Superb wine. Much benefit from a multi hour decant, which integrates the alcohol and brings the fruit out. Savory, rich but balanced. Long finish. My first taste of the 07 yet will not wait too long to open our remaining bottles.
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What can I say - just outstanding! Did a quick decant and poured it right back in the bottle and corked it. Consumed at a restaurant 8 hours later. Powerful yet smooth. Reminded me me of a well aged, good vintage Pichon Lalande. It would difficult to find a better bottle of wine...
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From 1.5L. Still youthful. Delicious out of the gate and decanting several hours had not effect. Uncertain about its development forward from this point but would guess many more years of youthful energy.
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Opened a bottle for Hazel's 1st; initially tannins were really hard; all sorts of smells, including lighter berries and lead shavings, some sort of sweaty minerality to it; needs some time to settle down.
Last bottle, a magnum, of this vintage. It has held up well for all these years, evolving in the glass from Grenache dominated to a more balanced, integrated blend of the Rhone varietals. This bottle relates back to when my friend Curtis introduced me to the Saxum vineyard. It was the Wine Spectator wine of the year for its vintage. The original plan was to drink it with Curtis at a family gathering. Alas, that didn't happen as he died a year ago. So, it received a celebratory toast in his honor from Penny and Phil.
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Deep garnet in color. Nose of dark cherries, hint of raspberry, menthol, and leather. Tastes of dark cherries, blackberries, dark chocolate, espresso, and hint of tobacco and menthol. Lovely balance with fruit still shining and complementary acidity. Surprising that you don’t taste the 15.8% alcohol. Tannins are largely resolved. Drink now and over the next 3 to 5 years.
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Opened 3 hours before dinner and poured into a decanter. Took a small sip and decided it was best to pour the wine back in the bottle and put it back in the cellar. I think that was the right decision as it allowed the fruit to show up front without the heat coming through. This showed magnificently at dinner. Ripe but balanced, red fruited, just an utterly enjoyable wine. Definitely in the zone.
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Decanted for 1-1/2 hours and then drank for the next 4 hours. This bottle was amazing and held up perfectly. You can drink now or hold on for a few more years.
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Decanted and poured. Plum colored to blood red at edge. Nose is a robust mix of red fruit, black olive, wet dirt. Palate is raspberry, blackberry, black olive, Dr. Pepper, hint of hard-boiled egg, something earthy. Medium- to full-bodied, mouth feel is both silky and spicy, vibrating a bit. Reasonably well integrated, medium finish.
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This is simply a staggeringly beautiful wine. Pure perfection. How does Justin do it year after year. It's in a perfect place right now. Powerful yet subtle, gorgeous dark fruit and Kirsch. Smooth, layer and intriguing. It leaves your mouth full of marvel.
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Our prior bottle was consumed almost five years ago, and after reading my note from 2017, I could have just cut and pasted it here. Still incredibly fruit-forward, still a crowd pleaser and an enjoyably dense beast of a wine, still with alcohol that doesn't show itself until the bottle is almost gone, still nothing to indicate that this is a 15-year old wine. I'd like to tell you how many years to hold from here before some evolution is noticeable, but I have no idea. 5? 10? 50?
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Double decanted and drank over 4 hours this wine is pretty massive with tons of dark fruit, smoky oak and smooth but chewy tannins. Definitely some heat on the back end from the very high alcohol (15.8%). Think the wine should improve with a few more years of age.
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My first Saxum, and served double blind no less. I immediately thought new world syrah, something like an SQN but better. I don’t normally enjoy wines of this size, but this was special. I loved the purity and power of the fruit without any garishness or over the top sweetness or creaminess. Seemed like little-to-no new oak too, which I applaud. Maybe lacking in some complexity but otherwise it showed spectacularly. Fully ready and in the zone, drink now.
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A Year Later in Vero...; 3/17/2021-3/21/2021 (Vero Beach): Last wine of the night and writing this a few days later so from memory, but this was I think also drinking well. Definitely new world and perhaps even a bit more so than the Colgins right before it. Have really enjoyed this wine in the past and at that point in the evening was a nice more fruit forward approach.
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Cherry and anise on the nose. The fruit is mellow and sweet (not RS), cherries, blackberries. Smooth, beautifully resolved tannins. This wine is smooth across the palate. Lovely acidity and balance. perhaps a touch of heat creeping in, but it's not distracting. Finishes long with dark fruits and a touch of raspberry. Some air tends to dissipate the heat. I'd drink over the next 3 years just in case the alcohol starts to become more obvious. However, it's really in a good place right now. 41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre. 28% Syrah.
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Out of a magum, but disappointed. 15.8 and with a hint of VA. Can taste the char of the oak and it just takes away from the wine to me. I know this was rated highly, but not for me:{
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Decanted for only one hour but could have used more time. Decadent and still young. Menthol wafts from the nose and lays heavy on the palate. Syrupy black fruit, cassis, anise and vanilla mix in perfectly. Haven’t had much aged Saxum but if this is the future I’m happy. This has 10 years to go with ease.
Longer note to follow, but this needs more time. Decanted this magnum for 3 hours. Still bold blue/black fruit. I have a 2008 magnum that I would wait another 5 years to open.
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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 2007 consists of 41% Grenache (rest Syrah, Mourvedre). Lowest Grenache share in the blend of all 6 vintages and lowest rating. Surprisingly, this wine didn't show the elevated depth of the 2007s from the other vineyards. Medium- complexity only with some herbal scents, dark, blue and red fruit. Not as expressive and deep as the other James Berry wines, not as pure and strong. Nevertheless, certainly a good wine. Probably some more years or an extensive decant might change that. I wouldn't give up yet.
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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: As always ripe fruit, probably a bit darker than the other vintages. Also more greenish / herbal aromas. Still quite wild on the palate, but with great tension and intensity.
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Let it breathe for about two hours. Decent nose. Very pleasant full bodied wine. Would have guessed more syrah than mourvedre or grenache. Comes together well with smooth dark blue and purple fruit. Lingering finish. Not sure I would say better than the '01 Dead Arm we also opened. At $60/glass, I might sell the remaining 4 bottles.
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nose - motor oil, smoke, bacon, maple syrup mouth - deep, extracted, syrah-esque, smoky, huge. askance. tasted blind and i guessed SQN. not my style. i think i even called it a 'disaster'. lacks freshness of fruit
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What an amazing wine and what a joy to share it at our wine gala dinner. Everyone was awed. Justin is just a magician. Wonderful dark color and elegant fruit and sweetness. It's like drinking velvet. Luckily I have another 4 bottles.
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Pnp. Deep rich and gorgeous. A wonderful blend of chocolate, dark berries , earthy umami and eucalyptus . The complexity and balance are almost overwhelmingly good. Oregano, dark cherry and leather provide a long lingering finish. . Savory dessert.
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inky violet. Nose rich jammy fruit, blueberry predominantly. Palate rich dark fruits, some brambles and spice. Low acidity, chocolatey; smooth. Polarizing and not my personal favorite but can see the appeal. well done for the style, YMMV.
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Wow. Still massive, but with an underlying finesse revealed on the 45-60 second long finish. Plenty of big fruit with great acidity and minerality, yet with a velvet mouthfeel almost reminiscent of a Hundred Acre Cabernet. Wildly complex and beautiful accompaniment to our filets. Still has plenty of time to go. But wouldn’t be surprised if this is at peak or very close.
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Something like 7 years since I tasted this wine. I liked it more now but that's the age. It has mellowed a lot. The score has not changed just the wine is in a better place now. Also I think we hit it in it's prime. I would not age it further. Prunes lurking in the background.
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decanted for about 2 hours and in the glass for 1 hour. still young, massive fruit and texture. an incredible wine I have tasted 8-10 times since release and every time it blows me away. doesnt seem to ever lose a step and continues to evolve and develop more and more richness but maintains elegance and balance (weird, right?) could be in my top 10 all time due to the combination of power, balance and finesse. an explosion of flavors from dark cherry to black currents, roasted/bbq meat, redwood bark, pepper, smoke, spices, boysenberry pie.. it doesnt stop and the finish seems to never end. if you want a party in your mouth, this is the wine for you. the antithesis of old world. If you like well aged Bordeaux, this wine is not for you. best to decant for at least 3-4 hours minimum and then see how it develops in your glass for another 2 hours. could it be even better with a longer decant? why not a 100 point score... ? I'm still considering an upgrade of my score. gonna taste it again later today to see where it is after 15-20 hours. stay tuned
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Opened my last bottle about 18 months ago (Sadly...I only have one bottle left). This has morphed and changed again.....in the morning when I Coravaned a sip...you could smell the aroma as the liquid gold slid into the glass. The finish on this is CRAZY ..really crazy. Popped, decanted about 5 minutes and poured. The nose...the nose! YOu can just sit and sniff all night long..... Smooth and silky, but then on the back palate all these different flavors start popping...black fruit...leather...little smoke...plum, blackberry, dark bing cherry....just amazing. I really get the 100 point Parker score on this...my last bottle will be held for another 3 years....then we will thoroughly enjoy....
nose - dark berry compote mouth - big fruit, very round, maple, still tannic. the ripeness of this screams out California. I can see the sex appeal behind this wine
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Pop and pour. Nose was very nice but a bit of an oxidized note was present that was not appealing. Palate was phenomenal. Just amazing tannin and acidity balance. It goes on and on. If it wasn’t for the oxidized nose, this would be a few points higher for me.
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Inky purple color, dark core. Rich nose of black and blue fruits, asian spice, pepper. Palate showing blueberry, boysenberry, floral notes, tart black fruits, baking spice, minerals...a lot going on here. Full bodied, great secondary note. Long and viscous finish
Great to drink this wine with knowledgeable friends, the wine that put Saxum on the map. This is a big wine for sure, fun to have such a classic Rhone Ranger on a night with a La Chapelle in the lineup. In a great spot now, seems it will hold at this level for a while...hard to wait. Andrew's WOTN
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Depth, balance, fruit and finish were all there, drinking beautifully now with lots of legs left. Head to head with a 2007 Shafer Hillside select and Opus one, I thought it was the clear winner.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Tasted over about two hours.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Attractive nose of soapstone, lavender, loganberry and plums. Flavors of black raspberries, loganberries and dark, chewy plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next few years. Ready to go.
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Wow! Red fruits and spice poured from the bottle after popping the cork. Sweet fruit, silky texture, dense and yet weightless. It reminded me of a Chateauneuf-du-Pape from a top vintage, but without the savory element that would have elevated this wine even higher. Still wonderful. I waited ten years to try this, and it was worth it.
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Fantastic wine out the bottle with only 10 min decant. Mixed berries, plum, morning dew on nose. Medium body, jammy, smooth tannins. Minimal oak and licorice. Long finish.
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We had high hopes after reading Tanzer note. Explosive dense aromas, lots of black fruits, kirsch, and cedar. Enjoyable to smell but not as much to drink. Alc heat ruins it. Would rate 90. May be an awkward phase.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours, then drank over 1 hour. Amazing breakfast jam fruit on nose as it was poured into the decanter. When drank, full rich fruit, quite smooth, yet still has time to mature further. Amazing now.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours. In the glass, opaque, deep purplish-red. On the nose, grenache liqueur all the way, and more of the same on the palate. We enjoyed this quite a bit more than the bottle we had in January 2014 - the medicinal notes from that bottle were not present here, and the tannins have largely resolved. With all of that said, this is a full-on in-your-face kind of wine, and it's not going to be for everyone. Right on the edge of too much of a good thing.
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Head to head with the '07 Saxum Booker. Purchased on release and first time trying either wine.
Color: dark, inky opaque core -> deep magenta rim; similar appearance to the Booker but a little less density of color to the rim. Vivacious bouquet of blueberry and boysenberries, red fruits with underbrush, dried rosemary and sage and vanilla notes. Red fruits and primary grape elements really coming through on the palate with watermelon lifesavers, a touch of forest floor and some bitter pit fruit. Pithy and still a bit tannic (no surprise; '07 Paso) as well as a bit too hot, this struck me as too primary and grapey still -- needs time to develop. Today, I'd take the Booker as I like the more classic dark fruit and earth elements . . . .
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of aspirin, dark berries and dark plums. Flavors of meat, plums and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
My guess was this is the 2007 Saxum Booker or James Berry Vineyard.
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Tasted double blind. Definitely a more new world styled wine, very fruit forward but nicely integrated and balanced. Lots of flavor exploding across the palate. This was the group's overall favorite of the red flight - but probably 3rd or 4th place for me.
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Opened my last 2007 JB 3-1/2 years ago. At that time it had become more subtle and smooth.....so I was really interested to see how it compared this time. WOW! This was a mind blower! Can you give something a 100+ rating? It was like it woke up, grew up....with a nose that was fragrant made you salivate right off the bat. Smooth tannings but very dominant flavors...tobacco and licorice and lots of deep dark red fruits and leather. The flavors kept evolving in the mouth and changed depending on what you were eating. No hotness and no bite....but certainly "there!"! NOW I can see why this is a 100 point wine..and how do reviewers like Parker know to visualize how a wine will be a decade later? All I can say is: Two more bottles to go.....can't wait to revisit this in 5 and 10 years...and then say goodbye to a most elegant, amazing wine.
Silky, long and balanced with waves of dark fruit. I've moved away from this style toward the N. Rhone over the past few years but this is a beautiful and undeniably well-made wine. Only hold this longer if your curious how this will age. It's in a really nice place now.
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Mostly domestic wine dinner (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner): Intense blueberry kool aid with neutral spirit. Incredibly youthful but monolithic for my palate. Once again you know who you are. My rating is 91 but no need to skewed the average rating for those who love the style.
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Without question, one of the greatest Saxum's ever. My last encounter, she was somber, not bad, but quiet. Opened a couple hours ago, did the double decant. Nose has all the promise one could ask, now the moment of truth. First sip, is that oak or Juniper berries, than she lifts her skirt. That rush of wet fruit pushes to the surface, than fades like smoke into the night. First thought, no better than the 2011 Saxum James Berry Vineyard I sucked down last night. Than another sip, like that tarlet with no stockings, something better calls out. Sip three, adding points, as it fades away, so much better than last night. She has rounded third base and is heading home. She just delivered the leather, four sips, four different impressions, must have more. Alice just walked in, wow, did you smell this wine.
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Amazing texture, silky smooth, dark/black fruits, squid ink, cocoa and chocolate galore. Others didn't enjoy it as much but this was right up my alley. I don't see this improving any, but it will maintain for another 5 years at least.
