Just superb. Of course, 2007 was great year, but this wine delivered across the board. Powerful yet elegant - perfect drinking window right now. Brought to a restaurant, while previously decanting at home (pouring the wine back into the bottle). Exceeded expectations.
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Big wine. Not necessarily my style but this is well made, well integrated and it has quite a bit of complexity. It actually feels a lot younger. Reminded me of Pax.
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My only complaint is that is seemed really young. Drank alongside a bunch of other older, French wines, and this came across like a barrel sample. But, once everyone gave it some time, they all liked it. Seems like it has a long life ahead of it.
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Served with Thanksgiving dinner, fruit and tannins were well integrated. Guessing this would have been a beast if drunken earlier, but very pleasant currently.
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Double decanted for 2 hours before drinking. This wine is still huge and still has some tannic grip, but the fruit and spice is in a great place and it went amazingly well with food. Definitely in a great drinking window which I imagine will last another 2-3+ years.
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Virtually Wines That Don't Suck (online): Poured into jars about 3pm for transport and into glass at 7pm. Drank a glass over 2 hours single blind. While the name is Broken Stones, this wine is meaty and powerful. Yes, a little minerality to help with balance, it remains dense, full-bodied, with a cornucopia of fruit flavors and a soft velvety palate. My thought is that if you like this style you will love this wine. I'm luke-warm on the style and I still like this wine.
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This remains my personal favorite Saxum Cuvee. From a fantastic year this is incredibly youthful and shows no sign of age at all. But it has come together and is an absolute joy to drink. Deep dark fruit, intense nose and a round, juicy, velvety palate. Stunning!
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Drank at Maialino restaurant. 30 minute decant, showing very well. Ripe, nice structure with well integrated tannins, good fruit concentration, very much a crowd pleaser.
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Better as a cocktail and at cellar temperature. This is delicious but a bit too large-scaled and alcoholic with dinner (beef Wellington) so the 2000 Staglin Estate CS was preferred by all partakers.
Kept under cork in the refrigerator for 2 days, it has held up well and makes for a nice indulgent Holiday week lunch of leftovers.
I'll be in no rush with my one bottle from the 2010 vintage and think about sharing with friends on a chilly, wintery evening.
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Pop and pour. Lovely velvet palate of dark fruit overwhelmed by steely minerality and citrus pulp. Interesting as a cocktail wine and possible upside if things settle down in the future.
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Our last bottle was consumed in 2015, and reading that tasting note, there has been very little evolution since then. I'm terrible at following my own drinking window advice, but let me try sending a message to future me: wait until the late 20's to open the next one, just to see if anything changes.
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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: A powerful nose bursting out of the glass with loads of blackberries, black currant and blueberries alongside some meaty notes, earthy notes and first hints of tertiary development with dry leather. Same picture on the dense, powerful palate with some red fruit tones cutting through the loads of blackberries. Despite all the power and density the wine has a remarkable fine and balanced structure with enough acidity. Good texture, complexity and finish. 94/95 points in the context of this large tasting but I guess this wine could climb higher if you follow it over an evening and are able to discover all its complexity. Not decanted, no decant needed.
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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: First signs of tertiary aromas such as leather emerging and complementing the jammey fruit. Plush and intense palate and first time well balanced and integrated.
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Sensational. Really firing on all cylinders. I didn't take any notes but everyone was wowed. I've always loved Broken Stones and never had a better on.
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Pretty uninteresting wine. Blueberry and still copious oak with vanilla notes. The fruit quality was good, rich and silky, but there was not much more. And I like Saxum: the 2007 James Berry was one of the best wines I had in 2018. This one wasn't.
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Tasted along with other 2007 Saxums. #5 for me. Still youthful in color and nose, everything was integrated, but nothing made it stand out. Almost too smooth and easy. Good, solid wine, just not exceptional.
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Decanted for sed and ti aerate 2 hrs before dinner. In true Saxum style, big n bold. Pretty nose, but mildly subdued. Bright red fruits, some spice. Still some heat here. Could have used a longer decant. Alive n well on day 2.
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Give this wine AIR. We decanted it for 40 minutes, but the last glass (2 hours later) was the best, as the wine opened up and really came together. The nose yielded a bouquet of dark red and blue fruits. These followed through on the palate, along with nicely integrated tannins, and balancing acidity, in a medium plus bodied wine with a long finish. The wine should hold for a couple of years. Broken Stones is a bruiser of a wine, and the '07 vintage is no exception. We liked this vintage better than the 2008, but not quite as much as the 2006.
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Holidays 2017: Served late in the game on a boozy night and seemed a bit tired and lacking pop. Maybe circa 5 years is the best window for the brawny Saxums.
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Guys Night Out Part II (Jason's House): Decanted 1 hour, drank about 1/4 of the bottle over 1.5 hours. Lovely red fruit, distinct Saxum character. A bit of heat on the finish. Not as good as the James Berry, but it has its charm. Luis brought the Schrader, I brought this - we both agreed that these are good wines, but neither of us regret getting off of these lists.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberries, raspberries, smoked meat and spice. Black and red fruit, coffee, chocolate, bacon fat and spice on the palate. Leads to a long, fruit-driven finish. Dense and full bodied. Served with pork marsala.
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Delicious and well-balanced. Plenty of fruit, but not overwhelming. The alcohol and tannins are well-integrated. In a great place right now but will last for a while still. No rush, but no reason not to open a bottle either.
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It has been almost 4 years since I rated this wine. I enjoy wines from this producer but often question whether it is worth the price. Not with this bottle. I usually decant Saxum for 24 hours but given its age, I began consuming after only an hour. My rating represents the first hour or two as the wine evolved from a Bordeaux-like quality with a tar or creosote aspect above the fruit, say hydrocarbonesque, which I personally loved but which does not seem to be universally appreciated below, to a more dominant fruit forward wine in Saxum's typical style, then finally retreating into a disappointing tannic womb. I am chastising myself for failing to save some for tonight, but I was sharing and she would have none of that crazy talk.
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Decanted for about 30 minutes...not happy with this bottle at all...dark red in color though with some bricking right at the edge that I did not expect...some spice on the nose, but otherwise muted...dark fruit barely coming through with heat on the finish...saved half of the bottle for tomorrow to see if any improvement.
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I'm not usually the cheerleader for Saxum wines but this hit the spot. Deep hues, big wine with lush black and blue fruit. Stands up to mole. Big finish. Crowd pleaser.
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Very odd upon opening: sort of a bitter tar flavor, somewhat disjointed. It settled down eventually, with some black fruit emerging. The second day was much better: fresh black fruits predominated, with black pepper, spices and earthly flavors added, highly structured. Still a big wine; still tastes young. The score is an amalgam: 80 the first day, 91 the second.
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Double decanted then SO'd for a few hrs, dark crimson, black & blue fruit with pepper & a touch of spice, mod. tannins long finish; delicious but still young, drink or preferably hold
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Nose of Asian spice, violet, and meat. You can tell this is going to be a big beauty. Smoldering and enveloping on the palate, with blackberry, pepper, and herbal notes. Lengthy, complex, & structured, with a long life ahead.
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Perfect balance, fruit and acidity with minerals pouring through. A masterpiece with braised lamb shanks and bone marrow sopas. Dinner at Bracero's San Diego was amazing.
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I may be coming around to liking these wines. Decanted about two hours. Initially very much a cherry cough syrup. Slowly morphed into a rich and fairly complex full bodied wine that was quite enjoyable. Very very long finish.
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Beefy BBQ nose with some black pepper and caramel notes. The palate has some sweet notes up front and turns austere quickly. Reminds me of the smells of embers on a fire. Wish i had a steak.
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Dark purple color turning violet at the rim with a transparent edge. The nose is very opulent, dense and ripe with dark fruits, licorice, rose petals, and espresso. The palate is full-bodied, plush with an ultra-velvety texture. Flavors of blueberry pie, ripe boysenberry, pepper spice, fig, smoked meat and nutmeg. Fleshy with attractive tannins and bracing acidity aptly balances the ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. Finishes long and juicy with hints of earth, clove and minerals. A classic, for sure. Drink now until 2027.
