fresh dark fruit with an impressive flavor depth.
Slightly sweet but not in a destructive way. Has some aged flavors of blood, iron and aged meat.
A very impressive wine that I just adored! 96-97p
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3/25/2018 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 94 Points
Rich blackberry and black cherry fruit. This has lost some of its exuberant fruit, and more of its underlying smokiness has been revealed. A nice positive evolution, wish I had another bottle to try in a year or two.
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3/24/2018 - hoservin wrote: 94 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, plum, smoked meat, mocha, spice and vanilla. Palate mirrors the nose with ripe tannins. Leads to a long finish. Full bodied. Served with smoked ribs.
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1/15/2018 - coventryvino Likes this wine: 96 Points
This wine had one of the biggest noses I've ever experienced - it was glorious. Dark, dark berries as if they exploded in the glass. The taste was consistent - with everything in a lovely balance that made each sniff and taste truly delightful.
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11/29/2017 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Previous tasting notes applies. Slightly more structured but with lesser fruit richness and depth of flavors than the 2013 Torrin Akasha.
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11/24/2017 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Similar to prior notes except decanted for 90 min, a year has improved it; delicious, drink with a good decant or hold
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11/11/2017 - sonodoc wrote: 92 Points
Lots of dark fruit, but also a significant floral (violets?) presence. On a personal level, the more heavily Grenache based blends are not my favorites of the Saxum wines, but this is still a very well made wine.
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10/17/2017 - ELH wrote: 95 Points
Deft blend of Grenache 52%, Mourvedre 26% and Syrah 22%. 15.8% alcohol. Fruity with gravitas. Big, sturdy, robust food wine. Well integrated.
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10/1/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amazing wine. Big fruit and long, long finish but still very smooth and polished. Incredible
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9/17/2017 - Stevere Likes this wine: 97 Points
Opens with a huge nose of dark berries that almost overwhelms the palate. Thick blackberry fruit overcomes some youthful heat to make this wine a hedonistic adventure in wine drinking pleasure. While it is drinkable now, I will try the next bottle in about 5 years.
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9/7/2017 - Mike V wrote: 94 Points
1st bottle corked so I went down and got a second bottle and wow what a difference. Bursting with dark berries. Nice place now
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7/2/2017 - jeagle wrote:
PnP then consumed over 6 hours. This turned out to be an annoying rather than a revelatory experience. The early sips were hot. After an hour the wine began to come together and at about the two or three hour mark it showed great promise. Unfortunately, it reverted to a tannic imbalance through consumption. Maybe I should have stayed with a 12 hour decant.
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7/1/2017 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Very restrained fruit, slightly raisony flavors, excellent structure, lacking intensity and fullness typical of Saxum wines, short finish, surprisingly disappointing
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6/30/2017 - Tonester wrote: 90 Points
Nose of candied apples and crushed raspberries. The Grenache flavors are flat and muted wit a bit of tartness. Finishes with fine drying tannins but not much else. Somewhat disappointing for a JBV. Maybe an off bottle?
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6/18/2017 - hoservin wrote: flawed
Corked.
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5/28/2017 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 94 Points
Ripe luscious blackberry, plum fruit. This is big and plush and velvety. It has a flavor profile similar to some of the better Aussie Shiraz blends, but lacking the over-extracted Port-like aspects.
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4/30/2017 - nfafoglia Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose of scorched earth, bittersweet black fruit, lanolin, and dried herbs. Silky in the mouth with bittersweet blackberry jam and minerality. Long finish. A wine of great balance.
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2/11/2017 - WineWright Likes this wine: 95 Points
WOTN, so I hear.
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12/28/2016 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Okay, so I have been enjoying the JBV bottling for years (since 2004?), but I have to say I think this has been my least favorite one so far. It's kind of like sucking on a bitter, burnt piece of wood that has been soaked in Knott's Boysenberry Drink Extract. It's the same reason why I seem to have never found an Hermitage that I enjoy, they are just too extreme and angular. Yes, perhaps with another 15 years this will calm down and become some amazing swan of a wine, but I kind of count on my Saxums to be ready to go with 5-7 years of bottle age. I am sure this will last another 20 years, so enjoy it then if you think you'll be alive at the time.
This bottle has been Coravin'd 4 times in 12 months, this being the final time. The results have been consistent.