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Clearly well made, highly concentrated wine with deep color and deep, dark blue fruit. Very bold in the style of Alban but not quite as complex or balanced as a good SQN. This one will take some time and should not, at present, be consumed with food.
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Incredible wine. Ammazing up front fruit and a finish that goes on and on. Decanted 4 hours prior to drinking and this wine still needs 5+ years to hit its stride.
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Saxum 2007 comparison Richer, smoother. Feels like more expensive oak. Still quite a lot of tannins to keep it serious. Very long aftertaste. Fruit, blackberries, ripe Lapin cherries. Always loved this wine. 99p.
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What a behemoth of a wine! Very deep nose, tight - dark fruit - an explosion of blackberries. The palate is very concentrated, tons of blackberries, crème de Mûre, very very long finish. Maybe slightly lacking in acidity, but what an impressive wine! Almost too much...
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most generously provided (blind) by the patriarch nose - per brian truffle mouth - pure, superbly concentrated, licorice, long, dense and porty. My guess was merlot. quite surprised when this was revealed. I can see the hype but i think its very very young
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Tobacco, minerals and red fruit on the nose. Dried cherry, pomegranate with complex layers of red fruits. Even after three hours I still found this tightly wound and a bit closed down. Bought off of a restaurant wine list. I suspect this will be even better in a few more years. The finish was remarkably long and beautiful.
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Perfect. Unreal. Nose is extremely aromatic full of spice and cigar box. Palate is blackberry/raspberry liquor. Fruit is intense, but not over the top. Classic Saxum but more restrained than in some vintages. Grenache is gorgeous and in my wheelhouse. Velvet fist, iron glove. No hard corners whatsoever. Two minute finish. A new favorite Saxum. Could be done differently but not better IMHO.
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What's not to like about this wine? Intense cherries and dark fruit, massive juicy mouthfeel which is complex and evolving to chocolate and spice finish with some slate and mineral trailing slowly into an everlasting finish. Tasting great now with no end in sight.
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1500 Parker Points of Wines (GHT): Saxum is probably my favorite winery and this is my favorite Saxum. Easy 100 points. Still youthful but it is starting to develop complexities. The nose has black raspberries, gamey meats, white pepper and some grilled meat notes. On the palate, this is juicy with a great texture. It is light on its feet with incredible power (this Muhammad Ali). Showing a nice layering to it. Perfect balance. Yes, there is a lot of alcohol, but it doesn't show. Great with grilled eggplant. Long finish. A close #2 in my WOTN (and a few votes from the group).
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41% grenache, 31% mourvedre, 28% syrah. Clear dark garnet color. Outlandish, flamboyant bouquet of blueberry pie, bourbon, lavish sweet oak, crushed boysenberries, cloves, allspice. 15.8% alcohol contributes its own sweet perfume, but also, unfortunately, makes the wine hot and harsh on the palate. As with bourbon or other liqueur, I savored the aromas and took tiny sips. 94 points for bouquet, 84 points for palate. Overall rating withheld.
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Massive wine. This is huge and very rich. Very dark color, thick, inky, syrupy and it coats the glass like milk. The richest most dense finish on any wine I have ever had. You could get full on this and never be able to eat dinner. This is a slow sipping wine perfect for a cold night by a fire. High alcohol is very warming also and the heat is certainly there but it doesn't ruin it. Massive blueberry pie and raspberry pie notes explode all the way through. It has almost a sweet taste or perhaps its just perceived because its so rich. Its like a warm chocolate cherry truffle thats finish goes on for more than 60 seconds. Remarkable and unlike any wine I have ever tasted. This needs 5+ more years in the bottle.
We paired the wine with Gouda & Provolone cheese and it was remarkable how it smoothed the wine out. The wine became even more incredible and much easier and enjoyable to drink. Perhaps 100 points when paired with the proper food.
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Wow wine. Deep color. Subtle nose but nice dark berry and plums. Tongue coating palate. Brings loads of bracing dark fruit and a finish that goes on for 45 seconds. Nicely balanced, but maybe a little heat in the finish? Still young, would let it sit another couple of years.
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Incredible Wines at Private Wine Dinner at Collyer Catering (Westport, CT): My first time having Saxum and what a freaking wine! I thought it might be in a tough spot sandwiched in between 2 SQN's but this was actually better than both in my opinion. A strong statement because both were excellent wines but I theorize the blend might have made a difference in my opinion since both SQN wines were mainly Syrah. Aromas of cherry, raspberry, game, flowers and white pepper. Nose really was singing and intoxicating. Cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry steamroll you with their purity of flavor and vividness. The finish on this was also astonishing, lasting well over a minute. Certainly the best Rhone based wine I have ever had. I need to get on this list!
--- COLOR: Deep purple garnet NOTE: Nose is rich, has a little prick of heat then a little animal fur funk that blew off after about 3 hours. Mix of kirsch and amarena cherry syrup, ripe mulberry. Mouth is rich and opulent, with loads of blackberry, sour cherry, tar and leather, hint of cocoa. The tannins are so refined. The 30+ second finish has a little heat, but is otherwise just loaded with framboise liqueur, kirsch and blackberry liqueur. Hints of garrigue. This has a nice balance that keeps bringing you back for another sip. This is great right now and will probably be so for many more years, but I recommend enjoying its youthful energy.
Now that I know what I’m drinking, it’s the WSWOTY for 2010.
FYI, I carefully Coravined this bottle, slowly removing the needle, and the cork continued to leak a small amount of wine for several minutes. CORAVIN UPDATE ON 10/14: 98% of the bottles I've used my Coravin on have been accessed on their sides, so as to leave the autolyzed lees and polymerized tannins undisturbed on the side of the bottle when I remove it from the cellar. So..... I think I figured out why this cork "wept" a little the first time I accessed it. I apparently left too much pressure in the bottle, not having allowed the Coravin to dispense until nary a drip came out. I know this now because today I took out this same bottle, leaving it on its side, and inserted the Coravin. It gushed about an ounce of wine before I could lift the neck of the bottle to stop it. Fortunately it was over our built-in trash receptacle so it didn't make a mess, but this was definitely an important learning experience. If these bottles are still going for $300+ then I just spent about $12 on my Coravin education. Here's my take-away: For bottles that have been previously accessed, I will tilt them just enough while inserting the Coravin needle so that the wine doesn't immediately come in contact with the needle. Then I will place the glass underneath the spout and slowly lower the bottle down to complete horizontal. Even with all these little nuances I have to say the Coravin is at least as important as my decanters.
DECANT: 3-5 hours GLASS USED: Pinot Noir TASTE: 9.7 COST: 70 VALUE: 9.2 TRY AGAIN: now - 2019 PRE-POUR LEVEL: 100% PAIRING: n/a Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net ---
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What a conflicted review... an amazing wine that is everything that Paso can be, and at the same time is overpriced on the auction market due to its status. 8 hrs of air on it and probably could have used an overnight. Huge nose, with major grapey Paso goodness. Such a massively dense velvety wine that I'm sure has old world detractors, but they're not focused on what lies beneath. It is the second best Paso wine I've had, and if it had a little more depth in the mid, I'd call it the first. The finish is absolutely bonkers, and I'd say you've got 7-10 years before it all comes together, and another 5-10 beyond that to hold peak.
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Decanted about 2 hours. Paired with tri tip. Very modest nose of blueberry, some meat, a little tar, and alcohol. Big, in-your-face, taste profile mostly of blueberry and some dark fruits, kirsch, vanilla, and alcohol. Moderate tannins. Long finish. Not necessarily out of balance, but so bold it's hard to pin it down. Call me crazy, but I just don't get much of the hype and big scores often surrounding this wine. That said, for a cocktail wine, nice enough, but not a great food wine.
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Nose is very Grenache like except for the ham and bacon components. Great balance and huge extraction, some tar, licorice and dark fruits with some intermixed spice and oak. Still young and can go for many years to come. Great stuff!
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Big, high alcohol, dense but very little complexity or balance. Rather monolithic in the mouth and lacking in nuance. Undoubtedly impressive that one can produce something this dense and alcoholic from grapes but I can't see the pleasure here.
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Decanted for 30 minutes before serving, which I freely admit was not even remotely fair to this wine. So be it. In the glass, opaque, deep purplish-red. On the nose, grenache liqueur, crushed blueberries, and a very faint hint of cedar. On the palate, pure red and blue fruit, initially coupled with a noticeable (and to me, offputting) medicinal note. Given an hour of air, the medicinal note vanished, leaving a softer texture and more of the 'pinot-esque' complexity I associate with grenache blends, followed by a long, moderately tannic finish. This was good after some air, and I think there is positive evolution ahead, but I'm finding the ratings hard to square with what's in the bottle today. As I said, perhaps this really needed the long decant.
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Tasted at Hedonism Wines in London. Beautiful purples and red hues in the glass. The nose and palate are both really impressive -- packed with such fruit and fresh intensity, but it also has underlying layer of medicinal richness... I'm thinking freshly picked herbs, clove, forest floor and licorice, that are all jammed into a rather tight package. This wine needs time in the decanter, and probably a few more years. Such an impressive offering from Saxum... Man, wish the pocketbook would support my desire to buy this one :)
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Clear dark purple in colour. Clean nose of deep black fruits. Dry, med acidity, full body, incredibly smooth tannins, lots of black fruit, spice, and some floral on palate. Great wine, I wish I had planned better and paired it with a nice dinner. Just drank on its own and did not give it the time it deserved. I think it would be even better in 5 - 10 years. Could tell lots of secondary flavors lingering, but will need time to develop.
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A lovely perfectly clean nose. Actually the nose is best described as "perfect". Deep Grenache fruit combined with Orange zest and deep minerals. The Mourvèdre component adds structure and helps the wine avoid the "flabiness" so often found in Californian Grenaches. Delving further into this effort, there is a perfect balance and a very nice integration to be found. In the end palate there is a slight whiff of heat, but not more than in your average Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This is a beautiful wine which drinks perfectly at present but it will continue to develop for a number of years. Bravo! (Tasted in a flight with 2007 - 2010 Saxum James Berry)
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Exquisite Rhone blend: 41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre, and 28% Syrah. Decanted for an hour, it could have used a longer decant. At first, the disparate grapes were noticeable, with the Grenache most apparent. After another hour, it all came together and was wonderfully integrated. Dark and rich, with a long finish.
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15.8% ABV. Popped and poured. Dark garnet in the glass, pretty much opaque. Little changed from my first tasting in 2010. Aromas of kirsch, lavender, and garrigue with a touch of balsa. On the palate, this wine is long and nicely textured. Tasty.
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Opened my first bottle of the '07 James Berry about two years ago. Then..it was a HUGE wine. Hitchya in the face and mouth. Was John Phillip Sousa in the mouth...with incredible 4th of July fireworks and the 1812 overture. SO...Imagine our amazement (2 of the people the other night tasted the first bottle)... when we opened bottle #2 (yes..a special occasion) two years later. We all commented! Still..an amazing bottle of wine..but WOW! Did it grow up, mature, become sexy, subtle and seductive. Gone were the fireworks...replaced by a silky, sexy seductress......with a finish that went on and on......and on again. Great sour cherry initially with plum, red berries..hints of herbs...layered...no perceptible alcohol. This was AMAZING! The comparison between "then" and now.....was a treat. Can't wait (but will) to open another bottle in 2 or 3 years..see how this has evolved. Opened the bottle early afternoon to taste, then re-corked (at the suggestion of Justin Smith). Then, decanted for about 30 minutes at the restaurant. WOW.....YUMMY.....and as I said..soooooooo sexy. The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Slow. This will tantalize and tease the senses all night long.......good way beyond the very last drop.
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Another great bottle. I am sure there are some who don't like this style, but this is f'n awesome. Smooth, balanced, complex, delicious. My only complaint is that while I don't taste the alcohol, I certainly feel it, so there is a limit to what I would drink. That in no way takes away from the wine. Great wine. A bit smoother and rounder than on release, but still very youthful.
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Berserker Fest Friday Dinner - SQN Table (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago, IL): The second of two bottles consumed this evening. The other brought by yours truly received 94 points. So much purple exotic sexy chocolate and cassis. Fid and fresh earth. Not as bright and balanced as bottle one but very similar qualities overall. A little more brooding and intense.
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Berserker Fest Friday Dinner - SQN Table (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago, IL): Tasted side by side another identical bottle. This was mine. The other scored a similar 93 points. This, however is certainly not a 100 point wine yet. Lovely violets, gray peppercorn. More purple berries. A touch of menthol, eucalyptus. Really big fruit. Lower acidity overall. Give this another ten years to settle in. Lots of potential.
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Chicago Berserkerfest Dinner (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago IL): We had two bottles of this in two separate flights. Both were similar, the first (82 points) slightly better the the second (79 points). Lots of over-ripe black fruit, to me coming across out of balance. Too much chocolate, too much heat, not enough interesting textures.
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I can't imagine a wine getting much better than this. The tannins are strong but not harsh or overbearing. The flavor is deep and rich wile elegant and sophisticated. The finish is insanely long and wonderfully pleasant. If you can resist taking sip after sip and relishing in the finish, a glass can last for a very long time. In a lot of ways this wine reminds me of a 2007 Usseglio Mon Aieul.
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decanted at least an hour. Remained deep purple hue but the nose was herby and floral and fresh grapeyness I get from Granache based wines but there were other less discernible fruits underneath and a complex medium length finish. This is an outstanding wine but seemed not to capture our hearts as much as the shockingly good Thackery Pitite Sirah that preceded it
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I decanted the wine for a couple hours before tasting. The wine is a deep, dark ruby color. The wine has an exotic nose full of blackberries, blueberries, Asian spices, smoky incense, potpourri, black cherries, minerals, cola, earthy underbrush and a touch of alcohol. This is fairly full bodied with solid, ripe tannins and bright acidity. On the palate the wine reveals itself in layers. First there is a solid hit of fruit with slowly building Asian spices. As the fruit begins to fade, some nice earthy elements slowly start to build, later a bit of dark chocolate starts to take over. The alcohol note on the nose is not noticeable on the palate or the long finish. 100 pts? Wine of the Year? I don't know if I'd go that far at this point in its evolution, but there is still considerable upside.