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Deep color. The nose is rich and pure, showing aromas of dark berries, flowers, oak, and a hint of garrigue. This is medium full bodied on the palate, with plenty of richness but a lack of real concentration. Modern. The fairly long finish shows unrefined tannins and just enough acidity.
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Color: very dark ruby -> deep ruby rim. Decanted 2+ hours. Boysenberries and raspberries on the nose along with a little oak and smoke; fruit is ultimately ascendant here and I didn't find this to have a terribly complex bouquet. Thickly extracted palate; overly plump berry fruit. While this demonstrates good intensity, acidity and a lengthy finish, I'm not finding this to be 'all that and a bag of chips'. It's nicely quaffable but I was hoping (expecting) a bit more when finally opening my first '07 Saxum. Granted, it is regarded on CT as being the least hallowed of the Saxum offerings in this heralded year. Still, I think I'd be hard pressed to even identify Syrah as the primary grape here if this was being tasted blind . . . .
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1 hour. Beautiful aromas of blackberry, black cherry, violets, bacon fat and spice. A jammy black fruit core integrated with chocolate, spice, forest floor and soft, fine tannins. Leads to a very long finish. Full bodied with a rich, dense texture. Waves of flavor. Paired with Greek tenderloin.
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Dark garnet, completely opaque. Tasted with five other Saxum GSM blends. This got the fewest votes from sixteen tasters. Very viscous, but a touch less than a few others. The aroma also a shade less pronounced and more one-dimensional, but still the same dark fruits, smoke, and oak. Very concentrated fruit, but the tannin more noticeable and forward than several others. Very long aftertaste. I'd age this one a bit longer, enjoy some of the others first. Try another in 1-2 years. Ric
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Decanted for two hours before service. In the glass, deep, opaque, purplish red. On the nose, a blast of berries: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, in abundance. On the palate, a deceptively soft initial attack, with a mix of fruit and minerals, which resolves into substantial tannins on the long finish. As often seems to be the case with Saxum, the alcohol is imperceptible on the palate, but you will feel it by the time the decanter is empty. Because of the structured tannins, I think this is likely to improve over the next 3-5 years.
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Aerated for approximately 3 hours in a large Zalto carafe, and then drank over several hours. This is a dark ruby wine with minimal sediment but strong teeth-staining concentration. On the nose, I got black cherries, blackberry jelly, and a hint of olive. In the mouth, this was lush, but lacked any distinguishing flavor. The finish was similarly muted. Overall, I did not find this to be terribly complex or to have the intensity of smell and flavor that normally accompany a Saxum wine. Perhaps I aerated for too long (although that seems unlikely), perhaps this is in a dumb stage right now, or perhaps this illustrates that Saxum wines should generally be drunk on the younger side. Regardless the reason, this fell short of expectations. 91 points.
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Garnet-purple, completely opaque. Very big the first night, with lots of fruit and tannin, mouth-coating. By the next night, though, it had softened a surprising amount, even under inert gas from the prior evening. Aroma still somewhat one-dimensional, noticeable alcohol, of dark fruits, hint of coffee or mocha. In the mouth, it went from very big and coarse the first night to medium-full the next, becoming much rounder. Still noticeable tannin, still quite viscous. Slightly hot finish but very long. This is quite drinkable now, especially after significant airing, but should improve and will certainly last for years. Ric
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Popped and poured and then followed for about 90 minutes. This is coming along very nicely and is an outstanding wine. Intense dark fruit, nice spice, excellent balance, smooth mouth feel with no bite. I did not get a lot of raspberry in this bottle, which I have gotten in a lot of Saxum. If this had been decanted for about 3 hours (I could not do it) it would have been even better.
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Still garnet-purple and completely opaque.Writing this on the second night, the aroma is very pronounced smoke and tar, all black fruits, plums, and toasted oak. The flavors are very deep, rich and concentrated, also dark and rich. Fruit, acidity, and tannin are perfectly balanced. A bit hot from high alcohol, also noticeable on the aftertaste, which is very rich and long. This wine is extremely concentrated but also very enjoyable. It will easily hold another five years or more and may develop more complexities. It speaks well for Saxum's aging ability. Ric
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 2.5 hours. Bouquet of blackberry jam, boysenberry, licorice, spice, smoked meat, bacon fat and vanilla. Blackberry jam integrated with licorice, forest floor, spice, and fine tannins on the palate. Dense, rich texture that leads to a very long finish. Paired with roast beef.
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Opened kistler Pinot, Spottswoode cab, Carlisle petite and the Saxum broken stones. Saxum carried the day, this is a big wine with subtle flavors (don't know how they get this delineation) and a lengthy finish that maintains some lightness.
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Previous tasting notes apply with exception that grenache fruit seem to show itself more as fruit was less restrained, slightly lighter, and more juicy.
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In a really good place now. Ripe and powerful with intensity of flavor but great freshness as well. Still a bit grippy on the palate. Could hold off another year but really this is starting to enter a nice window.
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Best bottle of this yet. Still young but starting to shed some of the rawness of youth. Black raspberries, black pepper, raspberries, grilled meats, slight bacon fat notes on the nose. Complex and lush. No heat. Long finish. Layered on the palate. Drank over two nights, better on night two. Fantastic wine.
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Wine was much tighter than remembered. Needs at least 2 hours to open up. Minerality and strength of structure was noteworthy. Beautiful blackberry/boysenberry/blueberry fruit with meaty, smokey, black olive flavors
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Decanted the night before and consumed 21 hours later. Beautiful purity of fruit, integrated acid, and the softest of tannins. I think a one or two day decant is essential or, if you desire the journey, simply tasting it over an elongated time period. Just another patented Saxum: broad shouldered yet light footed; silk on the palate, round and rich and seamless.
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Double decanted back into the bottle at 9:30 am and left uncorked until 12:00, recorked and then brought to the restaurant for lunch with clients. Started at 1:15 pm. Absolutely outstanding wine. Red fruit, meat juices and spice. No sweetness at all - actual or apparent. The wine filled your mouth and had a wonderful depth to it without being syrupy. There was obvious alcohol when I decanted it originally, but it had calmed down when we drank it. Great overall balance. Still some roughness from youth but this is going to be great for years to come. This definitely deserves a WOW.
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Very thin until open for two hours when started to take on weight. Would suggest either decanting for 3-4 hours or waiting on this for another two years.
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Still drinking very well, needed 10 hours or so after double decant to really relax and open itself up. Balanced but with a lot of flavor profiles pushing against each other. Still a bit tannic on the finish, but that just may be how this wine is.
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Big, full throttle and almost a run away train. Decanted for an hour which I believe was insufficient as the wine changed gears several times over the course of the night to reveal different aspects. Bordering on too hot, it rode just this side of that slippery slope. Very fruit-full, blue fruit, in the glass which did settle. Hard to say if first sip or last was best. Syrah leads the charge but is well supported by the grenache and mourved A tad heat on the finish which over time, lessened. I wonder what 4-7 hours of air time might do. Clearly I am a fan of this style of teeth coating (kinda like little sweaters, right?) big in the glass, take no prisoners wine.
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Not the best BS I've had, but it's got a deep berry liqueur influence from notes to finish that's enjoyable. Toasty oak that's never overbearing. Rich and satisfying, but not as complex as other vintages.
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Domaine Wine Storage Saturday BYOB (Domaine Wine Storage (Chicago)): So big and rich. Absolutely not for everyone or the faint of heart. Dark black blueberries and plums. Brown sugar, smoke, tar. Really really meaty. Super savory notes, black olive and super exotic baking spices. Balanced finish and if you like massive fruit and in your face wine with personality and still some nice restraint, this bottle is for you. I'd still wait at least five to seven more years to open another though.
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Taste: Full bodied with a lot of density to it. This is very big and rich with over-ripe tones of black fruits, road tar, and liqueur tones. The tones also have a chunkiness to them.
Overall: This isn't much to my taste and it is as subtle as a punch in the face. While some things may have smoothed out a bit right now, it's hard to see where this can go.
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Agree with the decadent mouthfeel notes. A big wine. Really nice but the last glassful seemed a little too tannic. Not sure of too much air or not enough air as it was pop and pour with an aerator. Love Saxum and loved the wine till the last taste.