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12/17/2016 - uncle al Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank at PBWG Holiday Dinner. Decanted 4 hours. Very smooth with great fruit. Complex but silky. Very good finish
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12/17/2016 - bablues wrote: 98 Points
6th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid (Naperville, IL): Part of Christmas Dinner and Cellar Raid, didn't take detailed notes. This was most likely the WOTN for me. Beautiful nose and a velvet taste and long finish.
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12/11/2016 - jhieb Likes this wine: 94 Points
A little hot, but otherwise a fantastic wine.
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12/10/2016 - galewskj wrote:
Monthly goup Holiday Tasting 2016 (I Nonni): Likely decanted but I didn't hear the treatment. This wine is BIG. I believe it needs more acid or time in bottle. It drank more like a port. Massive fruit that needs some structure to go with it.
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12/3/2016 - mliszt Likes this wine: 98 Points
SPECTACULAR RIGHT NOW
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11/26/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Double decanted the SO'd for a few hrs, deep ruby, black raspberry & blueberry with a touch of spice & pepper, mod. tannins, long finish; delicious, drink or hold (no rush), great juice!
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11/25/2016 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Solid cork pull, cork stained light magenta. A beautifully balanced wine with a significant palate that is coating and somewhat dense without laying on the tongue like a shag carpet. Kept emerging throughout the night and seemed as if the different blended components kept stepping up to join the party. Wonderful drinking experienceI think Saxum is making the best blended wines in America. Can age more and see CT predicts up to 2034. i think it can go another 5-10 easy. Recommended.
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11/25/2016 - Floyd77 wrote: 87 Points
A huge wine --- a hot climate GSM. The alcohol seems even higher than the 15.8 % claimed on the bottle. Too cloying for my taste. Too concentrated. Too extracted. Too hot too. Maybe next time I'll try adding water. Or, if I want a GSM from California, I'll just get some Tablas Creek or Beckman instead.
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11/25/2016 - 1964vintage wrote: 95 Points
Seriously good wine. Earthy and funky upon opening that leads you to think its old world. After 20-30 minutes in the glass it transforms into an unbelievable balance of red fruits, palate, structure, and finish.
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10/8/2016 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Very good pure black and red fruits, slight dried herbs note, silky and concentrated but not heavy, ample but integrated oak and a more deft hand as compared to the Carlisle (same v.y. same year). Still very hot though although wore it better than the Carlisle as well.
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9/25/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
Magnum night in the CLE (The Penthouse at IMG Headquarters in Downtown Cleveland): I have had this wine a bunch and it has been anywhere from outstanding to perfect. Tonight was closer to the later. From Magnum, this is still showing a bit young. This has more Grenache than Syrah in it so maybe that is why it stood out in this flight. Just delicious. The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baking spice, and slight pepper. Gorgeous. On the palate, a wonderful texture. Juicy, light on its feet yet powerful. Balanced. worked great with the food. Long finish. Got better all night long. No idea if this got opened ahead of time, but this needs more time to peak.
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9/10/2016 - patwjr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pnp. Nice nose but tasting it lacked depth/fruit, finished thin, acidic, tannic. After 1 hour it filled out better, more fruit, added density & was less acidic/tannic. Very nice wine, but compared to the 2012 we also opened, this 2010 was not as great.
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8/12/2016 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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8/6/2016 - gr8r84u wrote:
Tasting from Coravin deciding what to open for dinner: expressive nose right out of the gate but very tight. This needs a little more time to open up than I have to work with. Don't want to waste it so will open when I have a few hours to decant.
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7/12/2016 - BVal wrote: 91 Points
Color: medium-deep ruby core -> medium ruby/fuchsia rim. Positively jammy bouquet of raspberries, boysenberries, loganberries (well, you get the idea) married to oak, road tar and iodine with a touch of smoke. Opened and went through half the bottle then vacu-vinned for this note on the second night. Honestly, I felt this was just too compact and jammy and hot on the first night. After waiting a night, while still showing an overabundance of berry fruit, some complexity finally started showing up by the final glass. Jammy, berry palate still, but some game meat notes creeping in along with iodine, iron and spice. Alcohol still noticeable on night #2 but taken down a notch from the first night (a good omen I think). Fine tannins still notable with good acidity and a reasonably long finish. This still needs a few years to knit itself together, smooth out and gain more complexity IMO. I think the elements are there so the evolution here should be positive. 91 for now which may seem low, but I think there could be considerable upside.