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2007 James Berry Vineyard - Saxum - This wine had such a density to it. Felt like I was drinking something other than liquid, rather a soft layer cake. Pretty amazing wine, it worked. I think over time this will be even better, and loose some if its baby fat. I would love to drink this again and compare in 10 years. Excellent wine I would like to get more of. 95 pts, with potential for higher
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My contribution to the Cellar Tracker! Charleston Offlineorama for Friday afternoon in the courtyard. This was not the best environment to give this wine the attention to detail it deserves. I would not read too much into the score of 92. I am a conservative scorer and there was just too much confusion and too many wines to concentrate on what was going on in this wine. In comparison to the other wines tasted that afternoon, it was one of the biggest, most dense wines there. I am looking forward to spending the proper amount of time and contemplation on the next one I open.
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97+ Had a couple of sips at a party. Not what I was expected -- a little lighter but just laser focused. Would love to sit down and really enjoy it over some food.
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Rhys, Flam, Sineann, Saxum, SQN: Wow. What a wine. The only thing that might have made this better is a decant for a few hours, but the logistics did not work out. Lots has been said bout this wine and I know its not for everyone, but my favorite part is that despite its ripeness, size and everything else, it is so light on its feet. The nose is amazing on popping the cork. Black raspberries, earthy, bacon fat, pepper. Great texture. Easy to drink but very complex. It worked just fine with our food.
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Very rich, intense, extremely dark fruit. Yet it has structure and never seems cloying or over the top in fruit, oak, or alcohol. By no means subtle, but if you like this style, this is about as good as it gets.
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Wow... Had an aubert 2007 Ritchie and a 2005 scarecrow on the table with this and all 4 of us pronounced it wine of the night...it's coming into its own now( I feel saxums need 5 years) ... Chef brought a Taylor 77 port that was an amazing finish to dinner
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Big without being obnoxious. Extracted without being cloying. This is a wine that walks right up the edge of diva but ultimately reigns it in and delivers a nuanced, deeply-satisfying performance. Just hits you with a luscious wallop of fruit up front, gains mineral notes on the mid-palate, and finishes with a silky smooth finish that goes for miles.
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Blackberry notes with other black fruits; concentrated, jammy, with grippy tannins; pure black cherry and blackberry flavors along with a dose of black pepper and a touch of coffee in the hot finish. Solid but not my style. 100 WA
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07 Saxum JB , 05 Agharta Ex. B for my Birthday: This is really a unique wine. But then I think, it has a lot in common with the 03 Chave Hermitage. Borders on Port with some sweetness, the viscous texture and plenty of berry fruit. It is flat out delicious. And amazingly smooth. Lots of alcohol that I felt after a couple of glasses, but so smooth and no burn. It went very well with spicy Thai vegetarian food as well. This will take forever to age I think, but i will try to age at least one bottle. I can see some not liking it because its not typical table wine. Lots of "purists" didn't like the 03 Chave for the same reasons. If you can get past that, and I know some can not, this is just awesome.
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decanted 90 minutes before tasting. New world, hedonistic, delicious. Ripe plum, tar, prunes, coffee nose. Rich black fruits, seamlessly integrated with perfect tannin backbone, leading to leather, tar, long finish. Just wonderfully balanced. A joy to drink.
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Decanted for 4 hours. Just getting more massive. Intense, delicious, dense. Tastes great now but this should probably be left alone for at least another year.
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This is a beautiful wine! Very much like a Chateauneuf in style but with that xtra dimension of smoke and sweet fruit of the central coast. It was popped and put into a decanter for about 10 min. It was late in the evening and I am sure longer time in the decanter would have done it good. Amazing potiental!
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Equally stunning wine and previous notes apply. On tasting this a second time the heat reduced the score sightly. Nevertheless, this is an incredibly integrated, smooth, rich fruit bomb of a wine which lasts forever.
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Left over from a tasting 3 days prior, sealed in glass w/o air, and stored in the fridge. Fresh vibrant nose of violets, meat, pepper, and liquor-like mixture of cassis, currants, and berries. Palate is thick, mouthcoating, elixor-like, with massively concentrated fruit with a sweet berry edge. Hangs on the palate forever, but comes across as heavy and tiresome and having a sweet edge. Mild chalky tannins on the back end and strikes me as lacking acidity at this late juncture. After half a glass I can feel the alcohol. I'm not sure what to make of this as despite the complexity, I really don't enjoy drinking this-- though I know it will appeal to many. 89 points, as it's well made, but in a style I don't care for. I have a hard time seeing this age. I prefer the JBV from Copain, by comparison and did enjoy the '04 from Saxum. (80 points for enjoyment by my palate)
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(Tasted in a flight with 2007 Cristia Vieilles Vignes, 2007 Clos Saint Jean Deus Ex Machina and 2007 Sine Qua Non Grenache Pictures.) the 2007 James Berry Proprietary Red is perfectly integrated and absolutely massive but still elegant. The finish is amazing - it just goes on and on and on... The nose reveals lime rock and cigar box combined with kirsch liqueur and a creamy tone of vanilla. This is a truly amazing effort by Justin Smith, styled after the Clos Saint Jean Deus Ex Machina - but earnestly much more compact, integrated and perhaps "better"? I love this wine and I am sad I could never lay my hands on a few bottles. Highly recommended. Score is 98-100.
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Brooding blackish red color. Very complex aromas of blackberry, cassis, mint, menthol, tobacco, white pepper, and some smoked meat. Full bodied and a thick mouth feel. Flavors coating entire mouth, while great fruit tannins, and fresh acid provide an effortless balance. Extreme length on the finish with evolving flavors throughout the finish. So young but showing very well. The finish is the standout feature for this wine. Try to grab a bottle of this wine to experience the finish.
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Oh boy I shouldve listened to Loren. Did not decant. My bad. The nose was gorgeous, amazing. Full of clove, cinnamon, raspberries, blueberries, chocolate, every time I stuck my nose in I could smell something different. The palate is where I goofed. It felt like a velvet giant in the mouth, filling every nook and cranny but the fruit was tight and primary. Amazingly the finish was smooth and sweet just not very well differentiated flavors cleary as a result of lack of air. For three hours it stayed the same. Im in love with the nose and the texture. Wont touch for a while and when I do, Ill decant for 12 hours.
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#6 of 6 in a recent tasting of Parker 100 pointers. Nothing wrong with this wine, and in fairness it could have probably used some more time in bottle and decanting, but it was blown away by the SQN Atlantis and Chateauneufs we tried. A little too hot and juicy, the rich, ripe fruit is almost overpowering and takes away from the other elements. Would give this time and will not open another bottle for several years.
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rich, deep cherry nose with little noticeable alcohol. Rich, full and luscious yet wrapped in soft tannins that provide adequate structure. Beautiful long finish-wont touch my other bottles for at least 4-5 years.
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A bit toned down from last tasting. Still lots of alcohol superimposed on liqueur-like spicy fruits and leathery notes. Big. Not really my style, and hard to drink more than a small glass.
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Since this has a lot of Grenache it is quite light compared to the Alban but on the palate it is voluptuous and thick. Intense, focused, fresh, pure, delicious. Kirch, raspberries and cherries. Flowers and spicebox. Very long aftertaste. This is the 3d bottle we’ve opened and every one has been better than the previous.
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Dinner with Friends (Bouchard, Hirsch, Vissoux, Brunello, Bea, Saxum, Kapscandy): Slightly better than a bottle consumed last week. That one had been decanted for around 12 hours. This was slow-o'd for the same time. Or maybe it was just such a great match to the food! Anyway, its nice to be able to share a bottle like this with friends. I remember barrel tasting with Justin and drinking his first vintage (2000), and its nice to see good things happen to good people and then share that across the country. As for the wine, lots of bold fruit; raspberries, black raspberries, plums with a bit of kirsch. You barely perceive the 15.8% alcohol except for the body. Very smooth long finish. The wine is velvety. Still too young to drink, but so it goes. Loved it anyway.
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Very interesting wine; different from anything I've had before. The big nose of fruits is phenomenal. The taste is very smooth, with a long finish. Big fruit, but also a taste that I can't quite define - perhaps mint, menthol or floral, and almost a little chalky taste. Personally, I prefer the Saxum Syrah wines such as the Booker vinyeard, but perhaps this needed a longer decanting (which was brief, having taken a bottle to the Melting Pot).
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Dujac, Conterno, Casa Piena, Realm, SQN, Saxum (WSWOTY), Clos Mimi (Dante's): With all the hoopla (RP100 and WS WOTY) it seemed like a great time to open a bottle. Add in the insane prices this is selling for and I thought I better pop one while I still can :-) I decanted this for about 12 hours. Like all Saxums, this is a huge wine yet still so light on its feet. I got no heat, but one can certainly feel the 15.8% alcohol. My wife found it a poor food match. I pretty much saved it to drink after dinner but it did seem to go wel with a very interesting Japanes Eggplant dish I had. This wine has a surreal texture and really does dance acorss my palate. For a big wine, it has a contemplative quality that made me think I would like to be alone in front of fireplace drinking it. Nah, i was having too much fun, maybe the next bottle. It is still quite young and at the end of the day, is really a typical Saxum albeit from a very good vintage. I'll probably open a couple more before the hype dies down and then try to wait five years or more to revisit.
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Spectacularly rich, high-octane blueberry/blackberry fruit with mint, pencil lead, black raspberry, and olive flavors, great depth and structure, long finish, drank wine along with a 2006 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vyd Syrah and a 2005 Pax Alder Springs Vyd Syrah, while the other wines were terrific the Saxum was head-and-shoulders more complex
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Rhone Varietal Tasting (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): This is really hard to score. I have a feeling my score is ultimately way too low -- this could be a 96-97. It is huge fruit and very grapey on the initial nose. Menthol, black pepper and saline. Loads of fruit on the palate. Blue fruit, black fruit, menthol, saline. I could sense that the structure is there, but there is so much fruit right now. Silky smooth. If you own any of these, you have to let them sit for a few years. There is just so much going on here on the palate. You need to really contemplate and swirl to get the structure. The finish is long, but the one major nit I had with the wine was that I thought there was a touch of heat on the finish.
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Syrahs and other Rhone varietals (Roberts House): decanted 12 hours. minty meat -- almost like a lamb with a mint sauce. blackberry, black fruit, chocolate powder. med(++) tannins dry out the palate and lead into a long long finish.
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(First experience with this bottle.) Big blast of berries as soon as I popped the cork. Small taste right away gave more berries and structure with balance but a little heat on finish. Splash decanted and let sit for 6 hours prior to tasting group. At that point it was partially closed down (Mourvedre seemed hidden) and although good, was a bit disappointing. Saved some and re-tasted about 2 hours later. Wine was much fuller at that point, could taste the Mourved more and it was much better. My rating is based in this final taste. I'm thinking this is a 24 hour decant at this stage in it's evolution. Glad I have a few more bottles.
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Root 246 Dinner (Root 246, Solvang, California): Opened and splash decanted almost two hours before serving. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Big nose of currants, plums, blueberries and a mix of other dark fruits. Huge on the palate with flavors of currants, blueberries, cherries and berries. Medium acidity, fairly firm tannins, full bodied to the hilt. Can be drank now with a decant or probably should be held into the medium term before trying again. 95+ for the moment. We'll see where she heads.
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Chablis, Melville Clonal Blending and The Round 3 Let 'Er Rip (My House In The South OC): I still have one more bottle so the next time I drink this, which will be my final bottle, I willd decant it thoroughly and then form a final impression. As to this bottle noted here, was pulled from my cellar, poured to a decanter and then the discussion ensued. The air it started to pull in did seem to help but my impression I took from the short aeration it saw left me again not as impressed as others. I would note my previous bottle did get a decant, a good sized amount I'll add, and my impression on that bottle was similar. Gerry Frayer, who I do respect for his palate, commented that he thought this wine would get much better, underneath some of the youth. For me, aside from the decanting commitment I will do again the next time, I just think Justin has made wines of equal or better stature and I don't see what Parker saw.
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This was a late night(hey lets open this) pop-n-pour....that didn't do the wine justice. From memory, it was tight and tannic, had some beautiful florals of spice and white pepper, kirsch liqueur, juicy fresh crushed red fruits....but still pretty tight, seemed lighter than your typical Saxum. Saved half the bottle, and drank 2 days later....darker, richer, more chocolate, darker fruits, well balanced and smooth....yet still needs time. I really like the crushed fruit from the Grenache....and the floral spices are to die for! You can tell its a well made wine, from perfect fruit. Glad to have a few more...will decant the hell out of the next one! ++pts
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Opened for 11 hours, decanted for the last three. The second time I have had this wine and it is the real deal. This was outstanding. Long finish, very ripe fruit, no heat. Bravo.
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Expectations were high for this wine and it had stiff competition with Denner and Justin rhone varietals. The wine is brooding, sinful and complex. Bacon fat and layers upon layers of blueberry pie on the mid pallet. Nose and finish shows heat. It paired nicely with the bone marrow from osso bucco. Ultimately it opened up and prevailed as WOTN.
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Drank side by side with the Lorraine. Smooth, hedonistic. Decanted for 10 hours which helped smooth out the rough edges. Rasberry and blueberry compote with a touch of baking spice and cinnamin. This wine will be elegant in 5 years.
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Per Justin Strider Smith, I double decanted this in the morning (9:30 am) and then brought it to the second irregular Not Lisa dinner at Peking Duck House in Manhattan. The decant made the wine, at least with its primary flavors, ready to drink now. Beautiful strong dark fruits that go down like velvet. Raspberry and Blueberry predominate. A touch of vanilla, allspice, and a faint pepper in the background. Color was dark, almost opaque. Nose was perfumed fruit and exotically sexy. Alcohol was not a material component of the flavor profile becauase of phenomenal balance. I do not believe in perfection when it comes to wine grades, but if this gets better with age (I have 5 more 750s and a mag to stretch out over the next 10 years or so), it will poke into the 99 pt range.
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Drank it blind. Fairly light color, good fresh nose. At this stage it is more fresh and clean than complex, more fruit and some toasty oak than meat and blood that you get on the older wines. It is delicious and easy to drink but you can tell the potential for long life.