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Everything I've come to expect from Saxum - beautiful mouthfeel, deep everchanging flavors. Definitely found the gravel and Asian spices listed by others, along with cherries, creamy 50/50 bar, brussel sprouts, and an earthiness that smelled like a baked potato! (We couldn't believe it, either!)
Went beautifully with a lamb tangine and with a NY Steak in a rich herb sauce.
I would decant for at least an hour, but this bottle really hit its stride at about hour 2.
Can probably hold for several years but why would you want to?!
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Amazing how light, balanced, and complex a wine can be without the immense weight. Drank alongside a 2009 epoch authenticity. Paired with bacon wrapped meatloaf, sautéed mushrooms, and truffled potatoes. Paired absolutely stunningly! Both wines faired well, but the Saxum was above and beyond... Crushed stone and asphalt, floral, with herbs and more bass notes. More pepper, Asian spice, and charred earth. Although, not being on "the list" not sure it's worth the mark up retail price. Amazing wine nonetheless and best wine-food pairing I've had! Thanks to my beautiful fiancée for the cooking, and to Justin for the wine!
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Another wine served at musdir's dinner. Decanted for a little over an hour and drank with dinner over a couple of hours. Was the color of blood........dark. Lovely nose. Fruit forward with a mellow but deep follow through. Definitely tasted the alcohol but it seemed to mellow over time. Was not my fav for the night but was for my wife.
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Big, but very well made with lots of amazing fruit, with tiny hints of meat and spice. Really round and full, a pleasant drinking experience. I know these are always given long drinking windows by the critics, but I do not buy that they improve much --- of course, damn good now so who cares.
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Good wine, but not great. Decanted for two hour and drank over four. It never lost the heat and bite of alcohol on the nose and finish. Deep dark color, and a good "Syrah" nose of dark berries and a touch of meat. Complexity seemed to be missing, and the mouthfeel wasn't as supple and smooth as prior Saxums. I kept wanting more, but this never delivered.
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Lots of promise but even after a two hour decent this wine is drinking so young. Don't open a bottle for at least another two years. Better to drink my older Saxums which are drinking great now.
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All Saxum, all the time, stunning. Deep color, meaty, smoky, spice, blackberry with a good flint spark. Couldn't keep my nose out of my glass, raspberries and other lighter tones than the palate, although lots of dark fruit as well. Miles to go on this one and I'll sleep well knowing there are more in the cellar.
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Soft, smooth, rich, full-bodied blackberry fruit with chocolate and spice integrated flavors, excellent structure, well-balanced, nice finish, showing some bottle age, drinking at its peak
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Double decanted and drank after 3 hours. Almost black in color, huge nose of black fruit, spice and some alcohol. While I am not typically a lover of big, high alcohol Cali syrah's, this one is a winner with a very rich but smooth mouth coating style and a delicious finish that lasts 45+ seconds. Drinking nicely now and likely to improve w/ a few years.
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Color of black pen ink with purple legs, this rich, full bodied wine has a phenomenal nose of dark berry, black cherry, forest fire, and sweet raw meat. On the palate, a delicious velvet of brambly dark berries, blackcurrant, peppercorn, pipe tobacco, and bacon fat show in a layered, multidimensional style with considerable complexity. There’s a hint of warm cedar on the 45-second finish. I’d put this just inside it’s drinking window, with the potential to evolve for another 10 years. 71% Syrah, 18% Grenache, 11% Mourvèdre; ABV: 15.4%, with no heat detected. Delicious.
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Awesome wine. The nose is so enticing, I could sniff it all night long. The texture is juicy and velvety as the wine slowly slides down. On the palate, this is delicious. Yes, its big and California. Juicy black raspberries, some pie filling, some grilled meats. No heat. Long finish. Light on its feet despite its size. Wonderful wine.
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Wonderful in every aspect. powerful yet not overpowering. Strong yet balanced. Does not taste hot or alcoholic despite it's high 15.4% alcohol content. Thanks to Justin!
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2 hour decant. Purple, black hue. Blackberry, black currant, pepper, walnut, and vanilla. Beautiful dark fruit and soft tannins create a full bodied, layered, and jammy mid-palate. Very long finish. An outstanding bottle, and extremely enjoyable.
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(Tasted in a flight with 2007 Broken Stones, 2008 Heart of Stone, 2008 Booker and 2008 Bone Rock) A stunner! The 2007 Broken Stones GSM blend is utterly magnificent and refined. Though revealing itself as a massive nose and palate attacker, it does so with an elegant approach. The nose reveals flowers, lovely creamy vanilla and so much dark fruit I am amazed. The palate is voluptuous, yet balanced, presenting this super concentrated effort in a very pleasant way. The acidity is very nice, actually the wine pairs exquisitely with heavier food. A lovely effort worth following for the coming 10-15 years, I guess.
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Decanted about 3 hours. Deep maroon color. Amazing nose with blackberry, fresh ground white pepper, black cherries, smoke, licorice, stony minerality, wet slate, fresh flowers, vanilla, and charcoal embers. Fairly full bodied with solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity. Explosive on the palate with the fruit, spices, minerality mixing with the smoky embers into a very harmonious and tasty blend. Long, delicious finish. I'm sure this will age and improve, but it is awesome right now. This was pre price increase so it was a steal at $45.
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Absolutely delicious and addictive, although complex enough to merit some contemplation. Deep aromas of ripe blackberry and white pepper herald a supple and juicy palate with a glycerol mouthfeel and a spicy finish that glides effortlessly. It's fair to say it had a grapey component to it, similar to what you sometimes see from hi-end cabs (e.g. is this wine or a cocktail?), but overall a great drinking experience.
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Weeknight Wine Tasting (Bistro 7, Philadelphia PA): decanted 4-5 hours. delicious, and insult added to injury when i got the e-mail the next day saying 'no wine for you'. beautiful dark fruit profile, with blackberry, boysenberry, and dark spice notes of clove and black pepper. this is a powerful wine, and yet avoids becoming a pure pleasure bomb, showing a modicum of restraint amidst all the fruit. long finish continues to show primary fruit. will continue to purchase on the secondary market where i can until i make it.
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Survery Of New World Wines (Bistro 7 (7 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia)): This is still a very young wine. It had that grapey-ness to it that sometimes comes with younger wines. It should get better with age. Lush and spicy. One of those big dense wines that can sometimes be all out of whack and too alcoholic. This is different. Well balanced. Smokey note with blackberries. Dense and rich. Very easy to drink. Held back just a tad by the heat that creeps in at the finish. A little disappointed that the alcohol creeps in at the end.
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Decanted for 4 hours, then followed for another 2. By the last glass this wine was finally opening up and starting to sing, Beautifully. Lots of white pepper, round fruits, though for most of this showing, it was not as blue fruited as I have come to love. If I were to open another, I would try to give it 8-10 hours in decanter. Great kirschy nose
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Dehlinger,Tablas, Saxum, Madeira; 6/3/2011-6/4/2011: My first time trying this one from my cellar. I opened, poured off .5 oz and let it sit in the cellar for 6 hours. Put the cork back in and drank at the restaurant a couple of hours later. Obviously young, but still has plenty to offer. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, leather and white pepper. On the palate, this is huge yet deft. Easy to drink, but with layers of complexity. I think this will get even better and would wait a few more years IMO. No real hint of the alc., but it is high. I love Saxum wines, but 07 was really an amazing vintage for them.
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Decanted for three hours and rebottled. Dark, lush, luscious, warm fruit, all in exquisite balance with the tannins. Alas, the last bottle. Wish I had more.
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Sorry, no formal notes. 3 hour decant, which was not enough - it needed more and was just starting to open up. Can definitely tell this has it all...typical Saxum, absolutely delicious, luscious and full-bodied yet balanced. That being said, I think this wine still needs at least a few years. 94 (with 97/98 potential)
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Honestly I was underwhelmed by this wine. Fruit seemed muted and the alcohol was definitely noticeable even served on the cool side at 58 degs. Perhaps this was an off bottle?
