What a thick ship. 82% Syrah with a bit of Grenache and Mouvedre. Not dissimilar in style to an Amarone, the wine fires from all guns. Cassis liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, plums, chat olives - plus some pipe tobacco and nougat. Amazingly, the perceived medium acidity takes control of this monster and balances it out. It gets better with air, the freshness increases with air, not decreases. On the palate, in addition to the fruit, it shows some spicy notes that suit it well. For pure elegance drinkers in the sense of a Grand Crus from Burgundy, the wine is not suitable, but undoubtedly this is great stuff, which despite the high alcohol is not too hot and has an amazing balance and especially complexity. "Vini extremi" is what the Italians say to something like this.
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15.7% abv. Medium-dark ruby, extremely aromatic. Damn cork broke off upon removal. Note to self: Ah-so on anything much older than a decade or so. On the plate, ripe plum, black pepper, iodine, black olive, meat and a sweet floral hint. A hint of alcohol on this high octane bruiser. Outstanding depth, length, intensity and concentration, but not heavy on the palate. Flamboyant, wild and exotic. I usually prefer the Grenache-based Saxums with age, but this exceeded my expectations.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark purple to almost inky black color in the glass, clear looking as best as I could tell. Huge nose of currants, dried plums, dark chocolate covered cherries, black pepper, you name it. It's in there. Rich flavors of juicy currants, black berries and dried plums. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied plus some if possible. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. Wowzer. Massive.
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Very dark, hello. Dark blackberry, cocoa, and plenty of white pepper. The alcohol is aggressive mid palate. I'd be worried as this ages the booze will overhead the fruit. It's not balanced now. Still fun.
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Popped and held for 6 hours in a wide-bottomed decanter. Dark, inky purple with a moderate amount of sediment present when decanting. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black currant, black pepper. On the palate, it's delicious with lots of black currant, dark cherry, and additional notes of vanilla, bark, minerality, and a pronounced high alcohol bite. Medium acidity, a super long finish, full body, and a polished mouthfeel. The '07 JBV Bone Rock does not disappoint and will definitely keep well for another 5-7 years, probably longer.
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Pop and pour into a decanter. Inky, dark red wine, fading almost immediately to black at the core. On the nose, loads of crushed berries and stone fruit. On the palate, pure, clean fruit - blueberries and raspberries are dominant, but there are secondary notes of currants, plums, and black pepper. Somehow, despite that, this wine doesn't come across as a fruit bomb, and I think it's due to that purity of fruit. Still substantial tannins on the finish, which makes me wish I had another bottle to check in ten years.
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We decanted for two hours. We had the 2007 in 2019. I felt the alcohol overwhelmed the wine. Nobody raved about it which suggested to me that it had aged behind its years. Normally I would have a lot to positively say about a Saxum wine
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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: Currently, the weakest of the three Bone Rock wines tested (2011, 2008) as it showed some heat along the same aromatic profile as the others (dark, dense fruit, minerality, nuttiness). A bit less expressive too. I guess, this just needs more time to unfold, integrate and open up. As all Saxums the structure is fine and elegant, despite all the power. If you pop a bottle today, I would give it a long decant (4+ hours) or better just wait a few years.
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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: Ripe fruit, greenish herbs. Complex texture and layered on the palate. Plush tannins keep acidity in check.
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It needs at least 2hrs to soften the alcohol content.
A blend of 82% Syrah, 13% Mourvedre, and 5% Grenache
Once the alcohol has dissipated, one can feel the abundant aromas of blue and black fruits, acacia flowers, spice, pepper, and earth. Notes of minerals, pepper, violet....creamy feeling.
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Every now and then I will have a $200 bottle of good ol’ Cali wine like this and scratch my head and wonder why I ever pay $1,000 for those Lafite’s.... This wine is near perfection. What an extraordinary vintage 2007 was. They have a few other bottlings as good as this at Saxum. 15.7% alcohol hits you at first but after an hour decant the heat subsides and the amazing structure comes out. What a long finish this has. Pure joy.
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Drank with the other 2007 Saxums, my #3...but still an amazing wine. The most acid of all, with very vibrant red and black fruit. More linear profile, where the others were full and round. Wish I had more to taste, and it was the most difficult to grasp. Was #1 for many.
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Decanted for two hours. The nose reminds me of a berry lifesaver mixed with alcohol. The first taste had the heat from the alcohol mixed with the sweetness of the berries. Even after three hours it’s evident that this is too young. The acidity and heat overpower the fruit and other flavors. The 15.7 alcohol is still weighing on this wine.
