3/5/2024 - jbposell wrote:

Best Saxum I have had in a long time, stunning! Definitely helped by an hour decant, but ready to go after that. Iron fist in a velvet glove, really really nice wine...

8/27/2023 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Quite tight upon opening, needed at least half an hour of air to really start to show its stuff. After that, delicious, interesting, but I still prefer the single vineyard zins and syrahs...

5/28/2023 - jbposell wrote:

With a 1 hour decant, still a bit tannic and if you can, hold it for another year or two. That said, a big syrah with tons of fruit that smooths out with the viognier into a great accompaniment for grilled meats, sausages, and any robust fare.

Well made, shows its Santa Ynez roots, definitely of the place.

3/23/2023 - jbposell wrote:

Was really expecting more, it had neither oomph nor fruit. Maybe an off bottle, but wasn't bad either.

9/1/2022 - jbposell wrote:

Wow, clean and fresh with years still to go. Decanted for 3 hrs and still a little tight. Pure Syrah goodness, perfect Northern Rhone.

8/14/2022 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Pretty good QPR, varietally true, a nice European style... Drinkable now with a little air, but definitely no hurry.

7/15/2022 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Decanted for 3 hours and wow did that make a difference. Like a mini CDP on the palate, nose was still CDR so-so.

Can't wait for my next and last bottle now that I have (hopefully) unlocked the secret to this wine...

2/13/2022 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Excellent Grenache-dominated blend (small amounts of Mataro and Cinsault), more S Rhone than Cali, loved it with grilled sausages and veggies.

12/15/2021 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Pleasant and food-friendly, but still a good amount of tannins to be resolved. I think the drinking window is still a good year away...

10/30/2021 - jbposell wrote:

Not corked but undrinkable.

10/20/2021 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Dammit, should have waited another year or two. Last glass was the best after 2 hrs in a decanter. Hold 'em if you got' em...

10/10/2021 - jbposell wrote:

Too early, wait on next one 2+ years.

8/29/2021 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Tasty and certainly interesting enough for the price. Perfect with summer grilled meats!

8/20/2021 - jbposell wrote:

Not your classic CA syrah! Very savory, peppery, and delicious, almost light on its feet and in need of some grilled meats to bring out the full flavor set.

Northern Rhone in its inspiration, definitely. Will be curious to see how they evolve.

3/25/2021 - jbposell wrote:

Cooked?

3/24/2021 - jbposell wrote:

Really, why buy any other Syrah in this price range? Year-in, year-out, the base Bedrock Syrah (they have renamed it at least once, hence my general term) punches way above its weight. Nothing cerebral or too complex, but what a killer mid-week wine that goes with food or stands alone!

I paid $20 direct from the winery and only bought 6, which of course are almost gone. Looking for more on Wine Searcher already...

2/2/2021 - jbposell wrote:

Definitely one of the best bottles I have had in recent memory, in a great drinking window and I don't know if it will improve from here, but why wait??? Gave it a 1.5 hour decant and that helped smooth out any rough edges, if there even were any.

You know the 15% ABV is lurking somewhere, but it's not at all apparent so beware. Surprisingly not much nose on this, but the palate & finish are amazing, just singing strong & pure fruit flavors, the two varietals meshing perfectly but still distinct enough to give it some complexity. A very well-made wine, wish I had more!

12/7/2020 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Nice CdP just hitting a great drinking window. Decant for 30-60 mins if you can. Quite a good QPR...

12/7/2020 - jbposell wrote:

Very corked

12/5/2020 - jbposell wrote:

Pretty damn tasty for an under $20 Pinot, which is a really hard combination to nail. Well done Jon & Garagiste & Kendric!

9/26/2020 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Really in a great spot right now, I can't see any reason to wait.

8/22/2020 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Gorgeous "kitchen sink" blend from Saxum, very fragrant and a mouthful of ripe fruit and spice. Decanted for an hour but could've used longer - 2nd glass that sat for a while was way better.

8/13/2020 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Wow, killer $20 Gigondas! Wish I had more, it's got some years left.

8/2/2020 - jbposell Likes this wine:

In a perfect spot right now, can't see it developing further but what do I know! Really nice CA Rhone version...

7/16/2020 - jbposell Does not like this wine:

Very blah.