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7/11/2016 - corkcork wrote: 95 Points
much improved since my last dance with this wine
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6/20/2016 - jimineff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose of forest and briar fruit. Quality of fruit on the tongue was very good. Stewed cherries, bramble fruit. Long finish but still fairly high acid content. We'll drink another in 3 years or so.
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4/25/2016 - Rosengoo wrote: 95 Points
This was drank at home using the Corvin system. The wine was slightly cloudy at first and mid deep purple in colour with a slight brown tinge to it. It had quite a noticeable nose of bacon and smoke alongside with some dark berries to it. In tasting, I got flavours of dark cherries and vanilla as well as some pepper. It was also quite a sweet wine and had some hotness to it. Finally, the acidity was light and the tannins were at a nice mid level. This bottle was in a very good place tonight.
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4/10/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drinking extremely well now, extracted fruit, loads of bacon and ham, cooking spices, great length and smooth texture, just silky smooth. Drink now and over the next 5 years.
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4/2/2016 - patwjr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 30 min, then drank over next 2 hours. Delicious, but not wow right now. Seems it needs more time.
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3/5/2016 - NTR wrote: 94 Points
Peppery nose.dark blackberry. Strong graphite. Well integrated tannins, full mouthfeel. The Grenache is forefront and very appealing. Can tell Syrah at the back with the backbone but not the big flavor. Still youthful. Follow you can feel the tannic nature. Will be good to try again in about 2 years.
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2/7/2016 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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1/10/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
A saxum tasting at Cooking School (ICASI): This may end up being the best of the four but today, it is very tight and powerful. Usually, I say five years from vintage is a good time to start drinking but this still seems very tight and brooding. Dark purple in color with some ruby at the rim. The nose shows dark cherries, black raspberries, a fair amount of vanilla and spice. On the palate, this is still pretty monolithic. A wall of fruit. Firm tannins. It is delicious, and I know people who love a wine like this. For me, next to the other vintages, this showed more in potential. With some vigorous swirling it start to show a bit more, but then it is time to move on. It was also paired with a Waldorf salad which did it no favors.
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1/1/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 100 Points
New Years Eve (Donnhoff, Realm and Saxum) (Our home): This baby is singing. My wife without knowing what it was said, this was really good. Allowed to breath for an hour but not decanted. Inky purple in color. This kept getting better but we did save some for day 2. The nose is great with black raspberries, grilled meats, slight decayed meat, white pepper, and a slight flora note. On the palate, this is a big wine but it has that Saxum quality I haven't seen as much lately, that is to say, light on its feet but packing a punch. Ali in his prime if you will. Smooth, no rough edges, no heat. Each sip begets another one. Complex if a bit tight, it unwinds beautifully in the glass. We had to go to a NYE party, and I hated to leave some in the bottle, but I am looking forward to seeing what happened over night. As it turned out we drank cocktails at the party, so this was my last wine of the year. A great end to a great wine year!
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11/14/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Chocolate notes, medium dark red fruits, cherry, cooking spices, ham, earthy tobacco flavors. Silky palate as usual with Saxum but the Grenache and Syrah don't seem to be in harmony here.
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11/7/2015 - peternelson wrote:
Nice red fruit, grenache red-berries character with some herbal notes; silky smooth, full bodied, high alcohol but not gooey; very nice, medium complexity, full throttle, just not my style.
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10/18/2015 - corkcork wrote: 91 Points
didn't really pop especially for a Saxum
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9/12/2015 - markcic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still too young, even with a two hour decant through a vinturi, Lots of fruit on the nose, blueberry and spices on the palate, the long lush Saxum finish. I think it need another year or so in the cellar or a much longer decant so it can really come together.
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8/5/2015 - sbfireman wrote: 94 Points
PnP at SY Kitchen, Santa Ynez. A touch lighter in the stem, both in clot and immediate depth. Blue fruit component, easy spice. No noticeable heat. Still young. Looking for the layers to flesh themselves out in the coming years. Hold for the journey or drink now
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7/23/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
I actually had this a few days ago as well, and it's consistent with that notes. Dark fruits, velvety, hugely concentrated but not as complex as other years. Nice wine.