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Opened and had a taste, but plan on drinking tomorrow night. Very tight at this point, and there's no way it's a 100-point wine, for my palate, at this time. 24-HOUR UPDATE: I didn't decant yesterday, and probably should have given how tight this still is. Showing better, but that's not saying much. This makes me think of the big bang--a lot of substance, but wound so tight it can't really be described. Starting to show dark fruits, hints of mocha and meat, and plenty of tannin, this needs some time--probably at least a year or two before trying again, and even then I would splash decant 24 hours in advance. (PE: withheld)
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15.8% ABV. Tasted over a couple days. I poured half the bottle into a 375 and recorked it for day two. Dark black garnet in the glass, opaque at the center. Beautiful nose of kirsch, lavender, and garrigue with a touch of balsa. Concentrated rich dark fruit with a long layered finish. Retronasal suggestion of crushed rocks. Very similar to the 2005 Bone Rock we tasted alongside on night 2, and just slightly better. For what it is worth, the leftover half bottle seemed more tight than when tasting the first night. Nice wine.
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I'll add to the building discussion about this wine. I opened this last night, no decant, and had a glass with dinner. Seemed pretty tight and didn't give up much. Recorked the wine, put back in cellar. Tonight, trying again with no decant. The aromatics are sharp, a mixture for me of underbrush and some alcohol, with some flowers hidden beneath. The palate shows a raspberry liqueur, blackberry and a chocolate shake type of feel through the oak that is showing. As it sits in the glass, no doubt, there is a deep core of red and black jammy fruit in the center of it. For me, at this stage, this wine is still quite primary and too young to drink. So, where does the wine head? I think that will tell the true story, as I think it will need another 12-18 months to settle in and then hold itself up to evaluation.
Opened for 12 hours and decanted for four. Just a stunning wine. Very fruit forward but with depth and structure. Paired with numerous 2007 CNDPs and this was the WOTN.
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2007 James Berry: Saxum, Copain, Carlisle: (Tasted along with 07 Copain and Carlisle Syrah James Berry) Dense, flavorful red fruits, smooth dark raspberry, some sweetness, fairly ripe, deep, intense finish, though has a smokiness and savoriness that makes me think it's partially from the barrel; soft mouthfeel lower acid/tannins, riper than either the Copain or Carlisle. With several more hours of air, becomes quite ripe, somewhat syrupy, flat, low on both acidity and tannic structure. Yes, there is depth and intensity, with some licorice on the finish, but the balance is so out of whack it just never comes together as a complete package, even for its style.
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Rhone Rangers tasting (Vinens verden, Odense): Black color with a thin purple rim. The nose is very brooding, black and tight with aromas of ripe, black cherry, blackberry, pepper, olives, asphalt, tar, oil and ink. Very youthful, huge concentration and intensity on the palate, soft but this has backbone and character. With some air it really opened for the complexity of a power trip of a syrah. There is some black fruit but is it tightly wound up inside layer upon layer of licorice, tar, asphalt, campfire, spices, cookie dough and oak. While the concentration and intensity of the flavors are extreme, this has the acidity to carry it. Extreme, but extremely drinkable at the same time. I found myself reaching for another sip quickly after each time I put the glass on the table.
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stunning.; perhaps the best wine ive ever had. seamless balance of oak, alcohol and gobs and gobs of luscious dark fruit. just completely delicious in every manner with a really long finish, the right amount of tannins and grip and acidity even. outrageously good, actually worth the $300 price tag, would love to buy more for less. took to crow bar with friends. 97-98+
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Excellent wine. A little closed at first. Then became more integrated and seemless. Lots a cherry, blackberry and bitter chocolate. Really quite impressive. Long finish with some good acidity to add lift. Long future ahead for this. It still needs time show show its best. Certainly the best Saxum James Berry I've ever had.
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Very closed nose. Took forever to coax anything out of it. My first half-glass the wine was just to warm (tannic and harsh) so I put it in the fridge to bring it down to 64-66 degrees. Wow, much better at the cooler temp. This is by far the most understated Saxum I have drank. Fairly balanced tannin and fruit. Certainly not an in your face wine and built for the long haul. Perfectly ripe raspberries and blackberries with nice integration of spices and smoke. Needs time and then will be dynamite. 93pts.
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Our first bottle of the much heralded 2007 Saxum James Berry was enjoyed last night over dinner at St. John. What a great meal to go with a great wine. This is more approachable early compared with other vintages of Saxum which typically benefit from some time to moderate the alcohol a bit. As most fans of Justin's wines know, he is an absolute master of blending (Mike Officer also falls into this camp and IMHO doesn't do it enough...Two Acres and Three Birds are top notch) Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Even though this wine lists Grenache as the predominant varietal at 41%, last night the Mourvedre was the dominant grape. I'd suggest giving it some decanter time...it really improved over the course of several hours. A wine like this makes one feel fortunate to be on the mailing list.
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This wine was on the warmer side when we tasted it. It was very tannic and somewhat harsh. Not the easiest to drink either with a good dose of heat showing up at the finish. This was a very early look at this wine, so all of us that tasted it will be waiting to see if this really does shape up to be the 100 pointer is has been called. It wasn't for me right now. Others in the group liked this more than I did, but I attributed that to the blend, I'm not as big of a fan of Grenache most of the other tasters in this group.
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One sniff and you know you have arrived in the The Golden State. Big and chewy with a deft balance of oak, blueberry pie and a white and black pepper medley and some bacon fat. A gorgeous wine that evolved on and on as the night wore on. Never faltering, but not too food friendly either, at least not this elegant grub of pan fried loin of veal with ricotta gnocchi. A baby for sure, I would not mind following this one for the next 3 or 4 years. Intricate tannins and a generous, but slightly masked acid level. Nice.
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This was fantastic. It was served pop and pour, which was a disservice to the wine. Nonetheless, by two hours into it, there was lots going on the nose and the palate. The nose had dark fruit with loads of blackberries and blueberries taking the lead. It tasted of those fruits as well as oak and spices. This wine had great balance and a long finish. I hope to wait at least 24 months before trying another.
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Holiday catch up: I had high expectations and this fell well short for me. Opened and poured out a taste in the afternoon. When I came back to it in the evening, the alcohol was dominating feature. Didn't seem to have the trademark concentration of fruit I love in these wines. Very similar to an 06 Rocket Block I opened last year. All of the elements seems a bit out of sync right now. I hope time changes this for the better, not that it was bad now.
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Blind High-end Cali Cab Tasting (Ken's Place): Dark purple. Full nose with bright, rich berries. Palate has big-time fruit. Very bright and high toned with loads of pepper and spice. Good balance for the waves of rich fruit. Delicious.
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Blind Cabernet Retrospective (Chicago, IL): Anise and spice. Really big, with lots of heat showing. Floral, sweet fruit. Some tar notes. Full-bodied, flashy wine. Masked structure. Needs to settle down.
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Lots going on here, massive mouth party with spice, berry, and coffee invited, have a couple more too enjoy when it all comes together, will not be better, just more civilized. To those who question a 100pt rating, show me yours?
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Mike popped thlis open from his stash as well. I was excited to see what all the hype was about. Since this bottle was popped on a whim, it was a pop and pour and really could have used some time to breathe. Great nose of dark raspberries, some oak and pepper. Big wine with the raspberries really shining on the palate, leading to a finish that had some undertones of chocolate and spice. After about 30 minutes the heat dissipated on the finish which lead to everything really being in balance. Should only get better with time.
Note: I love Saxum's, I mean really love them and this probably will get better with time, but at this stage I have had a couple of others that have been better than this one IMO. Maybe we popped it too young with no decant?? Regardless, this was a treat to have and I'm glad I got to experience it at this stage. Will open another one in a few years to check in.
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41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre and 28% Syrah. Dark purple color. Aromas of brooding black fruit and charred oak. Tastes of boysenberry, tobacco, leather, earth, blueberry and blackberry. Rich and very full bodied. Very well balanced with beautiful acidity. In fact one of the most balanced Saxums I've ever had the pleasure to drink. The depth and complexity on the mid palate and finish is simply outstanding. Powerful finish that lasts for several minutes. This wine with time should evolve into something even more spectacular that what we drank this afternoon. 15.8% alcohol.
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A friend came by and opened this. Way too young of course, but I loved the chance to try the "utterly perfect" wine (RP100). I am not sure if I would go that far (but I might in the future). Like a super concentrated, super ripe Chateauneuf du Pape. A finish that goes absolutely forever. On opening, I could smell it from three feet away. Cherries, raspberries, slightly meaty, candied apples, smoke, minerals, etc. On the palate, this is lush with massive fruit. A slight raisin note, that is unique but not bad. I will hold my bottle for a while, because while accessible, this really needs at least a bit of time to come together. All of the above said, it actually does seem just slightly throttled down from the 06 in a good way and that makes me think it will age out even longer.
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IN bottle: WOWSER what a freaking wine. A little hint of heat that disappeared after a few minutes in the glass. Beautifully concentrated bright red fruit with notes of violet and a touch of oak. On the palate you get just loads and loads of fresh picked fruit with a raspberry finish that goes on for days. There is great acidity with a fresh minerality that is nothing like the bigger almost "jammy" 06 James berry. This wine is incredibly clean and fresh and easily top of the heap.
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2/11/2024 - Glenn228 Likes this wine:
Superb wine. Much benefit from a multi hour decant, which integrates the alcohol and brings the fruit out. Savory, rich but balanced. Long finish. My first taste of the 07 yet will not wait too long to open our remaining bottles.
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2/11/2024 - Bob & Sue Atlanta wrote: 98 Points
What can I say - just outstanding! Did a quick decant and poured it right back in the bottle and corked it. Consumed at a restaurant 8 hours later. Powerful yet smooth. Reminded me me of a well aged, good vintage Pichon Lalande. It would difficult to find a better bottle of wine...
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1/12/2024 - rogerr Likes this wine: 94 Points
From 1.5L. Still youthful. Delicious out of the gate and decanting several hours had not effect. Uncertain about its development forward from this point but would guess many more years of youthful energy.
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11/6/2023 - alexbhurst1678 wrote: 92 Points
Opened a bottle for Hazel's 1st; initially tannins were really hard; all sorts of smells, including lighter berries and lead shavings, some sort of sweaty minerality to it; needs some time to settle down.
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9/28/2023 - ELH wrote: 96 Points
Last bottle, a magnum, of this vintage. It has held up well for all these years, evolving in the glass from Grenache dominated to a more balanced, integrated blend of the Rhone varietals. This bottle relates back to when my friend Curtis introduced me to the Saxum vineyard. It was the Wine Spectator wine of the year for its vintage. The original plan was to drink it with Curtis at a family gathering. Alas, that didn't happen as he died a year ago. So, it received a celebratory toast in his honor from Penny and Phil.
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9/24/2023 - efeldhake@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep garnet in color. Nose of dark cherries, hint of raspberry, menthol, and leather. Tastes of dark cherries, blackberries, dark chocolate, espresso, and hint of tobacco and menthol. Lovely balance with fruit still shining and complementary acidity. Surprising that you don’t taste the 15.8% alcohol. Tannins are largely resolved. Drink now and over the next 3 to 5 years.
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12/29/2022 - cookie7 wrote:
Opened 3 hours before dinner and poured into a decanter. Took a small sip and decided it was best to pour the wine back in the bottle and put it back in the cellar. I think that was the right decision as it allowed the fruit to show up front without the heat coming through. This showed magnificently at dinner. Ripe but balanced, red fruited, just an utterly enjoyable wine. Definitely in the zone.
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8/24/2022 - Silicon Valley Wine Club wrote:
Decanted for 1-1/2 hours and then drank for the next 4 hours. This bottle was amazing and held up perfectly. You can drink now or hold on for a few more years.
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7/14/2022 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Absolutely stunning.
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6/26/2022 - FoinZap Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted and poured. Plum colored to blood red at edge. Nose is a robust mix of red fruit, black olive, wet dirt. Palate is raspberry, blackberry, black olive, Dr. Pepper, hint of hard-boiled egg, something earthy. Medium- to full-bodied, mouth feel is both silky and spicy, vibrating a bit. Reasonably well integrated, medium finish.
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6/15/2022 - oaxaca90049 wrote: 100 Points
This is simply a staggeringly beautiful wine. Pure perfection. How does Justin do it year after year. It's in a perfect place right now. Powerful yet subtle, gorgeous dark fruit and Kirsch. Smooth, layer and intriguing. It leaves your mouth full of marvel.
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6/5/2022 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
Simply perfection. Everyone was wowed.
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5/24/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Our prior bottle was consumed almost five years ago, and after reading my note from 2017, I could have just cut and pasted it here. Still incredibly fruit-forward, still a crowd pleaser and an enjoyably dense beast of a wine, still with alcohol that doesn't show itself until the bottle is almost gone, still nothing to indicate that this is a 15-year old wine. I'd like to tell you how many years to hold from here before some evolution is noticeable, but I have no idea. 5? 10? 50?
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1/4/2022 - NY Wino Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted and drank over 4 hours this wine is pretty massive with tons of dark fruit, smoky oak and smooth but chewy tannins. Definitely some heat on the back end from the very high alcohol (15.8%). Think the wine should improve with a few more years of age.
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8/30/2021 - blanquito wrote: 95 Points
My first Saxum, and served double blind no less. I immediately thought new world syrah, something like an SQN but better. I don’t normally enjoy wines of this size, but this was special. I loved the purity and power of the fruit without any garishness or over the top sweetness or creaminess. Seemed like little-to-no new oak too, which I applaud. Maybe lacking in some complexity but otherwise it showed spectacularly. Fully ready and in the zone, drink now.
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4/2/2021 - Amerique wrote: 96 Points
Rich, delicious huge blackberry fruit with toasty earth and gamely flavors, rough excellent structure, long finish, many years to go with this wine
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3/19/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
A Year Later in Vero...; 3/17/2021-3/21/2021 (Vero Beach): Last wine of the night and writing this a few days later so from memory, but this was I think also drinking well. Definitely new world and perhaps even a bit more so than the Colgins right before it. Have really enjoyed this wine in the past and at that point in the evening was a nice more fruit forward approach.
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3/5/2021 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cherry and anise on the nose. The fruit is mellow and sweet (not RS), cherries, blackberries. Smooth, beautifully resolved tannins. This wine is smooth across the palate. Lovely acidity and balance. perhaps a touch of heat creeping in, but it's not distracting. Finishes long with dark fruits and a touch of raspberry. Some air tends to dissipate the heat. I'd drink over the next 3 years just in case the alcohol starts to become more obvious. However, it's really in a good place right now. 41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre. 28% Syrah.
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3/14/2020 - BeavisKnowsWine wrote: 87 Points
Out of a magum, but disappointed. 15.8 and with a hint of VA. Can taste the char of the oak and it just takes away from the wine to me. I know this was rated highly, but not for me:{
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1/12/2020 - Geoff Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wonderful fruit, balance, mouthfeel, long finish. Linear and pure. Only thing missing - no seconary notes yet.
