At my junior partner Steve's birthday lunch. Opened three hours in advance and allowed to slow ox. The nose is fruit with hints of spice. The palate is blackberry, dark cherry, sweet pipe tobacco, currants and a little spice which comes out on the long, long finish.
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Very powerful nose. Nose suggests blueberry syrup. A bit (no - VERY) artificial and bubblegummy. To me, this is too sweet, cloying, and extracted. Some people at the table loved it, though. Especially people not into wine, at least in this small sample. Wine critics seem to love this, too - which I find puzzling. Most definitely not for me. My least favorite wine of the night. Did not play well with food. Maybe better without food?
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The nose is cloyingly dense. Aromas of cherry kirsch, black tea, underbrush, sharpie, alcohol, along with a scorched earth note. Similar palate; viscous mouthfeel and the alcohol very present. I can only assume this is what cough syrup was like during World War II. The alcohol makes this wine feel flabby and disjointed. This strikes me as a hammer smashing Jimmy Suckling meets Robert Parker slugfest. Short finish for the money.
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Intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry, currant and spice. Full body, moderate acidity and tannins, well integrated with long rich finish. Drinking well.
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Powerful and intense. At first, the Grenache dominates but then the other varietals creep into the picture. Light sagebrush or chapparal in the background.
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15.9% abv. Dark ruby red, strong aromatics. On the palate, raspberry, black cherry, black olive, black pepper and saddle leather. Plus-plus depth and length combined with energy, excellent balance and exceptional intensity. Drinking exceptionally well right now with plenty of future ahead.
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The nose is wonderful. Deep, concentrated and filled with waves of dark cherry, blackcurrant and spice. The palate is full bodied and intense with notes of dark fruit, cassis, spice and fruitcake. Has enough acidity to balance out the power. The finish is so persistent. Really delivers.
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The reviews are true. Magnificent bottle. Had my magnum and all raved. Gave it an hour after opened. Smooth in balance and have 7 more. One a year Enjoy if you have and buy if you don’t. Will not disappoint
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I wanted to try this given all the rave reviews. Decanted for an hour before diving in. Didn't take enough notes. Lots of depth with dark fruits and notes of wet leaves and charcoal. Not my preferred style, but this paired great with a nice charcuterie board.
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I have been drinking up the few 2017's purchased and this wine after a one hour decant was great and really came into its own after two hours - one hour decant and drank at restaurant one hour later. The wine showed no smoke taint and had beautiful resolved Granache and Mateo grapes. The wine was soft and very smooth through the finish. It had a cherry like nose and body, but not sensual like a burgundy. It had weight to it which is due to the Grenache grape. Really terrific and highly recommended to open, but do not pnp at a restaurant as you will be disappointed.
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Drank from a magnum over the course of two nights. Surprisingly more open the first night and shutting down and getting sharper on night two. Medium plus body but maximum ripeness. Raspberry, sage, anise, vanilla extract and white pepper. Blind this was easily identifiable as Saxum Grenache. This will probably be even better in a few years.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Nose of black raspberry jam, black cherry, gamey meat, anise, bramble and spice. Black and red fruit, gamey meat, anise and spice on the palate. Very long finish with good depth. Waves of flavor. Full bodied. Served with apple smoked, barbecue ribs.
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Wow. Intense blue and darker slightly spicy fruits, excellent balance and a fantastic finish. Drinking well now with a brief decant, but possibly better in a year or two.
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Cherry, cassis, rhubarb, cocoa and milk chocolate, great purity and balance. Not one of the better Saxum wines but easier to drink young and very well made in a year such as 2017.
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Nice dark ruby color. Super open and fresh nose. Very ripe but had great balance. Mineral inflected ripe raspberries with iron and ferrous notes. Really yummy.
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Deep and intense but showing delicious mineral and floral inflected notes. If someone asked me to open a wine that expressed California modern style this would be it.
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Couldn't keep my hands off this. It's drinking great. The fruit will be a little better with more time - but with a decant it's amazing right now too. Prime Rib, home-made horseradish sauce, twice baked potatoes, creamed spinach, salad with green goddess dressing, popovers, and a most amazing bottle of wine.