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7/23/2015 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Urban Heights - 03 Cathelin, 90 LP, 97 Rayas, 07 IX, 11 LPV & etc. (Urban Heights - Bethesda, Maryland): Big and bad. Blueberry syrup and sweet spices. Silky and polished despite incredibly concentrated and chewy. A bit monolithic but if you like Saxum, this is certainly a great one. No noticeable heat. Very youthful, long life ahead.
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7/18/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sweet nose with meats and cooking spices. Great balance with a silky texture and mouthfeel, it hides the huge alcohol very well. Not as complex as other years I've had but extremely good and drinks well now out of the gate. Should get better with another few years of bottle.
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6/29/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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6/28/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drinking extremely well right now, smooth as silk, good extraction and length. No detailed notes but was ready out of the gate and got better with 1-2 hours of bottle air
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6/20/2015 - sterin wrote: 95 Points
Double decanted. Drinking extremely well for young wine. Just delicious.
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5/31/2015 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 4 hrs. Celebrating a new gig that was made official the day before, I wanted something with a little wow factor. Certainly a Saxum wine, no question, but I love the firm structure that keeps this wine pretty reigned for current drinking. Perhaps the 26% of Mourvedre is flexing its muscle as there was a pretty good tannic structure, plus a dark earthy cherry and tree bark qualities that I associate with the grape. A first few sips did detect a trace of heat (15.8) but this sorted itself rather quickly. Sadly, my last of two bottles and I would strongly advocate holding this for a few years before it really starts to shine. Great wine though, no question.
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1/17/2015 - MayValley wrote: 94 Points
Nose of meat, blood, smoke, spices and sweet cherries. The nose was interesting though a bit extreme at this point.
The palate however was much more civilized lots of primarily red berry fruit, but also Black fruit, roast spices like cloves and allspice, good tannic grip and acidity to back it up. Still Young.
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12/6/2014 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note. This hasn't moved at all in a year's time...
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11/22/2014 - jeagle wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 12 hours prior to tasting. Most everything has been said. A very polished effort presenting its silken charm like a sensuous smile. Its breeding and power are palpable marred only by an occasional glint of heat upon its exit.
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10/29/2014 - Mike V wrote: flawed
Corked
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10/18/2014 - Bobe Likes this wine: 98 Points
Popped and poured -big nose raspberry, plum, big fruity wine slightly unstructured, very long finish ending with a flash of heat. After 3 hr decant structure knitted but can distinguish some of the varietal contribution, even bigger nose, long finish with no heat. 5 days in decanter room temp, wine largely unchanged! Perhaps a bit more acidity that may increase the pleasure for those who prefer this. A world class wine,
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7/23/2014 - K28226 wrote: 97 Points
Great all around.
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6/28/2014 - patwjr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 10 min., then rebottled for ride to restaurant. Popped & poured 30 min later. Big fruit, tight & funky. Was great in Dec. 2012, now needs more time to come together.
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6/24/2014 - Dale M wrote:
Very late note, but I'll do my best. The nose reminded me of Barossa, which I'm not such a fan of these days (albeit the only high end I have had was the 06 Amon Ra - it was very good). While the nose never really kicked in to high gear, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised at how well this drank. Very structured, but still showed quality Grenache fruit, high quality at that. Very pure and focused, not yet super complex, but you can feel good things are coming around the corner. I would hold off and be patient if you only have a bottle or two.
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6/8/2014 - Grape Stuff Likes this wine: 94 Points
No formal notes, 3.5+ hour decant and either could use a longer decant or would recommend waiting a couple years to pop a bottle. Certainly an amazingly well made wine with delicious red fruit profile, subtle young wild strawberry, baking spices, and gorgeous balance and long length. There is a lot going on in this wine, another killer from Justin & Co. Can certainly see 96-97 in a couple years.
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6/6/2014 - soyhead wrote:
Nose - crushed vit C pills, orange peel, wood
Mouth - delineated and focused big dark fruit but agree with dale, relatively closed, potential noted but really way too young. Hold.
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4/20/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
Wines with neighbors (John's): This is delicious and the crowd was split on the WOTN. What an excellent contrast in wine between this and the 2001 Clos des Papes. I think the biggest difference was age as I try to remember back to the CdP release. Of course the Saxum is probably a bigger. Right now its about raw power, fruit and smoothness without much subtlety or complexity. Still, it was quite enjoyable.
A nose of black and red raspberries, some spice, some pepper, some camphor. Great lush texture. Smooth with no heat or tastes of alcohol. Delicious raspberries on the palate. Long finish.