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9/10/2019 - Steve Bird wrote: 95 Points
This needs MORE TIME. Very ripe fruit. Still has more green fruit aromas than I expected.
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8/10/2019 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 98 Points
Decanted for only one hour but could have used more time. Decadent and still young. Menthol wafts from the nose and lays heavy on the palate. Syrupy black fruit, cassis, anise and vanilla mix in perfectly. Haven’t had much aged Saxum but if this is the future I’m happy. This has 10 years to go with ease.
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8/4/2019 - Steve Bird wrote: 94 Points
Longer note to follow, but this needs more time. Decanted this magnum for 3 hours. Still bold blue/black fruit. I have a 2008 magnum that I would wait another 5 years to open.
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7/13/2019 - Cailles wrote: 92 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 2007 consists of 41% Grenache (rest Syrah, Mourvedre). Lowest Grenache share in the blend of all 6 vintages and lowest rating. Surprisingly, this wine didn't show the elevated depth of the 2007s from the other vineyards. Medium- complexity only with some herbal scents, dark, blue and red fruit. Not as expressive and deep as the other James Berry wines, not as pure and strong. Nevertheless, certainly a good wine. Probably some more years or an extensive decant might change that. I wouldn't give up yet.
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6/22/2019 - sirpat00 wrote: 95 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:
As always ripe fruit, probably a bit darker than the other vintages. Also more greenish / herbal aromas. Still quite wild on the palate, but with great tension and intensity.
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5/27/2019 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Let it breathe for about two hours. Decent nose. Very pleasant full bodied wine. Would have guessed more syrah than mourvedre or grenache. Comes together well with smooth dark blue and purple fruit. Lingering finish. Not sure I would say better than the '01 Dead Arm we also opened.
At $60/glass, I might sell the remaining 4 bottles.
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5/17/2019 - soyhead wrote:
nose - motor oil, smoke, bacon, maple syrup
mouth - deep, extracted, syrah-esque, smoky, huge. askance. tasted blind and i guessed SQN. not my style. i think i even called it a 'disaster'. lacks freshness of fruit
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5/1/2019 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
What an amazing wine and what a joy to share it at our wine gala dinner. Everyone was awed. Justin is just a magician. Wonderful dark color and elegant fruit and sweetness. It's like drinking velvet. Luckily I have another 4 bottles.
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2/13/2019 - Kevnzworld wrote: 96 Points
Pnp. Deep rich and gorgeous.
A wonderful blend of chocolate, dark berries , earthy umami and eucalyptus . The complexity and balance are almost overwhelmingly good.
Oregano, dark cherry and leather provide a long lingering finish. . Savory dessert.
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2/4/2019 - Reno-Rhone Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last bottle drank on 17th anniversary. Too bad there isn’t more!
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1/12/2019 - fred o. wrote:
inky violet. Nose rich jammy fruit, blueberry predominantly. Palate rich dark fruits, some brambles and spice. Low acidity, chocolatey; smooth. Polarizing and not my personal favorite but can see the appeal. well done for the style, YMMV.
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12/27/2018 - bhrubin Likes this wine: 99 Points
Wow. Still massive, but with an underlying finesse revealed on the 45-60 second long finish. Plenty of big fruit with great acidity and minerality, yet with a velvet mouthfeel almost reminiscent of a Hundred Acre Cabernet. Wildly complex and beautiful accompaniment to our filets. Still has plenty of time to go. But wouldn’t be surprised if this is at peak or very close.
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11/25/2018 - Lord Rodney wrote: 95 Points
Something like 7 years since I tasted this wine. I liked it more now but that's the age. It has mellowed a lot. The score has not changed just the wine is in a better place now. Also I think we hit it in it's prime. I would not age it further. Prunes lurking in the background.
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11/11/2018 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still very youthful in color and nose. Wonderful velvet mouthfeel, with the grenache giving a lift that the other 2007s did not have.
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10/11/2018 - madmagnum wrote: 99 Points
decanted for about 2 hours and in the glass for 1 hour. still young, massive fruit and texture. an incredible wine I have tasted 8-10 times since release and every time it blows me away. doesnt seem to ever lose a step and continues to evolve and develop more and more richness but maintains elegance and balance (weird, right?) could be in my top 10 all time due to the combination of power, balance and finesse. an explosion of flavors from dark cherry to black currents, roasted/bbq meat, redwood bark, pepper, smoke, spices, boysenberry pie.. it doesnt stop and the finish seems to never end. if you want a party in your mouth, this is the wine for you. the antithesis of old world. If you like well aged Bordeaux, this wine is not for you. best to decant for at least 3-4 hours minimum and then see how it develops in your glass for another 2 hours. could it be even better with a longer decant? why not a 100 point score... ? I'm still considering an upgrade of my score. gonna taste it again later today to see where it is after 15-20 hours. stay tuned
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8/5/2018 - dson wrote: 100 Points
Opened my last bottle about 18 months ago (Sadly...I only have one bottle left). This has morphed and changed again.....in the morning when I Coravaned a sip...you could smell the aroma as the liquid gold slid into the glass. The finish on this is CRAZY ..really crazy. Popped, decanted about 5 minutes and poured. The nose...the nose! YOu can just sit and sniff all night long..... Smooth and silky, but then on the back palate all these different flavors start popping...black fruit...leather...little smoke...plum, blackberry, dark bing cherry....just amazing. I really get the 100 point Parker score on this...my last bottle will be held for another 3 years....then we will thoroughly enjoy....
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6/9/2018 - soyhead wrote:
nose - dark berry compote
mouth - big fruit, very round, maple, still tannic. the ripeness of this screams out California. I can see the sex appeal behind this wine
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5/7/2018 - Lateva wrote: 95 Points
Pop and pour. Nose was very nice but a bit of an oxidized note was present that was not appealing. Palate was phenomenal. Just amazing tannin and acidity balance. It goes on and on. If it wasn’t for the oxidized nose, this would be a few points higher for me.
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1/15/2018 - walkerjfw wrote: 98 Points
Zurich Supper Club - We have a quorum in London...another epic dinner! (67 Pall Mall - London, UK): Another one of my contributions for the evening, especially fun to drink this wine with CVA & Andrew. Not much Saxum makes it to Europe (or outside the US for that matter...) A worthy addition to this dinner and for this crew...Had the somms decant this for about an hour before drinking.
Inky purple color, dark core. Rich nose of black and blue fruits, asian spice, pepper. Palate showing blueberry, boysenberry, floral notes, tart black fruits, baking spice, minerals...a lot going on here. Full bodied, great secondary note. Long and viscous finish
Great to drink this wine with knowledgeable friends, the wine that put Saxum on the map. This is a big wine for sure, fun to have such a classic Rhone Ranger on a night with a La Chapelle in the lineup. In a great spot now, seems it will hold at this level for a while...hard to wait. Andrew's WOTN
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12/21/2017 - BrianMc wrote: 97 Points
Depth, balance, fruit and finish were all there, drinking beautifully now with lots of legs left. Head to head with a 2007 Shafer Hillside select and Opus one, I thought it was the clear winner.
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12/8/2017 - wineismylife wrote: 95 Points
WIML95
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Tasted over about two hours.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Attractive nose of soapstone, lavender, loganberry and plums. Flavors of black raspberries, loganberries and dark, chewy plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next few years. Ready to go.
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11/18/2017 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! Red fruits and spice poured from the bottle after popping the cork. Sweet fruit, silky texture, dense and yet weightless. It reminded me of a Chateauneuf-du-Pape from a top vintage, but without the savory element that would have elevated this wine even higher. Still wonderful. I waited ten years to try this, and it was worth it.
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11/11/2017 - Chateau g2pa Likes this wine: 98 Points
Fantastic wine out the bottle with only 10 min decant. Mixed berries, plum, morning dew on nose. Medium body, jammy, smooth tannins. Minimal oak and licorice. Long finish.
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11/5/2017 - Old Vino wrote:
We had high hopes after reading Tanzer note. Explosive dense aromas, lots of black fruits, kirsch, and cedar. Enjoyable to smell but not as much to drink. Alc heat ruins it. Would rate 90. May be an awkward phase.
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10/18/2017 - patwjr Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours, then drank over 1 hour. Amazing breakfast jam fruit on nose as it was poured into the decanter. When drank, full rich fruit, quite smooth, yet still has time to mature further. Amazing now.
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9/28/2017 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours. In the glass, opaque, deep purplish-red. On the nose, grenache liqueur all the way, and more of the same on the palate. We enjoyed this quite a bit more than the bottle we had in January 2014 - the medicinal notes from that bottle were not present here, and the tannins have largely resolved. With all of that said, this is a full-on in-your-face kind of wine, and it's not going to be for everyone. Right on the edge of too much of a good thing.
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6/9/2017 - Kim Gerner wrote: 90 Points
WA 100 points US wines (14 wines) - Wine tasting dinner (Søllerød Kro): Deep ruby colour. Aromas of dried fruit, dark fruit, vanilla and chocolate. too much coffee and jamminess for me at the moment.
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5/1/2017 - BVal wrote: 92 Points
Head to head with the '07 Saxum Booker. Purchased on release and first time trying either wine.
Color: dark, inky opaque core -> deep magenta rim; similar appearance to the Booker but a little less density of color to the rim. Vivacious bouquet of blueberry and boysenberries, red fruits with underbrush, dried rosemary and sage and vanilla notes. Red fruits and primary grape elements really coming through on the palate with watermelon lifesavers, a touch of forest floor and some bitter pit fruit. Pithy and still a bit tannic (no surprise; '07 Paso) as well as a bit too hot, this struck me as too primary and grapey still -- needs time to develop. Today, I'd take the Booker as I like the more classic dark fruit and earth elements . . . .
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3/28/2017 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted double blind. Tasted from MAGNUM.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of aspirin, dark berries and dark plums. Flavors of meat, plums and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
My guess was this is the 2007 Saxum Booker or James Berry Vineyard.
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2/19/2017 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Tasted double blind. Definitely a more new world styled wine, very fruit forward but nicely integrated and balanced. Lots of flavor exploding across the palate. This was the group's overall favorite of the red flight - but probably 3rd or 4th place for me.
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2/19/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break (the second); 2/17/2017-2/19/2017 (Various spots (homes, Mis en Place, Capital Grille)): Great wine. Very fruit forward and in that candied format that works when it has the right acidity and balance (which this does). A pretty wine and very enjoyable and not overdone, but just delicious.
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1/16/2017 - dson Likes this wine: 100 Points
Opened my last 2007 JB 3-1/2 years ago. At that time it had become more subtle and smooth.....so I was really interested to see how it compared this time. WOW! This was a mind blower! Can you give something a 100+ rating? It was like it woke up, grew up....with a nose that was fragrant made you salivate right off the bat. Smooth tannings but very dominant flavors...tobacco and licorice and lots of deep dark red fruits and leather. The flavors kept evolving in the mouth and changed depending on what you were eating. No hotness and no bite....but certainly "there!"! NOW I can see why this is a 100 point wine..and how do reviewers like Parker know to visualize how a wine will be a decade later? All I can say is: Two more bottles to go.....can't wait to revisit this in 5 and 10 years...and then say goodbye to a most elegant, amazing wine.
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10/31/2016 - MV2007 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Silky, long and balanced with waves of dark fruit. I've moved away from this style toward the N. Rhone over the past few years but this is a beautiful and undeniably well-made wine. Only hold this longer if your curious how this will age. It's in a really nice place now.
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9/8/2016 - dcwino wrote:
Mostly domestic wine dinner (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner): Intense blueberry kool aid with neutral spirit. Incredibly youthful but monolithic for my palate. Once again you know who you are. My rating is 91 but no need to skewed the average rating for those who love the style.
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7/3/2016 - shadow wrote: 100 Points
Without question, one of the greatest Saxum's ever.
My last encounter, she was somber, not bad, but quiet.
Opened a couple hours ago, did the double decant.
Nose has all the promise one could ask, now the moment of truth.
First sip, is that oak or Juniper berries, than she lifts her skirt.
That rush of wet fruit pushes to the surface, than fades like smoke into the night.
First thought, no better than the 2011 Saxum James Berry Vineyard I sucked down last night.
Than another sip, like that tarlet with no stockings, something better calls out.
Sip three, adding points, as it fades away, so much better than last night.
She has rounded third base and is heading home.
She just delivered the leather, four sips, four different impressions, must have more.
Alice just walked in, wow, did you smell this wine.
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7/1/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amazing texture, silky smooth, dark/black fruits, squid ink, cocoa and chocolate galore. Others didn't enjoy it as much but this was right up my alley. I don't see this improving any, but it will maintain for another 5 years at least.
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6/30/2016 - dcwino wrote: 91 Points
Domestic Red Wine Dinner - 94 & 95 Harlan, 05 Bionic, Selosse Le Bout du Clos and etc. (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner): What happened here! I get a bit of spritz. Incredibly youthful nose, very ripe black fruit, blackberry jam, dark spices, lavender and mineral. Excellent concentration, a bit monolithic palate and medium finish. It feels really simple. I assume not the best showing. For my palate, the Alban shows better. Need to try another bottle.
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4/26/2016 - Topper wrote: 92 Points
Clearly well made, highly concentrated wine with deep color and deep, dark blue fruit. Very bold in the style of Alban but not quite as complex or balanced as a good SQN. This one will take some time and should not, at present, be consumed with food.
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1/17/2016 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 96 Points
Incredible wine. Ammazing up front fruit and a finish that goes on and on. Decanted 4 hours prior to drinking and this wine still needs 5+ years to hit its stride.
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12/30/2015 - soyhead wrote:
tasted blind
nose - oaky & strong alcohol
mouth - strong, bold fruited. a young wine that needs 10+ years. potent.
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12/4/2015 - phenricsson wrote: 99 Points
Saxum 2007 comparison
Richer, smoother. Feels like more expensive oak. Still quite a lot of tannins to keep it serious. Very long aftertaste. Fruit, blackberries, ripe Lapin cherries. Always loved this wine. 99p.
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11/2/2015 - MayValley wrote: 97 Points
What a behemoth of a wine! Very deep nose, tight - dark fruit - an explosion of blackberries.
The palate is very concentrated, tons of blackberries, crème de Mûre, very very long finish. Maybe slightly lacking in acidity, but what an impressive wine! Almost too much...