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15.9% abv. Dark ruby, very aromatic. Ripe plum, rose petals, white pepper and raspberry overtones. Very intense, concentrated, great depth and length. A delicious young Saxum JB!
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Expressive nose with the Grenache dominating. Shows notes of raspberries, rose petals, red cherries and hints of blackberry liqueur. Medium to full bodied, this struts onto the palate in a suave, sashaying manner. Fine grained tannins, lovely silky texture and excellent pure fruit overwhelm the senses. Showing excellent balance, no oak and wonderful freshness, this is a great wine. Finish is quite long and satisfying. Paso does not get much better.
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HUGE and highly enjoyable. Drank over a few hours. This will benefit from 3-5 years in the cellar, and will surely improve for at least a decade. A very big wine.
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The richness and extraction are evident even on the nose, dark cherry notes, overripe strawberry, touches of citrus, a lengthy finish with chewy tannins are present. Just a gorgeous wine. And now a conversation about Paso QPR!
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Decanted 6 hrs. Already showing so much out of the gate, insane amounts of flavor, black strawberry with some sage and pepper elements. Why did I buy just 1 of these?
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Party dinner wine #2. Decanted each bottle for about an hour. Fantastic wine. Black/blue fruits with a touch of spice. This will be amazing as it ages. If I can keep my hands off it.......
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Like most of their 2017s it is drinking well young. Dark cherry, raspberry, milk chocolate, anise, cinnamon, medium gritty sweet tannins, perfect balance and very enjoyable. Not as good as last years, but still excellent.
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Opened in bottle for 5 plus hours but really needs 2-3 plus years. Medium bodied but full throttle intensity with no real sharp edges. Raspberry, sage, anise, vanilla extract and white pepper. The blend here helps smooth this out but overall it’s pure Châteauneuf du Pape with the Grenache at center stage. Drinking well young but will no doubt close down.
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5/10/2024 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
At my junior partner Steve's birthday lunch. Opened three hours in advance and allowed to slow ox. The nose is fruit with hints of spice. The palate is blackberry, dark cherry, sweet pipe tobacco, currants and a little spice which comes out on the long, long finish.
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4/6/2024 - Shep1969 wrote: 97 Points
Amazing!
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3/31/2024 - allixsnyder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Thick, fruity. Kept morphing as it opened up.
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3/23/2024 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not the top James Berry compared to some other vintages but still quite enjoyable.
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3/17/2024 - bravo.solares Does not like this wine:
Very powerful nose. Nose suggests blueberry syrup. A bit (no - VERY) artificial and bubblegummy. To me, this is too sweet, cloying, and extracted. Some people at the table loved it, though. Especially people not into wine, at least in this small sample. Wine critics seem to love this, too - which I find puzzling. Most definitely not for me. My least favorite wine of the night. Did not play well with food. Maybe better without food?
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3/8/2024 - DeuceMcgee Does not like this wine:
The nose is cloyingly dense. Aromas of cherry kirsch, black tea, underbrush, sharpie, alcohol, along with a scorched earth note. Similar palate; viscous mouthfeel and the alcohol very present. I can only assume this is what cough syrup was like during World War II. The alcohol makes this wine feel flabby and disjointed. This strikes me as a hammer smashing Jimmy Suckling meets Robert Parker slugfest. Short finish for the money.
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3/1/2024 - Kayentacellars wrote: 96 Points
Intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry, currant and spice. Full body, moderate acidity and tannins, well integrated with long rich finish. Drinking well.
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11/25/2023 - ELH wrote: 96 Points
Powerful and intense. At first, the Grenache dominates but then the other varietals creep into the picture. Light sagebrush or chapparal in the background.