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4/7/2014 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 96 Points
Voluptuous and sinuous, the Grenache fruit literally dazzles on all angles, then floats for a very long time. Longer than most Cure concerts, the James Berry of '10 is a more luscious creature than the last three vintages and very attractive at a young age. Red Velvet Cake, Soy Sauce, dark cherry, roasted chicken and cashew, with some lovely earth. The acidity is quite tranquil, with the most comforting ending; then the tannins are of the finest silk. Drink 2015 - 2032.
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3/26/2014 - Redguy wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 21 hours then consumed at dinner alongside an '09 Buccella Cuvee Katrina Eileen. Still reticent after the decant but this clearly shows the elegant power I often associate with Saxum. Fabulously complicated and compelling aromas of truffles, coriander seed, and a caramelized tangerine note join fresh cherries and a slight whiff of alcohol. The deep and juicy palate, while still tight, shows a similar profile with a bright but integrated acid streak, refreshing minerality, and fine but firm tannins. Silky, almost glassy texture. Gorgeous wine with layers of complexity and tons of potential but still only letting loose a fraction of its potential. This is a definite hold... say 3-5 years at least. 95 today but with cellaring I could see this 96-98.
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3/13/2014 - G_H Likes this wine: 94 Points
You got to love James Berry! On the elegant side, but very complex and still super powerful. Quite impressive for such a cold year. very long finish. Quite dominated by the grenache nose, cherries and minerals. Fantastic wine!
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2/12/2014 - hanasowner wrote: 89 Points
Good, but not great, showing. Did not have that telltale blossom off the nose...perhaps a bit closed? No reason to rush.
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12/31/2013 - Backdoctor wrote: 92 Points
Seemed a bit out of balance for me. I have had this before, but this time it had some heat to it. Good dark fruits but the alcohol overshadowed it.
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12/29/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
Great showing. Pnp. Purple in color. The nose has cherries, black raspberries, coffee grounds, black pepper and floral notes. On the palate, this reminds me of Saxums from 5 years earlier. It is light and spry on the palate, despite have a huge nose and lots of fruit. Nimble. Complex and layered with a lovely texture. Long finish. Went great with some Indian food.
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11/24/2013 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for two hours before service. In the glass, deep red, with hints of pink at the rim. On the nose, crushed raspberries, grenache liqueur, and floral notes. On the palate, saturated dark fruit, with secondary grenache notes and a slight toffee note lurking far in the background, with a moderately long and somewhat alcoholic finish.
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11/17/2013 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Typical Saxum nose, bright red fruit with loads of spices, although Grenache is noticeable as would be expected, the Syrah really shows through given the percentage. Really good balance, but really lacking in complexity which is surprising giving the wine. Good stuff but this bottle is shockingly over-priced.
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11/14/2013 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 97 Points
A lovely and intense nose full of perfectly pure and clean Grenache fruit. This vintage also exhibits a lot of white flowers and a ripeness which is just lovely. A very big and nice effort. The palate is rather muted and not very expressive. I would recommend holding off popping for a couple of years or be sure to decant properly. All Saxum wines are true gems and the 2010 is no exception. Compared to the 2007, 2008 and 2009 the 2010 is a bit less complex and does not provide the same balance - Maybe this will change with time though. Overall impression is that of a super effort. A truly magical wine! (Tasted in a flight with 2007 - 2010 Saxum James Berry)
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10/23/2013 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Boom! Nose of beef, berries, herbs. The palate is young but oh so delicious. Full of juicy meats and all kinds of berries and vanillin. This needs a lot of time but it is a big brawny delicious drink now. Long in the finish and outstanding in its power.
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10/17/2013 - sbfireman wrote: 97 Points
(Ashford & Simpson "Solid as a Rock" song playing in background..... Chevy commercial song if you don't know...for others....) Damn fine juice. Young but layered fruit that is baby-powder smooth. Lush finish. What a ride so early on. I'd guess the well runs deep and I look forward to her few years of sleep before our next visit.
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9/20/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just great focus and clarity for a very young wine. Explosive fruit and wonderful balance. Really a pleasure to consume.
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9/15/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
Lots of wines at Tommy's Clambake (Tommy's): Love this wine. After so much wine, a little bit was plenty. Tons of fruit. Still light on its feet. Black raspberries. Smooth. Very young.