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Decanted for 2 hours and drunk over 3 hours. Great wine. Big with great structure. Fruit opens up more and more with dark, vibrant fruit and great length.
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Decanted for five hours and funneled back into the bottle to sit for another two. Just wonderful. Rich, lush dark fruit, plums and blackberries (hint of blueberry?), and sun-warmed earth of Paso Robles. The tastes and smells evolved in the glass. Youthful still. Tannins in evidence but not overwhelming. If I had any self-discipline, I'd let the other bottle sit in the cellar for another three or four years, but we know what is going to happen.
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Wow... incredibly rich, yet very well integrated, focused, and with the structure needed to keep it from tasting "messy." Rich dark fruit, herbs, and a hint of grilled meat... delicious now, but even better after a decant.
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Return to form for the Broken Stones over last year. Lucious fruit, dark brooding spice layer on top of rich purple plums with a bit of blackberry/boysenbberry. Long finish, still a bit tannic. Another six months before I open another, but this is great stuff.
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Very dark with black tinges to the garnet purple core. A lovely elegant yet expressive nose of raspberries, blackberries, plums, liquefied stones, fresh flowers, herbs, cologne, and sweet charcoal. I love the intricate minerality that oozes from the nose here, really tremendous. The palate opens with a sexy supple entry leading to full bodied flavors of dark berries, endless minerality of clay and earth, and firm ripe structure from the tannins. Remarkably elegant with tremendous fruit density that firms up towards the finish. This has solid balance as I detect no heat whatsoever on the nose or palate. Dense, structured, supple yet firm, complex, poised, and with a degree of headiness towards the finish. Give this five years for the structure to subside and the layers to resolve. Decanted for about three hours.
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very young. Should have been decanted, but live waits for not one :) Once it opened up the nose was big and while the body was still a bit rowdy it's easy to see where this is going. Wonderful wine.
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Highly consistent with my prior notes. Starts to rock with 45 minutes of air. Full nose of smoke, black fruit, meat and spices. Palate is richly fruited but shows tremendous balance and length. Super.
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Rhone Rangers tasting (Vinens verden, Odense): Black color with a purple hue. Sweet raspberry, cherry and blueberry fruit are accompanied by notes of licorice, pepper and cookie dough on the inviting nose. On the palate it is super concentrated with almost boiled down intensity in the flavors. Ripe, black cherry and blackberry fruit with viols, campfire, licorice, cookie dough and spices coming in on the midpalate and some chew tobacco, oil barrel, tar and asphalt on the finish. Great length with a fresh backbone of acidity and tannins. This is great and while it is drinking extremely well, it will probably settle down to a more complete wine in a couple of years.
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Nice dark concentrated spicy cherry flavors dominate in wonderful one dimentional way. Bit tight compared to 2006 version which was drinking better tonight at BP. Hope it opens up more with another year or two. Still a very good drink and my bet is it will bloom with time.
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Suffered from being tasted next to the awesome Saxum James Berry. Still, it's very impressive. Big boned, but not ponderous. Could use a least a year to settle down and gain some complexity. I liked this a lot. An excellent Broken Stones
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Another rockin' bottle of the Broken Stones. After a 45 minute decant, nose is starting to reveal layers of black fruit, smoked meats, asphalt and flowers. Palate is rich with decadent fruit. For all the concentration and richness, the balance is extraordinary with hard edges or noticeable alcohol. Youthful, exuberant and delicious!
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15.4% ABV. Dark garnet translucent in the glass. Spicy kirsch nose. Rich, concentrated black cherry fruit with a nice sweet-savory balance. A little bit feminine, but she is a wearing a tight dress; you can see the complex goodies, but they are hard to pin down and put flavors to. Really good.
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Dark black in color. Nose starts tight after a short 20 minute decant. Opens to reveal black fruit, asphalt, coffee and spice. Palate is rich and decadent. Layers upon layers of rich, black fruit. Massive mid-palate into a long, flavorful finish full of fruit, asphalt, graphite, and oak spices. Killer.
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in bottle A light airy nose of cedar and ripe red fruit. Chalky tannins on the palate with a slim mid palate of red fruit that requires some time to resolve . Some tobacco notes on the finish with just a tinge of oak.
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1/16/2024 - Topper wrote: 94 Points
Great wine at peak. Full red & blue fruit with hints of leather and pepper. Paired surprisingly well with Thai food
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8/19/2023 - Bob & Sue Atlanta wrote: 97 Points
Just superb. Of course, 2007 was great year, but this wine delivered across the board. Powerful yet elegant - perfect drinking window right now. Brought to a restaurant, while previously decanting at home (pouring the wine back into the bottle). Exceeded expectations.
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8/5/2022 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big wine. Not necessarily my style but this is well made, well integrated and it has quite a bit of complexity. It actually feels a lot younger. Reminded me of Pax.
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12/5/2021 - Cow Town wrote: flawed
My only complaint is that is seemed really young. Drank alongside a bunch of other older, French wines, and this came across like a barrel sample. But, once everyone gave it some time, they all liked it. Seems like it has a long life ahead of it.
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11/25/2021 - Growler69 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Served with Thanksgiving dinner, fruit and tannins were well integrated. Guessing this would have been a beast if drunken earlier, but very pleasant currently.
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9/3/2021 - NY Wino Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted for 2 hours before drinking. This wine is still huge and still has some tannic grip, but the fruit and spice is in a great place and it went amazingly well with food. Definitely in a great drinking window which I imagine will last another 2-3+ years.
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4/12/2021 - Acohen Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark brooding mix of dark fruit with plums and sweet tannins
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2/3/2021 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outstanding!!
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1/24/2021 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Virtually Wines That Don't Suck (online): Poured into jars about 3pm for transport and into glass at 7pm. Drank a glass over 2 hours single blind. While the name is Broken Stones, this wine is meaty and powerful. Yes, a little minerality to help with balance, it remains dense, full-bodied, with a cornucopia of fruit flavors and a soft velvety palate. My thought is that if you like this style you will love this wine. I'm luke-warm on the style and I still like this wine.
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11/16/2020 - MillerRoad Likes this wine:
It's in a pretty good place right now.
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9/19/2020 - G_H wrote: 96 Points
This remains my personal favorite Saxum Cuvee. From a fantastic year this is incredibly youthful and shows no sign of age at all. But it has come together and is an absolute joy to drink. Deep dark fruit, intense nose and a round, juicy, velvety palate. Stunning!
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1/16/2020 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank at Maialino restaurant. 30 minute decant, showing very well. Ripe, nice structure with well integrated tannins, good fruit concentration, very much a crowd pleaser.
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12/25/2019 - Empirate wrote:
Secret Santa gift we enjoyed on Christman day.
Better as a cocktail and at cellar temperature. This is delicious but a bit too large-scaled and alcoholic with dinner (beef Wellington) so the 2000 Staglin Estate CS was preferred by all partakers.
Kept under cork in the refrigerator for 2 days, it has held up well and makes for a nice indulgent Holiday week lunch of leftovers.
I'll be in no rush with my one bottle from the 2010 vintage and think about sharing with friends on a chilly, wintery evening.
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9/27/2019 - Quiet Lion wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Lovely velvet palate of dark fruit overwhelmed by steely minerality and citrus pulp. Interesting as a cocktail wine and possible upside if things settle down in the future.
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9/27/2019 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Our last bottle was consumed in 2015, and reading that tasting note, there has been very little evolution since then. I'm terrible at following my own drinking window advice, but let me try sending a message to future me: wait until the late 20's to open the next one, just to see if anything changes.
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7/13/2019 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
Saxum Tasting (Zurich): Comprehensive vertical tasting of several Saxum vineyards and a total of 24 wines. Most wines on a good to very good level in the 93 to 95 points range, just one on an exceptional (97+ points) level (James Berry Bone Rock 08). The consistency of the wine-making at Saxum is impressive but the tasting proofed to be rather a bit boring with less difference between the vineyards and vintages showing than expected and wished for. Heart Stone stood out a bit (bigger vats used, little new oak) thanks to more terroir expression. James Berry (mostly Grenache) and James Berry Bone Rock (elevated complexity and sexiness) were great. Best vintage (we tried wines from 2003 to 2011) is clearly the 2007 which produced the wines with the most depth.