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10/7/2023 - Jeff Gray Likes this wine:
full fl cherry, black raspberry, acid but smooth, very tasty
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10/6/2023 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 96 Points
15.9% abv. Dark ruby red, strong aromatics. On the palate, raspberry, black cherry, black olive, black pepper and saddle leather. Plus-plus depth and length combined with energy, excellent balance and exceptional intensity. Drinking exceptionally well right now with plenty of future ahead.
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8/12/2023 - A.Hansen Likes this wine: 94 Points
The nose is wonderful. Deep, concentrated and filled with waves of dark cherry, blackcurrant and spice. The palate is full bodied and intense with notes of dark fruit, cassis, spice and fruitcake. Has enough acidity to balance out the power. The finish is so persistent. Really delivers.
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7/1/2023 - norsktorsk wrote: 96 Points
the last one. great
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6/15/2023 - Screameagle wrote: 95 Points
One of the best Saxum's I have ever seen. Ready to drink now with a short decant. Happy to have a magnum of the wine remaining.
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6/13/2023 - mliszt Likes this wine: 96 Points
The reviews are true. Magnificent bottle. Had my magnum and all raved. Gave it an hour after opened. Smooth in balance and have 7 more. One a year Enjoy if you have and buy if you don’t. Will not disappoint
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3/30/2023 - connorpksmith Likes this wine: 94 Points
I wanted to try this given all the rave reviews. Decanted for an hour before diving in. Didn't take enough notes. Lots of depth with dark fruits and notes of wet leaves and charcoal. Not my preferred style, but this paired great with a nice charcuterie board.
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3/5/2023 - Jimaronson Likes this wine: 95 Points
I have been drinking up the few 2017's purchased and this wine after a one hour decant was great and really came into its own after two hours - one hour decant and drank at restaurant one hour later. The wine showed no smoke taint and had beautiful resolved Granache and Mateo grapes. The wine was soft and very smooth through the finish. It had a cherry like nose and body, but not sensual like a burgundy. It had weight to it which is due to the Grenache grape. Really terrific and highly recommended to open, but do not pnp at a restaurant as you will be disappointed.
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11/6/2022 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
Drank from a magnum over the course of two nights. Surprisingly more open the first night and shutting down and getting sharper on night two. Medium plus body but maximum ripeness. Raspberry, sage, anise, vanilla extract and white pepper. Blind this was easily identifiable as Saxum Grenache. This will probably be even better in a few years.
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7/30/2022 - hoservin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Nose of black raspberry jam, black cherry, gamey meat, anise, bramble and spice. Black and red fruit, gamey meat, anise and spice on the palate. Very long finish with good depth. Waves of flavor. Full bodied. Served with apple smoked, barbecue ribs.
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6/18/2022 - SethM1976 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Amazing. Complex, nice structure, great blue fruit. Just drink it.... end of commentary
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5/13/2022 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Terrific wine - deep, rich, complex and nuanced. Will only improve over the next several years.
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3/14/2022 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 98 Points
Perfectly balanced. Rich, spicy, layered. I see no reason to hold. Great wine.
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3/13/2022 - ewsds Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow. Intense blue and darker slightly spicy fruits, excellent balance and a fantastic finish. Drinking well now with a brief decant, but possibly better in a year or two.
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2/26/2022 - EM_MB Likes this wine: 94 Points
PNP and ready to go. Terrific food wine. Not overly complex given the vintage but a crowd pleaser.
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11/14/2021 - jjhsom Likes this wine: 96 Points
Better after open in bottle 1 hour. Fruity but balanced. Could be cocktail or food wine.
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11/4/2021 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent! Intense but not heavy - dark fruit; great long finish
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9/26/2021 - pakabear Likes this wine: 95 Points
Cherry, cassis, rhubarb, cocoa and milk chocolate, great purity and balance. Not one of the better Saxum wines but easier to drink young and very well made in a year such as 2017.
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9/11/2021 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful balance and depth of fruit. Just great
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7/23/2021 - fdub Likes this wine: 96 Points
Nice dark ruby color. Super open and fresh nose. Very ripe but had great balance. Mineral inflected ripe raspberries with iron and ferrous notes. Really yummy.