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8/16/2013 - Backdoctor wrote: 96 Points
Opened for 9 hours, it was balanced, smooth, delicious. Great nose, just a great wine.
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6/11/2013 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
A big, tasty wine that I think will improve substantially with some bottle age, but at this time more backward than previous Saxum wines I've had. Hold or give it a serious decant if drinking now. 92++
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5/11/2013 - wineberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
12+ hour decant. 15.8% ABV!
Yes, very young but I wanted to try one! The alcohol definitely shows on the finish. Serving this at 60 instead of room temp might make quite a bit of difference. Other than that this is beautiful, and a very good bottle of wine. Layers of aromas and flavors, smooth.
Leave it alone for a few more years. The decant helped, but this will come together a bit more in the bottle.
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5/5/2013 - Employee500 wrote: 93 Points
Very good wine of this style, but "this style" comes with some downsides--obvious heat, strong uber-ripe flavors, with the fruit really being the main (only) attraction here. Good if you're in the mood for that....but I'm generally not and this holds little appeal with food--better perhaps as a wine of contemplation (think Amarone).
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4/13/2013 - pakabear wrote: 95 Points
Consistent notes
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2/23/2013 - etherscreen wrote:
chocolate covered cherries and dark berries. thick, but didn't saturate in quite the way one might expect from a wine of this density. short finish. uninspiring really.
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2/22/2013 - texaswinelover wrote:
Upon opening, I thought for sure this huge, concentrated blackberry filled wine would be in my top wines last night. Just delicious. 94-95 pts. Unfortunately, with time and maybe warming a touch, unrelenting heat overwhelmed the wine. Became undrinkable for me. Others didn't feel the etoh was as oppressive. 85 pts.
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2/2/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
I know this wine is too young but it is so good. Perfectly balanced but great depth and amazing focus. Will be hard to keep my hands off this.
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1/13/2013 - cadamson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another huge night on a night of huge wines. Like many of the others, Saxum finds the right amount of harmony which makes you forget the bigness of the wine and extraction (though the next morning certainly reminds you of it). I wish they would find a way to get just a bit more complexity into these wines, James Berry is always good, in fact very good, but just seems to be missing a certain something to bring it up to truly great. Perhaps tone it down a bit, and perhaps let a few non fruit elements shine?
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1/12/2013 - pakabear Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really silky texture, great dark fruit, blackberry, licorice and smoke. Some heat at the end, but very young. This should get better in a few years and will be epic.
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12/23/2012 - Griffin5416 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perhaps I had too high of expectations. My first Saxum. Dark berries with a touch of cherry at finish. What a great velvety texture. Obviously very young and I will hold my other bottles for a few years before opening.
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12/14/2012 - patwjr Likes this wine: 98 Points
Couldn't resist opening one. Did not disappoint. Sweet lucious smooth fruit, with a little heat. Saxum makes amazing wines.
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11/23/2012 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
Some great wines over Thanksgiving (Kapcsandy, Saxum, Pott, Huet, Autard); 11/21/2012-11/25/2012: This is obviously VERY young and should get better. Right now it is delicious with air. This was decanted for around an hour then consumed over the next hour. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, raspberries, leather, blueberries, charred wood, and black pepper. What a lush texture. There is definitely some heat and alcohol that can be tasted. The restaurant had a dish called "Jean L. Chave & Mushroom Risotto" which not only paired great with this, but took away the heat. I will say this seemed a bit less spry than a typical Saxum but I attribute that to youth and its recent bottling. We left a glass in the decanter for the waiter, but it was improving all night long. I look forward to revisiting these in a couple of years.
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11/7/2012 - shadow wrote: 99 Points
I know, the card said let it rest a couple of months.
That's post Apocalypse, what if the Mayan's are right.
Besides, more wine coming, their's not enough room.
So I popped one
Nose, that familiar Saxum smell, rich, fruity, but not overt.
Flavors, yumm, first some little baby sips, fore play.
Little pepper, touch of leather, some heat on the close, my mouth is watering.
Another swirl, nose is reaching fog levels, big and fruity, mouth is really starting to water.
Some more baby sips, more flavors are leaving showing up, bit of chuckieness.
Time for a big sip, Rich and packed with flavors wrapped in a very short velvet skirt.
The finish is a warm memory, repeat, repeat.
Back of the mouth gets just a hint of red cherry, love that.
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