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10/2/2015 - soyhead wrote:
most generously provided (blind) by the patriarch
nose - per brian truffle
mouth - pure, superbly concentrated, licorice, long, dense and porty. My guess was merlot. quite surprised when this was revealed. I can see the hype but i think its very very young
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8/7/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tobacco, minerals and red fruit on the nose. Dried cherry, pomegranate with complex layers of red fruits. Even after three hours I still found this tightly wound and a bit closed down. Bought off of a restaurant wine list. I suspect this will be even better in a few more years. The finish was remarkably long and beautiful.
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8/7/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Perfect. Unreal. Nose is extremely aromatic full of spice and cigar box. Palate is blackberry/raspberry liquor. Fruit is intense, but not over the top. Classic Saxum but more restrained than in some vintages. Grenache is gorgeous and in my wheelhouse. Velvet fist, iron glove. No hard corners whatsoever. Two minute finish. A new favorite Saxum. Could be done differently but not better IMHO.
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8/3/2015 - jvest Likes this wine: 100 Points
What's not to like about this wine? Intense cherries and dark fruit, massive juicy mouthfeel which is complex and evolving to chocolate and spice finish with some slate and mineral trailing slowly into an everlasting finish. Tasting great now with no end in sight.
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6/28/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 100 Points
1500 Parker Points of Wines (GHT): Saxum is probably my favorite winery and this is my favorite Saxum. Easy 100 points. Still youthful but it is starting to develop complexities. The nose has black raspberries, gamey meats, white pepper and some grilled meat notes. On the palate, this is juicy with a great texture. It is light on its feet with incredible power (this Muhammad Ali). Showing a nice layering to it. Perfect balance. Yes, there is a lot of alcohol, but it doesn't show. Great with grilled eggplant. Long finish. A close #2 in my WOTN (and a few votes from the group).
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4/17/2015 - Javachip wrote:
41% grenache, 31% mourvedre, 28% syrah. Clear dark garnet color. Outlandish, flamboyant bouquet of blueberry pie, bourbon, lavish sweet oak, crushed boysenberries, cloves, allspice. 15.8% alcohol contributes its own sweet perfume, but also, unfortunately, makes the wine hot and harsh on the palate. As with bourbon or other liqueur, I savored the aromas and took tiny sips. 94 points for bouquet, 84 points for palate. Overall rating withheld.
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2/7/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 99 Points
Massive wine. This is huge and very rich. Very dark color, thick, inky, syrupy and it coats the glass like milk. The richest most dense finish on any wine I have ever had. You could get full on this and never be able to eat dinner. This is a slow sipping wine perfect for a cold night by a fire. High alcohol is very warming also and the heat is certainly there but it doesn't ruin it. Massive blueberry pie and raspberry pie notes explode all the way through. It has almost a sweet taste or perhaps its just perceived because its so rich. Its like a warm chocolate cherry truffle thats finish goes on for more than 60 seconds. Remarkable and unlike any wine I have ever tasted. This needs 5+ more years in the bottle.
We paired the wine with Gouda & Provolone cheese and it was remarkable how it smoothed the wine out. The wine became even more incredible and much easier and enjoyable to drink. Perhaps 100 points when paired with the proper food.
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11/29/2014 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wow! Smooth, top-notch Chateauneuf-like -- many years left.
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11/28/2014 - rcg62 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow wine. Deep color. Subtle nose but nice dark berry and plums. Tongue coating palate. Brings loads of bracing dark fruit and a finish that goes on for 45 seconds. Nicely balanced, but maybe a little heat in the finish? Still young, would let it sit another couple of years.
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10/10/2014 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Incredible Wines at Private Wine Dinner at Collyer Catering (Westport, CT): My first time having Saxum and what a freaking wine! I thought it might be in a tough spot sandwiched in between 2 SQN's but this was actually better than both in my opinion. A strong statement because both were excellent wines but I theorize the blend might have made a difference in my opinion since both SQN wines were mainly Syrah. Aromas of cherry, raspberry, game, flowers and white pepper. Nose really was singing and intoxicating. Cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry steamroll you with their purity of flavor and vividness. The finish on this was also astonishing, lasting well over a minute. Certainly the best Rhone based wine I have ever had. I need to get on this list!
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9/1/2014 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 97 Points
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COLOR: Deep purple garnet
NOTE: Nose is rich, has a little prick of heat then a little animal fur funk that blew off after about 3 hours. Mix of kirsch and amarena cherry syrup, ripe mulberry. Mouth is rich and opulent, with loads of blackberry, sour cherry, tar and leather, hint of cocoa. The tannins are so refined. The 30+ second finish has a little heat, but is otherwise just loaded with framboise liqueur, kirsch and blackberry liqueur. Hints of garrigue. This has a nice balance that keeps bringing you back for another sip. This is great right now and will probably be so for many more years, but I recommend enjoying its youthful energy.
Now that I know what I’m drinking, it’s the WSWOTY for 2010.
FYI, I carefully Coravined this bottle, slowly removing the needle, and the cork continued to leak a small amount of wine for several minutes.
CORAVIN UPDATE ON 10/14: 98% of the bottles I've used my Coravin on have been accessed on their sides, so as to leave the autolyzed lees and polymerized tannins undisturbed on the side of the bottle when I remove it from the cellar. So..... I think I figured out why this cork "wept" a little the first time I accessed it. I apparently left too much pressure in the bottle, not having allowed the Coravin to dispense until nary a drip came out. I know this now because today I took out this same bottle, leaving it on its side, and inserted the Coravin. It gushed about an ounce of wine before I could lift the neck of the bottle to stop it. Fortunately it was over our built-in trash receptacle so it didn't make a mess, but this was definitely an important learning experience. If these bottles are still going for $300+ then I just spent about $12 on my Coravin education.
Here's my take-away: For bottles that have been previously accessed, I will tilt them just enough while inserting the Coravin needle so that the wine doesn't immediately come in contact with the needle. Then I will place the glass underneath the spout and slowly lower the bottle down to complete horizontal. Even with all these little nuances I have to say the Coravin is at least as important as my decanters.
DECANT: 3-5 hours
GLASS USED: Pinot Noir
TASTE: 9.7
COST: 70
VALUE: 9.2
TRY AGAIN: now - 2019
PRE-POUR LEVEL: 100%
PAIRING: n/a
Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net
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8/13/2014 - mrmedoes Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a conflicted review... an amazing wine that is everything that Paso can be, and at the same time is overpriced on the auction market due to its status. 8 hrs of air on it and probably could have used an overnight. Huge nose, with major grapey Paso goodness. Such a massively dense velvety wine that I'm sure has old world detractors, but they're not focused on what lies beneath. It is the second best Paso wine I've had, and if it had a little more depth in the mid, I'd call it the first. The finish is absolutely bonkers, and I'd say you've got 7-10 years before it all comes together, and another 5-10 beyond that to hold peak.
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6/27/2014 - VoteferPedro wrote:
I call this dessert wine!
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6/15/2014 - jetfan wrote: 96 Points
wow great velvet tannins and deep abiding texture
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2/22/2014 - Robert R. wrote: 85 Points
Decanted about 2 hours. Paired with tri tip. Very modest nose of blueberry, some meat, a little tar, and alcohol. Big, in-your-face, taste profile mostly of blueberry and some dark fruits, kirsch, vanilla, and alcohol. Moderate tannins. Long finish. Not necessarily out of balance, but so bold it's hard to pin it down. Call me crazy, but I just don't get much of the hype and big scores often surrounding this wine. That said, for a cocktail wine, nice enough, but not a great food wine.
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2/2/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 96 Points
Nose is very Grenache like except for the ham and bacon components. Great balance and huge extraction, some tar, licorice and dark fruits with some intermixed spice and oak. Still young and can go for many years to come. Great stuff!
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1/24/2014 - PGB wrote: 90 Points
Big, high alcohol, dense but very little complexity or balance. Rather monolithic in the mouth and lacking in nuance. Undoubtedly impressive that one can produce something this dense and alcoholic from grapes but I can't see the pleasure here.
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1/17/2014 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes before serving, which I freely admit was not even remotely fair to this wine. So be it. In the glass, opaque, deep purplish-red. On the nose, grenache liqueur, crushed blueberries, and a very faint hint of cedar. On the palate, pure red and blue fruit, initially coupled with a noticeable (and to me, offputting) medicinal note. Given an hour of air, the medicinal note vanished, leaving a softer texture and more of the 'pinot-esque' complexity I associate with grenache blends, followed by a long, moderately tannic finish. This was good after some air, and I think there is positive evolution ahead, but I'm finding the ratings hard to square with what's in the bottle today. As I said, perhaps this really needed the long decant.
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12/9/2013 - CManthei wrote: 98 Points
Tasted at Hedonism Wines in London. Beautiful purples and red hues in the glass. The nose and palate are both really impressive -- packed with such fruit and fresh intensity, but it also has underlying layer of medicinal richness... I'm thinking freshly picked herbs, clove, forest floor and licorice, that are all jammed into a rather tight package. This wine needs time in the decanter, and probably a few more years. Such an impressive offering from Saxum... Man, wish the pocketbook would support my desire to buy this one :)
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11/30/2013 - rexmerlot wrote: 95 Points
Clear dark purple in colour. Clean nose of deep black fruits. Dry, med acidity, full body, incredibly smooth tannins, lots of black fruit, spice, and some floral on palate. Great wine, I wish I had planned better and paired it with a nice dinner. Just drank on its own and did not give it the time it deserved. I think it would be even better in 5 - 10 years. Could tell lots of secondary flavors lingering, but will need time to develop.
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11/29/2013 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Previous notes apply. Heat of wine dropped score a point. Nonetheless, the wine is spectacular.
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11/14/2013 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 99 Points
A lovely perfectly clean nose. Actually the nose is best described as "perfect". Deep Grenache fruit combined with Orange zest and deep minerals. The Mourvèdre component adds structure and helps the wine avoid the "flabiness" so often found in Californian Grenaches. Delving further into this effort, there is a perfect balance and a very nice integration to be found. In the end palate there is a slight whiff of heat, but not more than in your average Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This is a beautiful wine which drinks perfectly at present but it will continue to develop for a number of years. Bravo! (Tasted in a flight with 2007 - 2010 Saxum James Berry)
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11/2/2013 - ELH wrote: 97 Points
Exquisite Rhone blend: 41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre, and 28% Syrah. Decanted for an hour, it could have used a longer decant. At first, the disparate grapes were noticeable, with the Grenache most apparent. After another hour, it all came together and was wonderfully integrated. Dark and rich, with a long finish.
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9/21/2013 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 95 Points
15.8% ABV. Popped and poured. Dark garnet in the glass, pretty much opaque. Little changed from my first tasting in 2010. Aromas of kirsch, lavender, and garrigue with a touch of balsa. On the palate, this wine is long and nicely textured. Tasty.
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9/2/2013 - rpenn77 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Dark rich Rhone blend with very long finish.
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8/4/2013 - dson Likes this wine: 99 Points
Opened my first bottle of the '07 James Berry about two years ago. Then..it was a HUGE wine. Hitchya in the face and mouth. Was John Phillip Sousa in the mouth...with incredible 4th of July fireworks and the 1812 overture. SO...Imagine our amazement (2 of the people the other night tasted the first bottle)... when we opened bottle #2 (yes..a special occasion) two years later. We all commented! Still..an amazing bottle of wine..but WOW! Did it grow up, mature, become sexy, subtle and seductive. Gone were the fireworks...replaced by a silky, sexy seductress......with a finish that went on and on......and on again. Great sour cherry initially with plum, red berries..hints of herbs...layered...no perceptible alcohol. This was AMAZING! The comparison between "then" and now.....was a treat. Can't wait (but will) to open another bottle in 2 or 3 years..see how this has evolved.
Opened the bottle early afternoon to taste, then re-corked (at the suggestion of Justin Smith). Then, decanted for about 30 minutes at the restaurant. WOW.....YUMMY.....and as I said..soooooooo sexy.
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Slow. This will tantalize and tease the senses all night long.......good way beyond the very last drop.
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6/10/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 100 Points
Another great bottle. I am sure there are some who don't like this style, but this is f'n awesome. Smooth, balanced, complex, delicious. My only complaint is that while I don't taste the alcohol, I certainly feel it, so there is a limit to what I would drink. That in no way takes away from the wine. Great wine. A bit smoother and rounder than on release, but still very youthful.
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5/17/2013 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Berserker Fest Friday Dinner - SQN Table (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago, IL): The second of two bottles consumed this evening. The other brought by yours truly received 94 points.
So much purple exotic sexy chocolate and cassis. Fid and fresh earth. Not as bright and balanced as bottle one but very similar qualities overall.
A little more brooding and intense.
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5/17/2013 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
Berserker Fest Friday Dinner - SQN Table (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago, IL): Tasted side by side another identical bottle. This was mine. The other scored a similar 93 points.
This, however is certainly not a 100 point wine yet.
Lovely violets, gray peppercorn. More purple berries. A touch of menthol, eucalyptus.
Really big fruit. Lower acidity overall. Give this another ten years to settle in. Lots of potential.
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5/17/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 82 Points
Chicago Berserkerfest Dinner (Blue Star Bistro - Chicago IL): We had two bottles of this in two separate flights. Both were similar, the first (82 points) slightly better the the second (79 points). Lots of over-ripe black fruit, to me coming across out of balance. Too much chocolate, too much heat, not enough interesting textures.
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3/10/2013 - bonedocnine wrote: 98 Points
Yup. Lives up to the hype! simply stunning...... Only problem is there is no more 2007 in the cellar :( Guess I'll have to start on the 08!!!!!!!
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2/10/2013 - Colima74 wrote: 93 Points
Very well-balanced and smooth drinking. Definitely still young, and alongside an older Jamet, the youth was very apparent. Hold.
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1/14/2013 - Spookey wrote:
Wine Club tatsing. 5 voted it #1 and 1 voted it #2 of the night in a matchup against 6 top notch Cali, Australian and French Rhone blends.
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1/1/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine: 100 Points
I can't imagine a wine getting much better than this. The tannins are strong but not harsh or overbearing. The flavor is deep and rich wile elegant and sophisticated. The finish is insanely long and wonderfully pleasant. If you can resist taking sip after sip and relishing in the finish, a glass can last for a very long time. In a lot of ways this wine reminds me of a 2007 Usseglio Mon Aieul.
