Decanted 2hrs. I always look forward to a ‘Rewski’ as it usually has the most variance in the grape cepage from vintage to vintage. The 16 is 46% Mataro / 19 Syrah / 15 Tempranillo / 7 Zin / 5 Grenache. Yet again, somehow Justin Smith manages to take ‘large scaled’ wine on the tech sheet (15.9% ABL) to a layered, complex and thought provoking Paso red blend. Perhaps the 67% in foudres and 16% in amphora help contribute, I don’t know, but this is just so damn tasty. The other thing that occurred to me is the energy and potential life span ahead – it seemed young at almost 8 years old. Easy decade ahead AND I see this developing, not just holding the fort so to speak. Awesome effort.
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90-minute decant. Deep dark slightly hazy magenta color. Blackberry, underripe strawberry, blueberry, red plum, red apple peel, cocoa powder, lemon rind, and subtle violet. Very dry, slightly tart/citrusy palate, with zesty acidity. Full, plush tannins on the longish finish.
This is a unique Rhone-style field blend. It’s more citrusy than I expected. Fun wine, but not something I’d seek out. It was an emergency pull from the cellar due to lack of time to decant a Napa Cab.
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Opened three hours in advance of serving and poured through a vintorio. A beautiful nose of berries, plums and chocolate. The palate is dark berries, plums, cassis and chocolate leading to a finish that goes on forever.
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Nose echo's mushrooms, damp earth, distant fall vineyard. First sip, rhubarb, plums, wet leather p$#tie's. Robust at first, than a long slow fade like tires marks from a burn out. Grows on you, each visit better than the last. easy 97pts
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the 2016 terry hoage was a bit better but this was too a great bottle of wine. it was a joy to share it with people i care about. not sure it can get better as so good right now. maybe. smooth in balance and no after taste. those are my measurements. as for tasting this and that i am not so sophisticated, but i am sure some who know more than me would appreciate this wine right now
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This is open enough but still not quite ready to go. Dark plum dominant with cassis, raspberry, spearmint, vanilla and mineral. Silky smooth tannins and texture but needing time to add depth. No complaints here.
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Absolutely fantastic. In a good drinking window with Mataro predominant flavor profile. Smooth, great nose and mouthfeel, nice and complex texture with deep dark fruit penetration. There is great pleasure in this one. Opened right up, no decant. Enjoy.
Closed initially. Certainly needs some air and time. The nose never really opened up, but after a couple of hours the strong body starts to show. Deep taste with strong but gentle tannins. Put this away for another 5 years!
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15.8% abv. Dark ruby, very aromatic. Cassis, white pepper, mint, and boysenberry. Exceptional depth, length, mouthfeel, and concentration. Appears to still be on the ascent will probably peak in 3-5 years. A very fine Saxum.
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Very early in its drinking window When the buzz settled down mysterious dark fruits raisen and a long lasting flavoral moment quite memorable appreciated
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Bright red fruit, sour cherry, cassis, violets, roses, cinnamon, vanilla, dried tobacco and some white pepper. Great balance but lacks a bit on the complexity. Still a very good wine.
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Opened at 10:00am, first glass at 5:00. Sweet mix of blue and red berries on the nose, with notes of orange scented chocolate and burnt ends. There was a fresh and salty mineral note too. Great to drink - black cherry, black raspberry, blueberry, cocoa, violets, coffee and smoke - just doesn't quit. It's rich and decadent but not at all heavy, just mouth coating and very, very enjoyable.
Night two was even a notch better. 94-95
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Blueberry, dried raspberry, blonde coffee, pickle brine, dried earth and Chinese five spice, with a veil of creme de cassis. Pure, and very full in body, but remains light on its feet. Steady and very long, filling out every nook of you palate. This will be a worthy study for many years. Drink 2022 - 2037.
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Barrel sample @ Saxum, walking around, not able to do formal notes. Some from foudres, dark and red fruit, young, elegant in style, at this stage lighter than previous vintages.
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12/16/2023 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outstanding from the git go.
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11/26/2023 - Dale M wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 2hrs. I always look forward to a ‘Rewski’ as it usually has the most variance in the grape cepage from vintage to vintage. The 16 is 46% Mataro / 19 Syrah / 15 Tempranillo / 7 Zin / 5 Grenache. Yet again, somehow Justin Smith manages to take ‘large scaled’ wine on the tech sheet (15.9% ABL) to a layered, complex and thought provoking Paso red blend. Perhaps the 67% in foudres and 16% in amphora help contribute, I don’t know, but this is just so damn tasty. The other thing that occurred to me is the energy and potential life span ahead – it seemed young at almost 8 years old. Easy decade ahead AND I see this developing, not just holding the fort so to speak. Awesome effort.
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11/22/2023 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to the 2015 but amped up a bit. Great flavor profile, red fruits and rich spice and a touch of blackberry jam on the end.