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7/19/2021 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 91 Points
intense but not even close to integrated
needs a long decant or at least 2-3 years in the cellar
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4/23/2021 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outstanding! Some charcoal; the usual dark fruit. Still figuring out how the 2017's rank -- look forward to trying more.
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4/2/2021 - Sanlucar wrote: 90 Points
Blueberry & black raspberry fruit bomb. Very high alcohol and surprisingly high acid. This wine will not live long - drink it now.
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3/20/2021 - fdub Likes this wine: 97 Points
Deep and intense but showing delicious mineral and floral inflected notes. If someone asked me to open a wine that expressed California modern style this would be it.
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12/28/2020 - haldolugr wrote: 94 Points
Couldn't keep my hands off this. It's drinking great. The fruit will be a little better with more time - but with a decant it's amazing right now too. Prime Rib, home-made horseradish sauce, twice baked potatoes, creamed spinach, salad with green goddess dressing, popovers, and a most amazing bottle of wine.
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12/11/2020 - Jahull03 wrote:
Phenomenal
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10/28/2020 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 95 Points
15.9% abv. Dark ruby, very aromatic. Ripe plum, rose petals, white pepper and raspberry overtones. Very intense, concentrated, great depth and length. A delicious young Saxum JB!
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10/17/2020 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Expressive nose with the Grenache dominating. Shows notes of raspberries, rose petals, red cherries and hints of blackberry liqueur. Medium to full bodied, this struts onto the palate in a suave, sashaying manner. Fine grained tannins, lovely silky texture and excellent pure fruit overwhelm the senses. Showing excellent balance, no oak and wonderful freshness, this is a great wine. Finish is quite long and satisfying. Paso does not get much better.
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9/26/2020 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 94 Points
a perfect blend. Saxum never disappoints!! Ready to drink today!!
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9/19/2020 - Neras Likes this wine: 96 Points
Sweet, fresh Grenache fruit, with added complexity from Mourvèdre and Syrah. Long taste. Wonderful.
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9/1/2020 - jhieb Likes this wine: 95 Points
HUGE and highly enjoyable. Drank over a few hours. This will benefit from 3-5 years in the cellar, and will surely improve for at least a decade. A very big wine.
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8/12/2020 - Gunakadeit Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not my style, but well made and delicious. Citrus, crushed rock, ripe black cherry and plums, electric acidity.
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8/9/2020 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 96 Points
The richness and extraction are evident even on the nose, dark cherry notes, overripe strawberry, touches of citrus, a lengthy finish with chewy tannins are present. Just a gorgeous wine. And now a conversation about Paso QPR!
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7/25/2020 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 100 Points
Wow -- intense, dark purple fruit yet completely balanced. Touch of pepper. The bottle disappeared!
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6/28/2020 - Dale M wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 6 hrs. Already showing so much out of the gate, insane amounts of flavor, black strawberry with some sage and pepper elements. Why did I buy just 1 of these?
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6/7/2020 - haldolugr wrote: 94 Points
Party dinner wine #2. Decanted each bottle for about an hour. Fantastic wine. Black/blue fruits with a touch of spice. This will be amazing as it ages. If I can keep my hands off it.......
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5/30/2020 - sonodoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bright cherry and raspberry flavors, with soft tannins and smooth finish. Drinking very nicely, even as a pop and pour.
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4/13/2020 - Cuellar's Cellar wrote: 93 Points
wow. really good. sax never disappoints!!!
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4/4/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine: 95 Points
Like most of their 2017s it is drinking well young. Dark cherry, raspberry, milk chocolate, anise, cinnamon, medium gritty sweet tannins, perfect balance and very enjoyable. Not as good as last years, but still excellent.
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3/14/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 96 Points
Opened in bottle for 5 plus hours but really needs 2-3 plus years. Medium bodied but full throttle intensity with no real sharp edges. Raspberry, sage, anise, vanilla extract and white pepper. The blend here helps smooth this out but overall it’s pure Châteauneuf du Pape with the Grenache at center stage. Drinking well young but will no doubt close down.
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