6/27/2020 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Never disappoints, year in and year out, and at the wine club price, this is our go-to summer easy sippin' white. Food-friendly, but great on its own too. Great QPR and yum!

4/13/2020 - jbposell wrote:

Over the hill, pruny and all that was left was the alcohol...

4/6/2020 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Tart and unforgiving night one, surprisingly delicious and still very much alive three days later.

12/23/2019 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Pretty awesome Bassetti rendition but still needs years to really shine. Hold at least until 2021, maybe longer

5/5/2019 - jbposell wrote:

Lots of leakage, just this bottle, not others from the same shipment

4/7/2019 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Finally, a Bedrock ready to go! These wines are delicious, but man, do they require some time to mature (for zins and zin blends, that is). This was juicy, very interesting, and improved on days 2 and 3. Yes, I actually had the final glass on night 3 and it was rockin!

My advice is not to PnP, but aerate somehow and don't be afraid of leaving it until day 2 from the outset. YMMV, of course...

12/23/2018 - jbposell wrote:

Pretty heavily oxidized. Seems to be an issue with this bottling if I look at others' notes, so beware...

7/16/2018 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Time to drink up! As always, a delight to finish an evening with these, but definitely on a bit of a downward slope. Acidity is gone, soft honey and butterscotch notes, a dessert all by itself.

7/16/2017 - jbposell wrote:

Delicious GOT Season 7 premiere wine! Amazing that it is still youthful and even a bit tannic after 2 hours decant and 11 years in the bottle! Another hour of sipping smoothed things out, but no hurry on this at all. Alas, my final bottle of four...

5/11/2017 - jbposell wrote:

Much better than a year ago, tannins have resolved (mostly) and fruit has perked up. Nothing too complex or mind-blowing, but a nice mid-week quaffer.

3/5/2017 - jbposell Likes this wine:

In a great drinking window right now but probably has another point or two of potential in a year or so.

10/14/2016 - jbposell wrote:

Seems in a great drinking window right now.

9/13/2016 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Wow, one of the better SB's I have had recently. Tropical CA notes but enough acidity to be food friendly and not too sweet. Some oak, as other tasters have noted, but not too much (this is from an oak-a-phobe). Wish I had more

9/11/2016 - jbposell wrote:

In decline, brickish in color, aged Pinot characteristics but the fruit is mostly gone. Drink 'em if you got 'em.

9/20/2015 - jbposell wrote:

100% ready to drink, in fact night two was already seeing some decline, but delicious rhone blend at a reasonable price point. Yet another TC Franco-Cali blend, straddles both styles and regions perfectly. Not overly complex, but a joy to drink, either on its own or with food.

2/15/2015 - jbposell wrote:

Argh, last bottle of the batch, was so looking forward but nope, completely maderized and brick colored...

2/11/2015 - jbposell Likes this wine:

QPR alert! One of the best $25 syrahs I have ever had, just entering a great drinking window, tannins still very present but just enough to give it structure and interest, not at teeth-melting levels. Spice & fruit in equal doses and a pleasure to drink. Decant 1 hour or more and enjoy with grilled meats, stew, or burgers.

12/25/2014 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Stunning, drinking at or near its peak but seems like it will stay there for a few years. Give it some air, serve it to guests and watch it disappear quickly!

11/15/2014 - jbposell wrote:

Wonderful bottle, right in its drinking window, classic Burg!

10/30/2014 - jbposell wrote:

Nothing to write home about, tasted like a nice CdR, was priced higher than that. Meh...

4/30/2014 - jbposell wrote:

Definitely throw this in the decanter for at least an hour and you will be rewarded greatly! Great juice, will improve for 2-3 more years at least.

3/2/2014 - jbposell Likes this wine:

Amazing syrah, needs at least an hour decant, was really singing at hour two... No hurry to drink this, will be great for another 2-4 years at least...

12/22/2013 - jbposell wrote:

Impressive showing for this wine, better than 6 months ago by a good amount. Don't know if it's bottle variation or time, but this was one of the best Epochs I've had and certainly the best American Tempranillo.

11/10/2013 - jbposell wrote:

Argh, corked! Was lookin forward to this...

12/16/2012 - jbposell wrote:

Fairly one-dimensional and seems to be fading, nice enough but nothing to get excited about. And this comes from a big fan of the Tablas Creek wines...

Looking at the other TN's, this seems out of character for this wine, so maybe it was a slightly off bottle?