TN: A powerful nose bursting out of the glass with loads of blackberries, black currant and blueberries alongside some meaty notes, earthy notes and first hints of tertiary development with dry leather. Same picture on the dense, powerful palate with some red fruit tones cutting through the loads of blackberries. Despite all the power and density the wine has a remarkable fine and balanced structure with enough acidity. Good texture, complexity and finish. 94/95 points in the context of this large tasting but I guess this wine could climb higher if you follow it over an evening and are able to discover all its complexity. Not decanted, no decant needed.
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6/23/2019 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
Consistent with my last notes. This wine simply couldn't be in a better place. It did need decanting. I've always loved Broken Stones .
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6/22/2019 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 96 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:
First signs of tertiary aromas such as leather emerging and complementing the jammey fruit. Plush and intense palate and first time well balanced and integrated.
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4/9/2019 - oaxaca90049 wrote: 98 Points
Sensational. Really firing on all cylinders. I didn't take any notes but everyone was wowed. I've always loved Broken Stones and never had a better on.
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12/26/2018 - ChrisR wrote: 85 Points
Pretty uninteresting wine. Blueberry and still copious oak with vanilla notes. The fruit quality was good, rich and silky, but there was not much more. And I like Saxum: the 2007 James Berry was one of the best wines I had in 2018. This one wasn't.
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11/11/2018 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted along with other 2007 Saxums. #5 for me. Still youthful in color and nose, everything was integrated, but nothing made it stand out. Almost too smooth and easy. Good, solid wine, just not exceptional.
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11/5/2018 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Crowd favorite if you like this style. Lots of bold complex ripe fruit. Benefits from a decant, and suspect it can go another decade. Big finish.
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4/15/2018 - Whine-oh Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for sed and ti aerate 2 hrs before dinner. In true Saxum style, big n bold. Pretty nose, but mildly subdued. Bright red fruits, some spice. Still some heat here. Could have used a longer decant. Alive n well on day 2.
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3/11/2018 - VlgJeff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Give this wine AIR. We decanted it for 40 minutes, but the last glass (2 hours later) was the best, as the wine opened up and really came together. The nose yielded a bouquet of dark red and blue fruits. These followed through on the palate, along with nicely integrated tannins, and balancing acidity, in a medium plus bodied wine with a long finish. The wine should hold for a couple of years.
Broken Stones is a bruiser of a wine, and the '07 vintage is no exception. We liked this vintage better than the 2008, but not quite as much as the 2006.
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12/31/2017 - pgb67 wrote: 89 Points
Holidays 2017: Served late in the game on a boozy night and seemed a bit tired and lacking pop. Maybe circa 5 years is the best window for the brawny Saxums.
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7/14/2017 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Guys Night Out Part II (Jason's House): Decanted 1 hour, drank about 1/4 of the bottle over 1.5 hours. Lovely red fruit, distinct Saxum character. A bit of heat on the finish. Not as good as the James Berry, but it has its charm. Luis brought the Schrader, I brought this - we both agreed that these are good wines, but neither of us regret getting off of these lists.
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6/3/2017 - hoservin wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberries, raspberries, smoked meat and spice. Black and red fruit, coffee, chocolate, bacon fat and spice on the palate. Leads to a long, fruit-driven finish. Dense and full bodied. Served with pork marsala.
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5/11/2017 - MLwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious and well-balanced. Plenty of fruit, but not overwhelming. The alcohol and tannins are well-integrated. In a great place right now but will last for a while still. No rush, but no reason not to open a bottle either.
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4/29/2017 - jeagle wrote: 96 Points
It has been almost 4 years since I rated this wine. I enjoy wines from this producer but often question whether it is worth the price. Not with this bottle. I usually decant Saxum for 24 hours but given its age, I began consuming after only an hour. My rating represents the first hour or two as the wine evolved from a Bordeaux-like quality with a tar or creosote aspect above the fruit, say hydrocarbonesque, which I personally loved but which does not seem to be universally appreciated below, to a more dominant fruit forward wine in Saxum's typical style, then finally retreating into a disappointing tannic womb. I am chastising myself for failing to save some for tonight, but I was sharing and she would have none of that crazy talk.
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3/30/2017 - jeffmudd wrote: 94 Points
Simply tremendous, a little funky tar, but oh so good.
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3/25/2017 - hanasowner wrote: 84 Points
Decanted for about 30 minutes...not happy with this bottle at all...dark red in color though with some bricking right at the edge that I did not expect...some spice on the nose, but otherwise muted...dark fruit barely coming through with heat on the finish...saved half of the bottle for tomorrow to see if any improvement.
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3/4/2017 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I'm not usually the cheerleader for Saxum wines but this hit the spot. Deep hues, big wine with lush black and blue fruit. Stands up to mole. Big finish. Crowd pleaser.
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1/14/2017 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very odd upon opening: sort of a bitter tar flavor, somewhat disjointed. It settled down eventually, with some black fruit emerging. The second day was much better: fresh black fruits predominated, with black pepper, spices and earthly flavors added, highly structured. Still a big wine; still tastes young. The score is an amalgam: 80 the first day, 91 the second.
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1/2/2017 - jhieb Likes this wine: 95 Points
The best vintage I've had of this wine. Seems a bit smoother, and more balanced than other years. Great stuff.
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10/10/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Double decanted then SO'd for a few hrs, dark crimson, black & blue fruit with pepper & a touch of spice, mod. tannins long finish; delicious but still young, drink or preferably hold
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6/4/2016 - bigredPA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of Asian spice, violet, and meat. You can tell this is going to be a big beauty. Smoldering and enveloping on the palate, with blackberry, pepper, and herbal notes. Lengthy, complex, & structured, with a long life ahead.
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5/15/2016 - rogerr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Starting to enter a good drinking phase. Will cellar remaining bottles for another year.
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4/9/2016 - Justchrisb23 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Needs to be decanted... But this is a big beautiful wine...
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12/10/2015 - tc from santee Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfect balance, fruit and acidity with minerals pouring through. A masterpiece with braised lamb shanks and bone marrow sopas. Dinner at Bracero's San Diego was amazing.
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12/4/2015 - phenricsson wrote: 97 Points
Saxum 2007 comparison
Like a Hermitage. Harder. Great structure. Stiletto acidity but great sweetness. Blackberries. Needs more time. 97p.
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9/29/2015 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I may be coming around to liking these wines. Decanted about two hours. Initially very much a cherry cough syrup. Slowly morphed into a rich and fairly complex full bodied wine that was quite enjoyable. Very very long finish.
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9/19/2015 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Beefy BBQ nose with some black pepper and caramel notes. The palate has some sweet notes up front and turns austere quickly. Reminds me of the smells of embers on a fire. Wish i had a steak.
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6/28/2015 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 96 Points
Dark purple color turning violet at the rim with a transparent edge. The nose is very opulent, dense and ripe with dark fruits, licorice, rose petals, and espresso. The palate is full-bodied, plush with an ultra-velvety texture. Flavors of blueberry pie, ripe boysenberry, pepper spice, fig, smoked meat and nutmeg. Fleshy with attractive tannins and bracing acidity aptly balances the ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. Finishes long and juicy with hints of earth, clove and minerals. A classic, for sure. Drink now until 2027.
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6/8/2015 - aajder wrote: 89 Points
Deep color. The nose is rich and pure, showing aromas of dark berries, flowers, oak, and a hint of garrigue. This is medium full bodied on the palate, with plenty of richness but a lack of real concentration. Modern. The fairly long finish shows unrefined tannins and just enough acidity.
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5/31/2015 - BVal wrote: 90 Points
Color: very dark ruby -> deep ruby rim. Decanted 2+ hours. Boysenberries and raspberries on the nose along with a little oak and smoke; fruit is ultimately ascendant here and I didn't find this to have a terribly complex bouquet. Thickly extracted palate; overly plump berry fruit. While this demonstrates good intensity, acidity and a lengthy finish, I'm not finding this to be 'all that and a bag of chips'. It's nicely quaffable but I was hoping (expecting) a bit more when finally opening my first '07 Saxum. Granted, it is regarded on CT as being the least hallowed of the Saxum offerings in this heralded year. Still, I think I'd be hard pressed to even identify Syrah as the primary grape here if this was being tasted blind . . . .