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12/31/2012 - VoteferPedro wrote: 93 Points
decanted at least an hour. Remained deep purple hue but the nose was herby and floral and fresh grapeyness I get from Granache based wines but there were other less discernible fruits underneath and a complex medium length finish. This is an outstanding wine but seemed not to capture our hearts as much as the shockingly good Thackery Pitite Sirah that preceded it
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10/28/2012 - cbbrown3 wrote: 95 Points
I decanted the wine for a couple hours before tasting. The wine is a deep, dark ruby color. The wine has an exotic nose full of blackberries, blueberries, Asian spices, smoky incense, potpourri, black cherries, minerals, cola, earthy underbrush and a touch of alcohol. This is fairly full bodied with solid, ripe tannins and bright acidity. On the palate the wine reveals itself in layers. First there is a solid hit of fruit with slowly building Asian spices. As the fruit begins to fade, some nice earthy elements slowly start to build, later a bit of dark chocolate starts to take over. The alcohol note on the nose is not noticeable on the palate or the long finish. 100 pts? Wine of the Year? I don't know if I'd go that far at this point in its evolution, but there is still considerable upside.
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10/25/2012 - pilot360 wrote: 97 Points
2007 James Berry Vineyard - Saxum - This wine had such a density to it. Felt like I was drinking something other than liquid, rather a soft layer cake. Pretty amazing wine, it worked. I think over time this will be even better, and loose some if its baby fat. I would love to drink this again and compare in 10 years. Excellent wine I would like to get more of. 95 pts, with potential for higher
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10/10/2012 - MarkC Likes this wine:
No formal note, but this was smokin' good...
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9/21/2012 - S2 wrote: 92 Points
My contribution to the Cellar Tracker! Charleston Offlineorama for Friday afternoon in the courtyard. This was not the best environment to give this wine the attention to detail it deserves. I would not read too much into the score of 92. I am a conservative scorer and there was just too much confusion and too many wines to concentrate on what was going on in this wine. In comparison to the other wines tasted that afternoon, it was one of the biggest, most dense wines there. I am looking forward to spending the proper amount of time and contemplation on the next one I open.
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9/10/2012 - rralls wrote: 97 Points
97+ Had a couple of sips at a party. Not what I was expected -- a little lighter but just laser focused. Would love to sit down and really enjoy it over some food.
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7/19/2012 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 98 Points
Rhys, Flam, Sineann, Saxum, SQN: Wow. What a wine. The only thing that might have made this better is a decant for a few hours, but the logistics did not work out. Lots has been said bout this wine and I know its not for everyone, but my favorite part is that despite its ripeness, size and everything else, it is so light on its feet. The nose is amazing on popping the cork. Black raspberries, earthy, bacon fat, pepper. Great texture. Easy to drink but very complex. It worked just fine with our food.
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5/18/2012 - sumshark wrote: 96 Points
Drank side-by-side with 2007 Velvet Glove and the James Berry was more complex, mainly due to the Saxum being a GSM.
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5/18/2012 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 96 Points
Very rich, intense, extremely dark fruit. Yet it has structure and never seems cloying or over the top in fruit, oak, or alcohol. By no means subtle, but if you like this style, this is about as good as it gets.
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5/12/2012 - E wrote: 99 Points
Wow... Had an aubert 2007 Ritchie and a 2005 scarecrow on the table with this and all 4 of us pronounced it wine of the night...it's coming into its own now( I feel saxums need 5 years) ... Chef brought a Taylor 77 port that was an amazing finish to dinner
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1/9/2012 - KingBandini wrote: 97 Points
Big without being obnoxious. Extracted without being cloying. This is a wine that walks right up the edge of diva but ultimately reigns it in and delivers a nuanced, deeply-satisfying performance. Just hits you with a luscious wallop of fruit up front, gains mineral notes on the mid-palate, and finishes with a silky smooth finish that goes for miles.
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12/31/2011 - taho wrote: 97 Points
Fabulous!
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12/4/2011 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Blackberry notes with other black fruits; concentrated, jammy, with grippy tannins; pure black cherry and blackberry flavors along with a dose of black pepper and a touch of coffee in the hot finish. Solid but not my style. 100 WA
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10/21/2011 - cooberp wrote: 89 Points
WS NY Wine Experience 5th Floor (Marriott Marquis Times Square): Very rich, modern, opulent, ripe, sweet, dark-fruited. Tastes a little too manipulated and syrupy for me.
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9/22/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 100 Points
07 Saxum JB , 05 Agharta Ex. B for my Birthday: This is really a unique wine. But then I think, it has a lot in common with the 03 Chave Hermitage. Borders on Port with some sweetness, the viscous texture and plenty of berry fruit. It is flat out delicious. And amazingly smooth. Lots of alcohol that I felt after a couple of glasses, but so smooth and no burn. It went very well with spicy Thai vegetarian food as well. This will take forever to age I think, but i will try to age at least one bottle. I can see some not liking it because its not typical table wine. Lots of "purists" didn't like the 03 Chave for the same reasons. If you can get past that, and I know some can not, this is just awesome.
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9/15/2011 - Paul-Richard wrote: 94 Points
decanted 90 minutes before tasting. New world, hedonistic, delicious. Ripe plum, tar, prunes, coffee nose. Rich black fruits, seamlessly integrated with perfect tannin backbone, leading to leather, tar, long finish. Just wonderfully balanced. A joy to drink.
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9/10/2011 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Just getting more massive. Intense, delicious, dense. Tastes great now but this should probably be left alone for at least another year.
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7/20/2011 - jonphillips wrote: 94 Points
Fruit's a little too sweet right now, the midpalate almost too big.Wait a year or two.
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7/13/2011 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Trip’s farewell dinner! (Cities restaurant - Washington D.C.): Another big wine perhaps the expression not as sweet as the Alban
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7/8/2011 - Lord Rodney wrote: 95 Points
This is a beautiful wine! Very much like a Chateauneuf in style but with that xtra dimension of smoke and sweet fruit of the central coast. It was popped and put into a decanter for about 10 min. It was late in the evening and I am sure longer time in the decanter would have done it good. Amazing potiental!
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6/7/2011 - vinoballo wrote: 96 Points
Wow!
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5/20/2011 - Amerique wrote: 96 Points
Equally stunning wine and previous notes apply. On tasting this a second time the heat reduced the score sightly. Nevertheless, this is an incredibly integrated, smooth, rich fruit bomb of a wine which lasts forever.
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5/16/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 89 Points
Left over from a tasting 3 days prior, sealed in glass w/o air, and stored in the fridge. Fresh vibrant nose of violets, meat, pepper, and liquor-like mixture of cassis, currants, and berries. Palate is thick, mouthcoating, elixor-like, with massively concentrated fruit with a sweet berry edge. Hangs on the palate forever, but comes across as heavy and tiresome and having a sweet edge. Mild chalky tannins on the back end and strikes me as lacking acidity at this late juncture. After half a glass I can feel the alcohol. I'm not sure what to make of this as despite the complexity, I really don't enjoy drinking this-- though I know it will appeal to many. 89 points, as it's well made, but in a style I don't care for. I have a hard time seeing this age. I prefer the JBV from Copain, by comparison and did enjoy the '04 from Saxum. (80 points for enjoyment by my palate)
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3/17/2011 - Christoffer78 wrote: 99 Points
(Tasted in a flight with 2007 Cristia Vieilles Vignes, 2007 Clos Saint Jean Deus Ex Machina and 2007 Sine Qua Non Grenache Pictures.) the 2007 James Berry Proprietary Red is perfectly integrated and absolutely massive but still elegant. The finish is amazing - it just goes on and on and on... The nose reveals lime rock and cigar box combined with kirsch liqueur and a creamy tone of vanilla. This is a truly amazing effort by Justin Smith, styled after the Clos Saint Jean Deus Ex Machina - but earnestly much more compact, integrated and perhaps "better"? I love this wine and I am sad I could never lay my hands on a few bottles. Highly recommended. Score is 98-100.
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2/27/2011 - Beachrooster Likes this wine: 98 Points
Brooding blackish red color. Very complex aromas of blackberry, cassis, mint, menthol, tobacco, white pepper, and some smoked meat. Full bodied and a thick mouth feel. Flavors coating entire mouth, while great fruit tannins, and fresh acid provide an effortless balance. Extreme length on the finish with evolving flavors throughout the finish. So young but showing very well. The finish is the standout feature for this wine. Try to grab a bottle of this wine to experience the finish.
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2/9/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
Oh boy I shouldve listened to Loren. Did not decant. My bad. The nose was gorgeous, amazing. Full of clove, cinnamon, raspberries, blueberries, chocolate, every time I stuck my nose in I could smell something different. The palate is where I goofed. It felt like a velvet giant in the mouth, filling every nook and cranny but the fruit was tight and primary. Amazingly the finish was smooth and sweet just not very well differentiated flavors cleary as a result of lack of air. For three hours it stayed the same. Im in love with the nose and the texture. Wont touch for a while and when I do, Ill decant for 12 hours.
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1/18/2011 - dionysis wrote: 94 Points
#6 of 6 in a recent tasting of Parker 100 pointers. Nothing wrong with this wine, and in fairness it could have probably used some more time in bottle and decanting, but it was blown away by the SQN Atlantis and Chateauneufs we tried. A little too hot and juicy, the rich, ripe fruit is almost overpowering and takes away from the other elements. Would give this time and will not open another bottle for several years.
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1/10/2011 - larrybbaldwin wrote: 95 Points
rich, deep cherry nose with little noticeable alcohol. Rich, full and luscious yet wrapped in soft tannins that provide adequate structure. Beautiful long finish-wont touch my other bottles for at least 4-5 years.
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1/8/2011 - pakabear Likes this wine: 97 Points
MUCH better than my first taste of this wine, it might just turn out to be a perfect wine after all!
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1/8/2011 - psmith wrote:
A bit toned down from last tasting. Still lots of alcohol superimposed on liqueur-like spicy fruits and leathery notes. Big. Not really my style, and hard to drink more than a small glass.
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12/17/2010 - phenricsson wrote: 98 Points
Since this has a lot of Grenache it is quite light compared to the Alban but on the palate it is voluptuous and thick. Intense, focused, fresh, pure, delicious. Kirch, raspberries and cherries. Flowers and spicebox. Very long aftertaste. This is the 3d bottle we’ve opened and every one has been better than the previous.
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12/12/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 98 Points
Dinner with Friends (Bouchard, Hirsch, Vissoux, Brunello, Bea, Saxum, Kapscandy): Slightly better than a bottle consumed last week. That one had been decanted for around 12 hours. This was slow-o'd for the same time. Or maybe it was just such a great match to the food! Anyway, its nice to be able to share a bottle like this with friends. I remember barrel tasting with Justin and drinking his first vintage (2000), and its nice to see good things happen to good people and then share that across the country. As for the wine, lots of bold fruit; raspberries, black raspberries, plums with a bit of kirsch. You barely perceive the 15.8% alcohol except for the body. Very smooth long finish. The wine is velvety. Still too young to drink, but so it goes. Loved it anyway.
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12/4/2010 - sonodoc wrote: 96 Points
Very interesting wine; different from anything I've had before. The big nose of fruits is phenomenal. The taste is very smooth, with a long finish. Big fruit, but also a taste that I can't quite define - perhaps mint, menthol or floral, and almost a little chalky taste. Personally, I prefer the Saxum Syrah wines such as the Booker vinyeard, but perhaps this needed a longer decanting (which was brief, having taken a bottle to the Melting Pot).
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11/21/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
Dujac, Conterno, Casa Piena, Realm, SQN, Saxum (WSWOTY), Clos Mimi (Dante's): With all the hoopla (RP100 and WS WOTY) it seemed like a great time to open a bottle. Add in the insane prices this is selling for and I thought I better pop one while I still can :-) I decanted this for about 12 hours. Like all Saxums, this is a huge wine yet still so light on its feet. I got no heat, but one can certainly feel the 15.8% alcohol. My wife found it a poor food match. I pretty much saved it to drink after dinner but it did seem to go wel with a very interesting Japanes Eggplant dish I had. This wine has a surreal texture and really does dance acorss my palate. For a big wine, it has a contemplative quality that made me think I would like to be alone in front of fireplace drinking it. Nah, i was having too much fun, maybe the next bottle. It is still quite young and at the end of the day, is really a typical Saxum albeit from a very good vintage. I'll probably open a couple more before the hype dies down and then try to wait five years or more to revisit.
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11/19/2010 - Amerique wrote: 98 Points
Spectacularly rich, high-octane blueberry/blackberry fruit with mint, pencil lead, black raspberry, and olive flavors, great depth and structure, long finish, drank wine along with a 2006 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vyd Syrah and a 2005 Pax Alder Springs Vyd Syrah, while the other wines were terrific the Saxum was head-and-shoulders more complex
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11/13/2010 - jrobs7777 wrote: 94 Points
Rhone Varietal Tasting (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): This is really hard to score. I have a feeling my score is ultimately way too low -- this could be a 96-97. It is huge fruit and very grapey on the initial nose. Menthol, black pepper and saline. Loads of fruit on the palate. Blue fruit, black fruit, menthol, saline. I could sense that the structure is there, but there is so much fruit right now. Silky smooth. If you own any of these, you have to let them sit for a few years. There is just so much going on here on the palate. You need to really contemplate and swirl to get the structure. The finish is long, but the one major nit I had with the wine was that I thought there was a touch of heat on the finish.
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11/13/2010 - ews3 wrote: 95 Points
Syrahs and other Rhone varietals (Roberts House): decanted 12 hours. minty meat -- almost like a lamb with a mint sauce. blackberry, black fruit, chocolate powder. med(++) tannins dry out the palate and lead into a long long finish.
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9/17/2010 - yui wrote: 95 Points
unreal experienec.
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9/13/2010 - rogerr wrote: 95 Points
(First experience with this bottle.) Big blast of berries as soon as I popped the cork. Small taste right away gave more berries and structure with balance but a little heat on finish. Splash decanted and let sit for 6 hours prior to tasting group. At that point it was partially closed down (Mourvedre seemed hidden) and although good, was a bit disappointing. Saved some and re-tasted about 2 hours later. Wine was much fuller at that point, could taste the Mourved more and it was much better. My rating is based in this final taste. I'm thinking this is a 24 hour decant at this stage in it's evolution. Glad I have a few more bottles.