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Decanted 3 hrs. Showed surprisingly young given the decade of age, certainly more structured that a regular James Berry given the much higher percentage of Syrah vs. Grenache. Very fresh and bright berry fruit with the classic JB floral overlay. Zero indication of heat or any type of imbalance, seamless really. My one and only bottle but if I had more, I'd hold it for another 5 years to see where it goes.
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Some great wines with Friends; 5/20/2017-5/21/2017 (The Barn at Walden): From Magnum. Just a killer bottle of wine. Inky purple in color. The nose is great. Black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted meats, slight blueberries, and some floral notes. Clean and young. On the palate, what a great texture. In this era of Saxum wines, they were so powerful yet so light on their feet at the same time. Lots of black raspberries and blueberries, some earthiness and minerals. Complex. Juicy. Deep. Long finish. No hint that this wine has 15.8% alcohol. Just deliciousness and fantastic. Great wine.
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Blood red in color. 15.7% ABV. 82% Syrah, 13% Mourvedre and 5% Grenache. Soaring nose of molten licorice, camphor, blueberries and violets. Plush, full bodied and exceptionally well balanced. Lush and creamy on the palate with flavors of cassis liqueur, graphite, tar and minerals. The finish is silky, seamless and very long. Domestic Syrah simply does not get much better. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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Served this after Paul Bara Brut Rose with Mediterranean/Middle Eastern roasted chicken dish. Interesting wine, which was in a great place after it warmed up a little. Nose consisting primarily of lilac and rosemary with a back-end of grilled meat. Of note, this had a hint of smelling sweet, as if there was an abundance of fresh, ripe fruit on the palate; however, this was not the case. Smooth almost seamless throughout the delivery this dark fruit with a savory/earthy presentation. Enjoyable and this seemed to be in a great place, a position I'd expect it to stay for quite a few years.
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Big Blind Tasting at Behrens am Kai, Düsseldorf Never drank before, very massive and concentrated Cal Cab. Pure Eucalyptus syrup. You think cassis and black currant are in the background. Tannins ripe, mighty and pleasable but needs a lot of air. 15,8% is well integrated. I like this style even it is a little bit overboarding. We will see what happens in the 5-10 years. 95-96
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Dark garnet-purple, completely opaque, darker than its sibling vineyards. Actually has faster "legs" and less viscosity than several of the others, especially James Berry. The aroma is very pronounced, of dark fruits, smoke, and meat, with French oak. Very concentrated flavors, also black fruits and tar, but the fruit nicely balances the tannin and acid...excellent balance! Slightly hot on the finish, which lingers a long time. Opened seven hours before pouring, still great five hours later; this should probably be aged another couple of years but can be enjoyed now with several hours of airing. Ric
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3 for my birthday (Maybach, Saxum, Clos des Papes) (My Home): Beautiful showing for this wine. Popped and allowed to breath a bit then consumed over a couple of hours. Inky purple in color. No doubt, this is a hug wines. Aromas of black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper, licorice and slight floral notes. Great lush texture. Quite nimble on its feet. No heat. Lots of black and blue fruit. Nice balance. Long finish. Awesome.
3 Rhys, Saxum, Suduirat +++ (Dick and Sue's): Great showing for this wine. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, grilled meats. Full bodied. No heat. Lots of black raspberry fruit. Showing some development, but nowhere near peak. So smooth and easy to drink with a great lush texture. Long finish. I think this was a great pairing and perfect placement in the meal.
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Slow Oed for 3+ hours then decanted prior to taking to offline. Dark, no sed. Wonderful nose a of dark berries, vanilla, flowers n spice. Palate also big, no noteable heat, good balance n structure. This new worldean Syrah blend stood out tonight from our heralded old world selection. Hold or drink with some airtime.
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San Diego WineSpectator.com Offline, 5/17/2014 (Grant Grill, U.S. Grant Hotel, San Diego): 82% syrah, 13% mourvedre, 5% grenache. 15.7% alcohol. Opened, allowed to breathe in bottle, then decanted and re-bottled 4 hours before serving. Clear dark inky purple black color. Huge glorious bouquet of sweet boysenberry pie, jammy black fruit, bitter cocoa, sweet oak, vanilla and bourbon. Massively extracted yet balanced and structured. A 94 point bouquet with a 91 point palate.
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First bottle was slightly corked so opened a second. That one was very good. Big, brooding but with time opened up to reveal great dark aromatics with a touch of flowery notes. Thick and juicy in the mouth. Had it together with a 2001 that was very impressive.