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5/30/2015 - hoservin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1 hour. Beautiful aromas of blackberry, black cherry, violets, bacon fat and spice. A jammy black fruit core integrated with chocolate, spice, forest floor and soft, fine tannins. Leads to a very long finish. Full bodied with a rich, dense texture. Waves of flavor. Paired with Greek tenderloin.
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4/26/2015 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 94 Points
94+ pts
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3/26/2015 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark garnet, completely opaque. Tasted with five other Saxum GSM blends. This got the fewest votes from sixteen tasters. Very viscous, but a touch less than a few others. The aroma also a shade less pronounced and more one-dimensional, but still the same dark fruits, smoke, and oak. Very concentrated fruit, but the tannin more noticeable and forward than several others. Very long aftertaste. I'd age this one a bit longer, enjoy some of the others first. Try another in 1-2 years.
Ric
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3/14/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for two hours before service. In the glass, deep, opaque, purplish red. On the nose, a blast of berries: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, in abundance. On the palate, a deceptively soft initial attack, with a mix of fruit and minerals, which resolves into substantial tannins on the long finish. As often seems to be the case with Saxum, the alcohol is imperceptible on the palate, but you will feel it by the time the decanter is empty. Because of the structured tannins, I think this is likely to improve over the next 3-5 years.
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2/14/2015 - whitmanlholt wrote: 91 Points
Aerated for approximately 3 hours in a large Zalto carafe, and then drank over several hours. This is a dark ruby wine with minimal sediment but strong teeth-staining concentration. On the nose, I got black cherries, blackberry jelly, and a hint of olive. In the mouth, this was lush, but lacked any distinguishing flavor. The finish was similarly muted. Overall, I did not find this to be terribly complex or to have the intensity of smell and flavor that normally accompany a Saxum wine. Perhaps I aerated for too long (although that seems unlikely), perhaps this is in a dumb stage right now, or perhaps this illustrates that Saxum wines should generally be drunk on the younger side. Regardless the reason, this fell short of expectations. 91 points.
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12/9/2014 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 96 Points
Garnet-purple, completely opaque. Very big the first night, with lots of fruit and tannin, mouth-coating. By the next night, though, it had softened a surprising amount, even under inert gas from the prior evening. Aroma still somewhat one-dimensional, noticeable alcohol, of dark fruits, hint of coffee or mocha. In the mouth, it went from very big and coarse the first night to medium-full the next, becoming much rounder. Still noticeable tannin, still quite viscous. Slightly hot finish but very long. This is quite drinkable now, especially after significant airing, but should improve and will certainly last for years.
Ric
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8/7/2014 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 95 Points
Popped and poured and then followed for about 90 minutes. This is coming along very nicely and is an outstanding wine. Intense dark fruit, nice spice, excellent balance, smooth mouth feel with no bite. I did not get a lot of raspberry in this bottle, which I have gotten in a lot of Saxum. If this had been decanted for about 3 hours (I could not do it) it would have been even better.
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4/7/2014 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 96 Points
Still garnet-purple and completely opaque.Writing this on the second night, the aroma is very pronounced smoke and tar, all black fruits, plums, and toasted oak. The flavors are very deep, rich and concentrated, also dark and rich. Fruit, acidity, and tannin are perfectly balanced. A bit hot from high alcohol, also noticeable on the aftertaste, which is very rich and long. This wine is extremely concentrated but also very enjoyable. It will easily hold another five years or more and may develop more complexities. It speaks well for Saxum's aging ability.
Ric
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4/5/2014 - hoservin wrote: 93 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 2.5 hours. Bouquet of blackberry jam, boysenberry, licorice, spice, smoked meat, bacon fat and vanilla. Blackberry jam integrated with licorice, forest floor, spice, and fine tannins on the palate. Dense, rich texture that leads to a very long finish. Paired with roast beef.
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3/31/2014 - S R U D I N Likes this wine: 95 Points
Truly beautiful wine, complex yet delicate. One of the best bottles of Saxum I've ever had.
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3/18/2014 - BrianMc wrote: 94 Points
Opened kistler Pinot, Spottswoode cab, Carlisle petite and the Saxum broken stones. Saxum carried the day, this is a big wine with subtle flavors (don't know how they get this delineation) and a lengthy finish that maintains some lightness.
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3/17/2014 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Previous tasting notes apply with exception that grenache fruit seem to show itself more as fruit was less restrained, slightly lighter, and more juicy.
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3/5/2014 - fdub Likes this wine: 94 Points
In a really good place now. Ripe and powerful with intensity of flavor but great freshness as well. Still a bit grippy on the palate. Could hold off another year but really this is starting to enter a nice window.
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2/20/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
Wow. Powerful. P&P. Kept improving with time
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1/16/2014 - rogerr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big, tannic, but delicious. Although the 07's are heralded, I'm liking the freshness of the 09's right now.
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12/2/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
Best bottle of this yet. Still young but starting to shed some of the rawness of youth. Black raspberries, black pepper, raspberries, grilled meats, slight bacon fat notes on the nose. Complex and lush. No heat. Long finish. Layered on the palate. Drank over two nights, better on night two. Fantastic wine.
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9/9/2013 - phenricsson wrote: 98 Points
Best bottle yet of the 5 I've had. Spicy, rich, explosive.
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8/25/2013 - gzim wrote: 87 Points
Popped and poured, not the way to go with this wine. The dry and super minerally extract overpowered the fruit.
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8/23/2013 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Wine was much tighter than remembered. Needs at least 2 hours to open up. Minerality and strength of structure was noteworthy. Beautiful blackberry/boysenberry/blueberry fruit with meaty, smokey, black olive flavors
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8/18/2013 - Lord Rodney wrote: 90 Points
Same as last bottle
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7/7/2013 - jeagle wrote: 95 Points
Decanted the night before and consumed 21 hours later. Beautiful purity of fruit, integrated acid, and the softest of tannins. I think a one or two day decant is essential or, if you desire the journey, simply tasting it over an elongated time period. Just another patented Saxum: broad shouldered yet light footed; silk on the palate, round and rich and seamless.
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5/13/2013 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted back into the bottle at 9:30 am and left uncorked until 12:00, recorked and then brought to the restaurant for lunch with clients. Started at 1:15 pm. Absolutely outstanding wine. Red fruit, meat juices and spice. No sweetness at all - actual or apparent. The wine filled your mouth and had a wonderful depth to it without being syrupy. There was obvious alcohol when I decanted it originally, but it had calmed down when we drank it. Great overall balance. Still some roughness from youth but this is going to be great for years to come. This definitely deserves a WOW.
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5/6/2013 - nickorum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very thin until open for two hours when started to take on weight. Would suggest either decanting for 3-4 hours or waiting on this for another two years.
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4/28/2013 - ruddy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still drinking very well, needed 10 hours or so after double decant to really relax and open itself up. Balanced but with a lot of flavor profiles pushing against each other. Still a bit tannic on the finish, but that just may be how this wine is.
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4/28/2013 - sbfireman wrote: 94 Points
Big, full throttle and almost a run away train. Decanted for an hour which I believe was insufficient as the wine changed gears several times over the course of the night to reveal different aspects. Bordering on too hot, it rode just this side of that slippery slope. Very fruit-full, blue fruit, in the glass which did settle. Hard to say if first sip or last was best. Syrah leads the charge but is well supported by the grenache and mourved A tad heat on the finish which over time, lessened. I wonder what 4-7 hours of air time might do. Clearly I am a fan of this style of teeth coating (kinda like little sweaters, right?) big in the glass, take no prisoners wine.
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4/1/2013 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet-purple
Not the best BS I've had, but it's got a deep berry liqueur influence from notes to finish that's enjoyable. Toasty oak that's never overbearing. Rich and satisfying, but not as complex as other vintages.
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3/2/2013 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Domaine Wine Storage Saturday BYOB (Domaine Wine Storage (Chicago)): So big and rich. Absolutely not for everyone or the faint of heart. Dark black blueberries and plums. Brown sugar, smoke, tar.