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9/2/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 95 Points
Root 246 Dinner (Root 246, Solvang, California): Opened and splash decanted almost two hours before serving. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Big nose of currants, plums, blueberries and a mix of other dark fruits. Huge on the palate with flavors of currants, blueberries, cherries and berries. Medium acidity, fairly firm tannins, full bodied to the hilt. Can be drank now with a decant or probably should be held into the medium term before trying again. 95+ for the moment. We'll see where she heads.
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7/24/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Chablis, Melville Clonal Blending and The Round 3 Let 'Er Rip (My House In The South OC): I still have one more bottle so the next time I drink this, which will be my final bottle, I willd decant it thoroughly and then form a final impression. As to this bottle noted here, was pulled from my cellar, poured to a decanter and then the discussion ensued. The air it started to pull in did seem to help but my impression I took from the short aeration it saw left me again not as impressed as others. I would note my previous bottle did get a decant, a good sized amount I'll add, and my impression on that bottle was similar. Gerry Frayer, who I do respect for his palate, commented that he thought this wine would get much better, underneath some of the youth. For me, aside from the decanting commitment I will do again the next time, I just think Justin has made wines of equal or better stature and I don't see what Parker saw.
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7/5/2010 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was a late night(hey lets open this) pop-n-pour....that didn't do the wine justice. From memory, it was tight and tannic, had some beautiful florals of spice and white pepper, kirsch liqueur, juicy fresh crushed red fruits....but still pretty tight, seemed lighter than your typical Saxum. Saved half the bottle, and drank 2 days later....darker, richer, more chocolate, darker fruits, well balanced and smooth....yet still needs time. I really like the crushed fruit from the Grenache....and the floral spices are to die for! You can tell its a well made wine, from perfect fruit. Glad to have a few more...will decant the hell out of the next one! ++pts
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6/3/2010 - cookie7 wrote: 97 Points
Opened for 11 hours, decanted for the last three. The second time I have had this wine and it is the real deal. This was outstanding. Long finish, very ripe fruit, no heat. Bravo.
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6/2/2010 - dfresh wrote: 93 Points
Expectations were high for this wine and it had stiff competition with Denner and Justin rhone varietals. The wine is brooding, sinful and complex. Bacon fat and layers upon layers of blueberry pie on the mid pallet. Nose and finish shows heat. It paired nicely with the bone marrow from osso bucco. Ultimately it opened up and prevailed as WOTN.
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5/5/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 96 Points
Drank side by side with the Lorraine. Smooth, hedonistic. Decanted for 10 hours which helped smooth out the rough edges. Rasberry and blueberry compote with a touch of baking spice and cinnamin. This wine will be elegant in 5 years.
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4/25/2010 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 97 Points
Per Justin Strider Smith, I double decanted this in the morning (9:30 am) and then brought it to the second irregular Not Lisa dinner at Peking Duck House in Manhattan. The decant made the wine, at least with its primary flavors, ready to drink now. Beautiful strong dark fruits that go down like velvet. Raspberry and Blueberry predominate. A touch of vanilla, allspice, and a faint pepper in the background. Color was dark, almost opaque. Nose was perfumed fruit and exotically sexy. Alcohol was not a material component of the flavor profile becauase of phenomenal balance. I do not believe in perfection when it comes to wine grades, but if this gets better with age (I have 5 more 750s and a mag to stretch out over the next 10 years or so), it will poke into the 99 pt range.
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4/4/2010 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
Drank it blind. Fairly light color, good fresh nose. At this stage it is more fresh and clean than complex, more fruit and some toasty oak than meat and blood that you get on the older wines. It is delicious and easy to drink but you can tell the potential for long life.
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3/13/2010 - MarkC wrote:
Opened and had a taste, but plan on drinking tomorrow night. Very tight at this point, and there's no way it's a 100-point wine, for my palate, at this time. 24-HOUR UPDATE: I didn't decant yesterday, and probably should have given how tight this still is. Showing better, but that's not saying much. This makes me think of the big bang--a lot of substance, but wound so tight it can't really be described. Starting to show dark fruits, hints of mocha and meat, and plenty of tannin, this needs some time--probably at least a year or two before trying again, and even then I would splash decant 24 hours in advance. (PE: withheld)
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3/6/2010 - christophee Likes this wine: 97 Points
Bold, complex, elegant, and balanced with superb structure, mouthfeel and finish. Decanted for hours and paired with Schnitzel.
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3/6/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 95 Points
15.8% ABV. Tasted over a couple days. I poured half the bottle into a 375 and recorked it for day two. Dark black garnet in the glass, opaque at the center. Beautiful nose of kirsch, lavender, and garrigue with a touch of balsa. Concentrated rich dark fruit with a long layered finish. Retronasal suggestion of crushed rocks. Very similar to the 2005 Bone Rock we tasted alongside on night 2, and just slightly better. For what it is worth, the leftover half bottle seemed more tight than when tasting the first night. Nice wine.
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3/6/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I'll add to the building discussion about this wine. I opened this last night, no decant, and had a glass with dinner. Seemed pretty tight and didn't give up much. Recorked the wine, put back in cellar. Tonight, trying again with no decant. The aromatics are sharp, a mixture for me of underbrush and some alcohol, with some flowers hidden beneath. The palate shows a raspberry liqueur, blackberry and a chocolate shake type of feel through the oak that is showing. As it sits in the glass, no doubt, there is a deep core of red and black jammy fruit in the center of it. For me, at this stage, this wine is still quite primary and too young to drink. So, where does the wine head? I think that will tell the true story, as I think it will need another 12-18 months to settle in and then hold itself up to evaluation.
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3/4/2010 - cookie7 wrote: 98 Points
Opened for 12 hours and decanted for four. Just a stunning wine. Very fruit forward but with depth and structure. Paired with numerous 2007 CNDPs and this was the WOTN.
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3/1/2010 - alanr Does not like this wine: 87 Points
2007 James Berry: Saxum, Copain, Carlisle: (Tasted along with 07 Copain and Carlisle Syrah James Berry)
Dense, flavorful red fruits, smooth dark raspberry, some sweetness, fairly ripe, deep, intense finish, though has a smokiness and savoriness that makes me think it's partially from the barrel; soft mouthfeel lower acid/tannins, riper than either the Copain or Carlisle. With several more hours of air, becomes quite ripe, somewhat syrupy, flat, low on both acidity and tannic structure. Yes, there is depth and intensity, with some licorice on the finish, but the balance is so out of whack it just never comes together as a complete package, even for its style.
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2/26/2010 - Terkel wrote: 96 Points
Rhone Rangers tasting (Vinens verden, Odense): Black color with a thin purple rim. The nose is very brooding, black and tight with aromas of ripe, black cherry, blackberry, pepper, olives, asphalt, tar, oil and ink. Very youthful, huge concentration and intensity on the palate, soft but this has backbone and character. With some air it really opened for the complexity of a power trip of a syrah. There is some black fruit but is it tightly wound up inside layer upon layer of licorice, tar, asphalt, campfire, spices, cookie dough and oak. While the concentration and intensity of the flavors are extreme, this has the acidity to carry it. Extreme, but extremely drinkable at the same time. I found myself reaching for another sip quickly after each time I put the glass on the table.
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2/22/2010 - mike l. wrote: 97 Points
stunning.; perhaps the best wine ive ever had. seamless balance of oak, alcohol and gobs and gobs of luscious dark fruit. just completely delicious in every manner with a really long finish, the right amount of tannins and grip and acidity even. outrageously good, actually worth the $300 price tag, would love to buy more for less. took to crow bar with friends. 97-98+
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2/15/2010 - phenricsson wrote: 97 Points
Looks like a barrelsample. Smells a bit raw, very young. Lynn thinks it smells like the vanilla ice-cream we made with chocolate covered almonds.
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1/28/2010 - PortFanatic wrote: 95 Points
Excellent wine. A little closed at first. Then became more integrated and seemless. Lots a cherry, blackberry and bitter chocolate. Really quite impressive. Long finish with some good acidity to add lift. Long future ahead for this. It still needs time show show its best. Certainly the best Saxum James Berry I've ever had.
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1/25/2010 - Jared wrote: 93 Points
Very closed nose. Took forever to coax anything out of it. My first half-glass the wine was just to warm (tannic and harsh) so I put it in the fridge to bring it down to 64-66 degrees. Wow, much better at the cooler temp. This is by far the most understated Saxum I have drank. Fairly balanced tannin and fruit. Certainly not an in your face wine and built for the long haul. Perfectly ripe raspberries and blackberries with nice integration of spices and smoke. Needs time and then will be dynamite. 93pts.
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1/23/2010 - E wrote:
Our first bottle of the much heralded 2007 Saxum James Berry was enjoyed last night over dinner at St. John. What a great meal to go with a great wine. This is more approachable early compared with other vintages of Saxum which typically benefit from some time to moderate the alcohol a bit. As most fans of Justin's wines know, he is an absolute master of blending (Mike Officer also falls into this camp and IMHO doesn't do it enough...Two Acres and Three Birds are top notch) Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Even though this wine lists Grenache as the predominant varietal at 41%, last night the Mourvedre was the dominant grape. I'd suggest giving it some decanter time...it really improved over the course of several hours. A wine like this makes one feel fortunate to be on the mailing list.
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1/20/2010 - last chance wrote: 91 Points
This wine was on the warmer side when we tasted it. It was very tannic and somewhat harsh. Not the easiest to drink either with a good dose of heat showing up at the finish. This was a very early look at this wine, so all of us that tasted it will be waiting to see if this really does shape up to be the 100 pointer is has been called. It wasn't for me right now. Others in the group liked this more than I did, but I attributed that to the blend, I'm not as big of a fan of Grenache most of the other tasters in this group.
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1/6/2010 - King Cab wrote: 93 Points
One sniff and you know you have arrived in the The Golden State. Big and chewy with a deft balance of oak, blueberry pie and a white and black pepper medley and some bacon fat. A gorgeous wine that evolved on and on as the night wore on. Never faltering, but not too food friendly either, at least not this elegant grub of pan fried loin of veal with ricotta gnocchi. A baby for sure, I would not mind following this one for the next 3 or 4 years. Intricate tannins and a generous, but slightly masked acid level. Nice.
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1/5/2010 - Cheryl wrote:
This was fantastic. It was served pop and pour, which was a disservice to the wine. Nonetheless, by two hours into it, there was lots going on the nose and the palate. The nose had dark fruit with loads of blackberries and blueberries taking the lead. It tasted of those fruits as well as oak and spices. This wine had great balance and a long finish. I hope to wait at least 24 months before trying another.
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1/2/2010 - tim_c wrote: 92 Points
Holiday catch up: I had high expectations and this fell well short for me. Opened and poured out a taste in the afternoon. When I came back to it in the evening, the alcohol was dominating feature. Didn't seem to have the trademark concentration of fruit I love in these wines. Very similar to an 06 Rocket Block I opened last year. All of the elements seems a bit out of sync right now. I hope time changes this for the better, not that it was bad now.
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1/1/2010 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
Wineflock - High End California Cabs from the 2000s (Ken's): Full deep purple color. big bright sweet tart nose of black fruit. Big bery sweet warm black fruit on the palate with bacon and mineral notes.
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1/1/2010 - Nanda wrote: 95 Points
Blind High-end Cali Cab Tasting (Ken's Place): Dark purple. Full nose with bright, rich berries. Palate has big-time fruit. Very bright and high toned with loads of pepper and spice. Good balance for the waves of rich fruit. Delicious.
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1/1/2010 - psmith wrote:
Blind Cabernet Retrospective (Chicago, IL): Anise and spice. Really big, with lots of heat showing. Floral, sweet fruit. Some tar notes. Full-bodied, flashy wine. Masked structure. Needs to settle down.
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12/31/2009 - shadow wrote: 100 Points
Lots going on here, massive mouth party with spice, berry, and coffee invited, have a couple more too enjoy when it all comes together, will not be better, just more civilized. To those who question a 100pt rating, show me yours?
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12/27/2009 - yonster24 wrote:
Mike popped thlis open from his stash as well. I was excited to see what all the hype was about. Since this bottle was popped on a whim, it was a pop and pour and really could have used some time to breathe. Great nose of dark raspberries, some oak and pepper. Big wine with the raspberries really shining on the palate, leading to a finish that had some undertones of chocolate and spice. After about 30 minutes the heat dissipated on the finish which lead to everything really being in balance. Should only get better with time.
Note: I love Saxum's, I mean really love them and this probably will get better with time, but at this stage I have had a couple of others that have been better than this one IMO. Maybe we popped it too young with no decant?? Regardless, this was a treat to have and I'm glad I got to experience it at this stage. Will open another one in a few years to check in.
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12/20/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 96 Points
41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre and 28% Syrah. Dark purple color. Aromas of brooding black fruit and charred oak. Tastes of boysenberry, tobacco, leather, earth, blueberry and blackberry. Rich and very full bodied. Very well balanced with beautiful acidity. In fact one of the most balanced Saxums I've ever had the pleasure to drink. The depth and complexity on the mid palate and finish is simply outstanding. Powerful finish that lasts for several minutes. This wine with time should evolve into something even more spectacular that what we drank this afternoon. 15.8% alcohol.
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11/25/2009 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
A friend came by and opened this. Way too young of course, but I loved the chance to try the "utterly perfect" wine (RP100). I am not sure if I would go that far (but I might in the future). Like a super concentrated, super ripe Chateauneuf du Pape. A finish that goes absolutely forever. On opening, I could smell it from three feet away. Cherries, raspberries, slightly meaty, candied apples, smoke, minerals, etc. On the palate, this is lush with massive fruit. A slight raisin note, that is unique but not bad. I will hold my bottle for a while, because while accessible, this really needs at least a bit of time to come together. All of the above said, it actually does seem just slightly throttled down from the 06 in a good way and that makes me think it will age out even longer.
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11/25/2009 - staren937 wrote: 99 Points
Young but amazing. Loads of fresh rasberries / blackberries. Hint of oak / sweetness but not too overpowering. Should be good for years to come.
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8/19/2009 - clayfu wrote:
IN bottle:
WOWSER what a freaking wine. A little hint of heat that disappeared after a few minutes in the glass. Beautifully concentrated bright red fruit with notes of violet and a touch of oak. On the palate you get just loads and loads of fresh picked fruit with a raspberry finish that goes on for days. There is great acidity with a fresh minerality that is nothing like the bigger almost "jammy" 06 James berry. This wine is incredibly clean and fresh and easily top of the heap.
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