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11/6/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 93 Points
90-minute decant. Deep dark slightly hazy magenta color. Blackberry, underripe strawberry, blueberry, red plum, red apple peel, cocoa powder, lemon rind, and subtle violet. Very dry, slightly tart/citrusy palate, with zesty acidity. Full, plush tannins on the longish finish.
This is a unique Rhone-style field blend. It’s more citrusy than I expected. Fun wine, but not something I’d seek out. It was an emergency pull from the cellar due to lack of time to decant a Napa Cab.
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10/22/2023 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened three hours in advance of serving and poured through a vintorio. A beautiful nose of berries, plums and chocolate. The palate is dark berries, plums, cassis and chocolate leading to a finish that goes on forever.
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7/5/2023 - Kayentacellars wrote: 95 Points
Really nice...
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4/9/2023 - Mike Dildine wrote: 95 Points
Big and brawny, but integrated, well balanced and smooth on the palate. Drinking well now and should shine over the next half decade or more.
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3/10/2023 - shadow wrote: 97 Points
Nose echo's mushrooms, damp earth, distant fall vineyard.
First sip, rhubarb, plums, wet leather p$#tie's.
Robust at first, than a long slow fade like tires marks from a burn out.
Grows on you, each visit better than the last.
easy 97pts
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11/10/2022 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking very well right now. Interesting blend of grapes that create a fruit driven balanced wine.
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11/9/2022 - mliszt Likes this wine: 96 Points
the 2016 terry hoage was a bit better but this was too a great bottle of wine. it was a joy to share it with people i care about. not sure it can get better as so good right now. maybe. smooth in balance and no after taste. those are my measurements. as for tasting this and that i am not so sophisticated, but i am sure some who know more than me would appreciate this wine right now
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10/25/2022 - mliszt Likes this wine: 97 Points
IN A WONDERFUL PLace right now. why wait. smooth in balance no aftertaste and loved by my dinner guests. better than i remember
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9/5/2022 - sonodoc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice, but might still need a little more time.
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7/4/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious blackberry, pepper, and spice on the nose and rich layered palate with a long finish.
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6/13/2022 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
This is open enough but still not quite ready to go. Dark plum dominant with cassis, raspberry, spearmint, vanilla and mineral. Silky smooth tannins and texture but needing time to add depth. No complaints here.
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4/11/2022 - royalscam Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely fantastic. In a good drinking window with Mataro predominant flavor profile. Smooth, great nose and mouthfeel, nice and complex texture with deep dark fruit penetration. There is great pleasure in this one. Opened right up, no decant. Enjoy.
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12/11/2021 - Neras Likes this wine: 94 Points
Closed initially. Certainly needs some air and time. The nose never really opened up, but after a couple of hours the strong body starts to show. Deep taste with strong but gentle tannins. Put this away for another 5 years!
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6/20/2021 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 96 Points
15.8% abv. Dark ruby, very aromatic. Cassis, white pepper, mint, and boysenberry. Exceptional depth, length, mouthfeel, and concentration. Appears to still be on the ascent will probably peak in 3-5 years. A very fine Saxum.
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3/25/2021 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice summery fruit, orange zest, plum, a bit short on the finish, but very enjoyable
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3/20/2021 - bugdoced wrote: 91 Points
Very early in its drinking window
When the buzz settled down mysterious dark fruits raisen and a long lasting flavoral moment quite memorable appreciated
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3/19/2021 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bright red fruit, sour cherry, cassis, violets, roses, cinnamon, vanilla, dried tobacco and some white pepper. Great balance but lacks a bit on the complexity. Still a very good wine.
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6/21/2020 - Ewhite30 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened at 10:00am, first glass at 5:00. Sweet mix of blue and red berries on the nose, with notes of orange scented chocolate and burnt ends. There was a fresh and salty mineral note too. Great to drink - black cherry, black raspberry, blueberry, cocoa, violets, coffee and smoke - just doesn't quit. It's rich and decadent but not at all heavy, just mouth coating and very, very enjoyable.
Night two was even a notch better. 94-95
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11/17/2019 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 96 Points
Blueberry, dried raspberry, blonde coffee, pickle brine, dried earth and Chinese five spice, with a veil of creme de cassis. Pure, and very full in body, but remains light on its feet. Steady and very long, filling out every nook of you palate. This will be a worthy study for many years. Drink 2022 - 2037.
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5/19/2019 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
A great bottle that you drink now. Fruit is there, and present. Very apporachable, Cheers
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5/12/2018 - rustyRudy wrote:
Barrel sample @ Saxum, walking around, not able to do formal notes. Some from foudres, dark and red fruit, young, elegant in style, at this stage lighter than previous vintages.
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5/11/2018 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine:
Barrel Sample @ Saxum - Some came out of Foudres. Rounder fruit.
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