Really really meaty. Super savory notes, black olive and super exotic baking spices. Balanced finish and if you like massive fruit and in your face wine with personality and still some nice restraint, this bottle is for you. I'd still wait at least five to seven more years to open another though.
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3/2/2013 - KeithAkers wrote: 80 Points
Another Saturday at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage, Chicago IL): Nose: This is showing over-ripeness but without being completely run off the tracks. The tones of black fruits, liqueur, road tar, and black cherries show much to the richer side.
Taste: Full bodied with a lot of density to it. This is very big and rich with over-ripe tones of black fruits, road tar, and liqueur tones. The tones also have a chunkiness to them.
Overall: This isn't much to my taste and it is as subtle as a punch in the face. While some things may have smoothed out a bit right now, it's hard to see where this can go.
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3/2/2013 - tooch wrote: 74 Points
Saturday Afternoon at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage - Chicago, IL): Sheesh...what a bruiser. Definitely not my style of wine, but it's hard to see this ever maturing into an elegant syrah.
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2/14/2013 - bruce61 wrote: 91 Points
Agree with the decadent mouthfeel notes. A big wine. Really nice but the last glassful seemed a little too tannic. Not sure of too much air or not enough air as it was pop and pour with an aerator. Love Saxum and loved the wine till the last taste.
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2/9/2013 - morewineplease! Likes this wine: 93 Points
Everything I've come to expect from Saxum - beautiful mouthfeel, deep everchanging flavors. Definitely found the gravel and Asian spices listed by others, along with cherries, creamy 50/50 bar, brussel sprouts, and an earthiness that smelled like a baked potato! (We couldn't believe it, either!)
Went beautifully with a lamb tangine and with a NY Steak in a rich herb sauce.
I would decant for at least an hour, but this bottle really hit its stride at about hour 2.
Can probably hold for several years but why would you want to?!
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1/12/2013 - STM82 wrote: 96 Points
Amazing how light, balanced, and complex a wine can be without the immense weight. Drank alongside a 2009 epoch authenticity. Paired with bacon wrapped meatloaf, sautéed mushrooms, and truffled potatoes. Paired absolutely stunningly! Both wines faired well, but the Saxum was above and beyond... Crushed stone and asphalt, floral, with herbs and more bass notes. More pepper, Asian spice, and charred earth. Although, not being on "the list" not sure it's worth the mark up retail price. Amazing wine nonetheless and best wine-food pairing I've had! Thanks to my beautiful fiancée for the cooking, and to Justin for the wine!
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12/31/2012 - KCBrian wrote: 92 Points
Another wine served at musdir's dinner. Decanted for a little over an hour and drank with dinner over a couple of hours. Was the color of blood........dark. Lovely nose. Fruit forward with a mellow but deep follow through. Definitely tasted the alcohol but it seemed to mellow over time. Was not my fav for the night but was for my wife.
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12/26/2012 - Lord Rodney wrote: 90 Points
Nice fresh fruit. Better than expected. Not too powerful
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11/17/2012 - Kermadur Likes this wine:
Very dark and velvety. Full and fruity; smooth with a nice finish. Great new world wine - big and rich.
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11/6/2012 - cadamson wrote: 93 Points
Big, but very well made with lots of amazing fruit, with tiny hints of meat and spice. Really round and full, a pleasant drinking experience. I know these are always given long drinking windows by the critics, but I do not buy that they improve much --- of course, damn good now so who cares.
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10/27/2012 - Cow Town wrote: 90 Points
Good wine, but not great. Decanted for two hour and drank over four. It never lost the heat and bite of alcohol on the nose and finish. Deep dark color, and a good "Syrah" nose of dark berries and a touch of meat. Complexity seemed to be missing, and the mouthfeel wasn't as supple and smooth as prior Saxums. I kept wanting more, but this never delivered.
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9/18/2012 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
Lots of promise but even after a two hour decent this wine is drinking so young. Don't open a bottle for at least another two years. Better to drink my older Saxums which are drinking great now.
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6/22/2012 - VoteferPedro wrote: 92 Points
sweet fruit and potent aromatics. gotta love it!
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5/13/2012 - sonodoc wrote: 96 Points
Awesome wine; maybe even better than before. Loads of fruit, very smooth, wonderful nose.
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5/12/2012 - MayValley wrote: 94 Points
I was not able to write a tasting note at the time of consumption, but this was a very good wine!
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3/17/2012 - Stormswave wrote: 96 Points
All Saxum, all the time, stunning. Deep color, meaty, smoky, spice, blackberry with a good flint spark. Couldn't keep my nose out of my glass, raspberries and other lighter tones than the palate, although lots of dark fruit as well. Miles to go on this one and I'll sleep well knowing there are more in the cellar.
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3/13/2012 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Soft, smooth, rich, full-bodied blackberry fruit with chocolate and spice integrated flavors, excellent structure, well-balanced, nice finish, showing some bottle age, drinking at its peak
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2/23/2012 - NY Wino wrote: 94 Points
Double decanted and drank after 3 hours. Almost black in color, huge nose of black fruit, spice and some alcohol. While I am not typically a lover of big, high alcohol Cali syrah's, this one is a winner with a very rich but smooth mouth coating style and a delicious finish that lasts 45+ seconds. Drinking nicely now and likely to improve w/ a few years.
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2/18/2012 - scott davis wrote: 95 Points
Color of black pen ink with purple legs, this rich, full bodied wine has a phenomenal nose of dark berry, black cherry, forest fire, and sweet raw meat. On the palate, a delicious velvet of brambly dark berries, blackcurrant, peppercorn, pipe tobacco, and bacon fat show in a layered, multidimensional style with considerable complexity. There’s a hint of warm cedar on the 45-second finish. I’d put this just inside it’s drinking window, with the potential to evolve for another 10 years. 71% Syrah, 18% Grenache, 11% Mourvèdre; ABV: 15.4%, with no heat detected. Delicious.
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2/14/2012 - sonodoc wrote: 95 Points
Awesome as usual....
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1/15/2012 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 96 Points
Awesome wine. The nose is so enticing, I could sniff it all night long. The texture is juicy and velvety as the wine slowly slides down. On the palate, this is delicious. Yes, its big and California. Juicy black raspberries, some pie filling, some grilled meats. No heat. Long finish. Light on its feet despite its size. Wonderful wine.
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1/9/2012 - Geoff wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful in every aspect. powerful yet not overpowering. Strong yet balanced. Does not taste hot or alcoholic despite it's high 15.4% alcohol content. Thanks to Justin!
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12/24/2011 - hoservin wrote: 94 Points
2 hour decant. Purple, black hue. Blackberry, black currant, pepper, walnut, and vanilla. Beautiful dark fruit and soft tannins create a full bodied, layered, and jammy mid-palate. Very long finish. An outstanding bottle, and extremely enjoyable.
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9/15/2011 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 97 Points
(Tasted in a flight with 2007 Broken Stones, 2008 Heart of Stone, 2008 Booker and 2008 Bone Rock) A stunner! The 2007 Broken Stones GSM blend is utterly magnificent and refined. Though revealing itself as a massive nose and palate attacker, it does so with an elegant approach. The nose reveals flowers, lovely creamy vanilla and so much dark fruit I am amazed. The palate is voluptuous, yet balanced, presenting this super concentrated effort in a very pleasant way. The acidity is very nice, actually the wine pairs exquisitely with heavier food. A lovely effort worth following for the coming 10-15 years, I guess.
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9/11/2011 - cbbrown3 wrote: 95 Points
Decanted about 3 hours. Deep maroon color. Amazing nose with blackberry, fresh ground white pepper, black cherries, smoke, licorice, stony minerality, wet slate, fresh flowers, vanilla, and charcoal embers. Fairly full bodied with solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity. Explosive on the palate with the fruit, spices, minerality mixing with the smoky embers into a very harmonious and tasty blend. Long, delicious finish. I'm sure this will age and improve, but it is awesome right now. This was pre price increase so it was a steal at $45.
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9/6/2011 - pgb67 wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely delicious and addictive, although complex enough to merit some contemplation. Deep aromas of ripe blackberry and white pepper herald a supple and juicy palate with a glycerol mouthfeel and a spicy finish that glides effortlessly. It's fair to say it had a grapey component to it, similar to what you sometimes see from hi-end cabs (e.g. is this wine or a cocktail?), but overall a great drinking experience.
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8/31/2011 - ews3 wrote: 96 Points
Weeknight Wine Tasting (Bistro 7, Philadelphia PA): decanted 4-5 hours. delicious, and insult added to injury when i got the e-mail the next day saying 'no wine for you'. beautiful dark fruit profile, with blackberry, boysenberry, and dark spice notes of clove and black pepper. this is a powerful wine, and yet avoids becoming a pure pleasure bomb, showing a modicum of restraint amidst all the fruit. long finish continues to show primary fruit. will continue to purchase on the secondary market where i can until i make it.
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8/31/2011 - jrobs7777 wrote: 94 Points
Survery Of New World Wines (Bistro 7 (7 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia)): This is still a very young wine. It had that grapey-ness to it that sometimes comes with younger wines. It should get better with age. Lush and spicy. One of those big dense wines that can sometimes be all out of whack and too alcoholic. This is different. Well balanced. Smokey note with blackberries. Dense and rich. Very easy to drink. Held back just a tad by the heat that creeps in at the finish. A little disappointed that the alcohol creeps in at the end.
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8/16/2011 - bonedocnine wrote: 92 Points
yummy
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6/19/2011 - gzim wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 4 hours, then followed for another 2. By the last glass this wine was finally opening up and starting to sing, Beautifully. Lots of white pepper, round fruits, though for most of this showing, it was not as blue fruited as I have come to love. If I were to open another, I would try to give it 8-10 hours in decanter. Great kirschy nose
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6/4/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
Dehlinger,Tablas, Saxum, Madeira; 6/3/2011-6/4/2011: My first time trying this one from my cellar. I opened, poured off .5 oz and let it sit in the cellar for 6 hours. Put the cork back in and drank at the restaurant a couple of hours later. Obviously young, but still has plenty to offer. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, leather and white pepper. On the palate, this is huge yet deft. Easy to drink, but with layers of complexity. I think this will get even better and would wait a few more years IMO. No real hint of the alc., but it is high. I love Saxum wines, but 07 was really an amazing vintage for them.
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5/20/2011 - ELH wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for three hours and rebottled. Dark, lush, luscious, warm fruit, all in exquisite balance with the tannins. Alas, the last bottle. Wish I had more.
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3/11/2011 - Grape Stuff wrote: 94 Points
Sorry, no formal notes. 3 hour decant, which was not enough - it needed more and was just starting to open up. Can definitely tell this has it all...typical Saxum, absolutely delicious, luscious and full-bodied yet balanced. That being said, I think this wine still needs at least a few years. 94 (with 97/98 potential)
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1/31/2011 - ScottS wrote:
Honestly I was underwhelmed by this wine. Fruit seemed muted and the alcohol was definitely noticeable even served on the cool side at 58 degs. Perhaps this was an off bottle?
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1/27/2011 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and drunk over 3 hours. Great wine. Big with great structure. Fruit opens up more and more with dark, vibrant fruit and great length.
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1/2/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 95 Points
Just a great wine. Certainly young, but has it all. Great up-front fruit and complexity.
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9/18/2010 - ELH wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for five hours and funneled back into the bottle to sit for another two. Just wonderful. Rich, lush dark fruit, plums and blackberries (hint of blueberry?), and sun-warmed earth of Paso Robles. The tastes and smells evolved in the glass. Youthful still. Tannins in evidence but not overwhelming. If I had any self-discipline, I'd let the other bottle sit in the cellar for another three or four years, but we know what is going to happen.
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8/27/2010 - sdatl wrote: 97 Points
Wow... incredibly rich, yet very well integrated, focused, and with the structure needed to keep it from tasting "messy." Rich dark fruit, herbs, and a hint of grilled meat... delicious now, but even better after a decant.
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7/10/2010 - rralls wrote: 93 Points
Sat. wine lunch at Muss & Turner's
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7/9/2010 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Wow - big lush flavors...crowd happy.
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6/12/2010 - ruddy wrote: 93 Points
Return to form for the Broken Stones over last year. Lucious fruit, dark brooding spice layer on top of rich purple plums with a bit of blackberry/boysenbberry. Long finish, still a bit tannic. Another six months before I open another, but this is great stuff.
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5/9/2010 - Badfish wrote: 95 Points
Very dark with black tinges to the garnet purple core. A lovely elegant yet expressive nose of raspberries, blackberries, plums, liquefied stones, fresh flowers, herbs, cologne, and sweet charcoal. I love the intricate minerality that oozes from the nose here, really tremendous. The palate opens with a sexy supple entry leading to full bodied flavors of dark berries, endless minerality of clay and earth, and firm ripe structure from the tannins. Remarkably elegant with tremendous fruit density that firms up towards the finish. This has solid balance as I detect no heat whatsoever on the nose or palate. Dense, structured, supple yet firm, complex, poised, and with a degree of headiness towards the finish. Give this five years for the structure to subside and the layers to resolve. Decanted for about three hours.
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4/18/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
very young. Should have been decanted, but live waits for not one :) Once it opened up the nose was big and while the body was still a bit rowdy it's easy to see where this is going. Wonderful wine.
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3/4/2010 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Highly consistent with my prior notes. Starts to rock with 45 minutes of air. Full nose of smoke, black fruit, meat and spices. Palate is richly fruited but shows tremendous balance and length. Super.
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2/26/2010 - Terkel wrote: 94 Points
Rhone Rangers tasting (Vinens verden, Odense): Black color with a purple hue. Sweet raspberry, cherry and blueberry fruit are accompanied by notes of licorice, pepper and cookie dough on the inviting nose. On the palate it is super concentrated with almost boiled down intensity in the flavors. Ripe, black cherry and blackberry fruit with viols, campfire, licorice, cookie dough and spices coming in on the midpalate and some chew tobacco, oil barrel, tar and asphalt on the finish. Great length with a fresh backbone of acidity and tannins. This is great and while it is drinking extremely well, it will probably settle down to a more complete wine in a couple of years.
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2/15/2010 - KenK wrote: 94 Points
Nice dark concentrated spicy cherry flavors dominate in wonderful one dimentional way. Bit tight compared to 2006 version which was drinking better tonight at BP. Hope it opens up more with another year or two. Still a very good drink and my bet is it will bloom with time.
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1/28/2010 - PortFanatic wrote: 93 Points
Suffered from being tasted next to the awesome Saxum James Berry. Still, it's very impressive. Big boned, but not ponderous. Could use a least a year to settle down and gain some complexity. I liked this a lot. An excellent Broken Stones
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1/19/2010 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Another rockin' bottle of the Broken Stones. After a 45 minute decant, nose is starting to reveal layers of black fruit, smoked meats, asphalt and flowers. Palate is rich with decadent fruit. For all the concentration and richness, the balance is extraordinary with hard edges or noticeable alcohol. Youthful, exuberant and delicious!
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1/14/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
15.4% ABV. Dark garnet translucent in the glass. Spicy kirsch nose. Rich, concentrated black cherry fruit with a nice sweet-savory balance. A little bit feminine, but she is a wearing a tight dress; you can see the complex goodies, but they are hard to pin down and put flavors to. Really good.
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12/8/2009 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Dark black in color. Nose starts tight after a short 20 minute decant. Opens to reveal black fruit, asphalt, coffee and spice. Palate is rich and decadent. Layers upon layers of rich, black fruit. Massive mid-palate into a long, flavorful finish full of fruit, asphalt, graphite, and oak spices. Killer.
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8/19/2009 - clayfu wrote:
in bottle
A light airy nose of cedar and ripe red fruit. Chalky tannins on the palate with a slim mid palate of red fruit that requires some time to resolve . Some tobacco notes on the finish with just a tinge of oak.
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5/2/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 93 Points
2009 Hospice du Rhone Grand Tasting (Paso Robles): Barrel sample
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