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Two Big Syrahs for the Big Game (Watching the SuperBowl): Opened and allowed to breath for about an hour (it needed more, but this was a last minute decision). Purple in color, shining and bright. The nose is great with black and red raspberries, white pepper, a bit of grilled meats. Full bodied. Smooth with no sign of alcohol or heat. Great velvety texture. The flavors jump deftly on the palate. Tightly wound, it kept unwinding as the night progressed. Still quite young and needs plenty of time at this point. Just delicious though.
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full bodied, not sweet, hints of blackberry, great tannins. great great finish. high alcohol percentage but certainly not in taste. great fun wine to drink.. its got years of life left but so ready to drink now. last bottle... bummer IIm on a lot of wine lists that I hem and haw over the price of entry. Saxum is one vineyard that I will never turn down an offering good years or bad. enjoy and have fun.
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Chicago Wine Flock..."Top Central Coast Syrah from Rich" (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind. Open 5+ hours before serving. Deep, dark and very intense. Massive concentration, but manages to retain elegance and balance. Seems short on acidity, so I'd drink sooner rather than later. very pleasant;y surprised when this was unveiled because I have not had god experiences with the Saxum 2007 (non Bone Rock) James Berry, which is more Grenache vs mostly Syrah here.
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A very special wine, complex, dark and sooo big. I will definitely look for some more. This wine demands your complete attention! It got only better and better as we went through the bottle.
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WOTY thus far. Absolutely exceptional. Preparation - I was drinking it at a dinner in NYC so it was in my office. No decanter so three hours before dinner I poured out about four ounces into a glass and the poured it back, let the bottle rest open, and then recorded to bring to the restaurant. Decanted into a wide bottom decanter at the restaurant and then sat for about another hour as we had a Ramonet Chassagne Montrachet with shrimp cocktail. The color was extremely dark. Red, but almost impenetrably black. When I poured this, the nose was spicy as well as fruity. There was some cedar pn the ose as well. Dark fruit. On the palate, there were layers and layers of complexity, even though still mostly primary. Raspberry and dark red fruits, a bit of blueberry. Smooth dark smoked black pepper with the characteristic meatiness that people ascribe to the Mourvedre. Still some tannic bite to it but rough edges of youth are gone. BRAVO Justin. I have more and this could be the WOTY every year for the next five years . . . But then again I've got other Saxums to enjoy.
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Wine, Browns and my 55th Birthday (My Home): Seems to be in an awkward phase at the moment. Still outstanding, but was better on Day 2 IMO. Purple in color. Lots of black raspberry fruit, minerals, smoked bacon, black pepper. Smooth and no trace of alcohol on the palate. Tons of fruit but a bit disjointed on opening. Came together over night and was delicious.
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Just outstanding. Decanted for an hour, drank over the next three. This is a brooding monster of mostly syrah, that I believe needs more time in the cellar. It is almost as if the wine is in the barrel sample stage. Great now but should be better if not magnificent over time.
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Just a great bottle of wine. My first time to try the Bone Rock. This is just a baby but beautifully balanced with deep dark fruit and incredibly long finish. I hope to try this again in about 5 years.
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Dark purple. Rich rasperry and cherry flavors, herbs. Very concentrated, slate, peppery. One would expect more complexity and lenght below the muscles. One would expect more than the 5% Grenache. Overall good wine but after one glass is enough. Not really my style of wine. Drink - 2020.
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taste: full bodied with a lot of density to it as well. On the slightly overwhelming side with tones of black fruits, liqueur, spice tones, road tar and some ashpalt.
overall: this was drinkable on pop n pour. I tasted a little later and it was bordering offensive. I wasn't really a fan of this.
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Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Sorry guys. I hate to tip the scale here, but I just wasn't feeling this wine and neither were the majority of the crowd. Really brooding and black as night. Massive in your face bitter chocolate and blackberries. Some stinky foot, meat and dried herbs. The palate was big and over the top. The balance wasn't in harmony. Yes, this was only open maybe ten fifteen minutes, but still, think it shoulda shown better.
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From mag. Dark and brooding young nose. The palate is closed and tight only giving off hints of chocolate, dark berries and black pepper. What shows is very nice but this was murder.
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Rich, delicious, smooth, elegant, full-bodied blackberry/blueberry fruit with chocolate, spice, and black olive flavors, excellent structure, long finish, wine is drinking very nice, drank it against a 2007 Cayuse Armada, both were spectacular but quite different renditions of American Syrah wine
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A seriously gorgeous bottle of wine. ~6-7 hour decant. No formal notes, but an insanely well balanced symphony of ripe black and blue fruits, notes of ripe red currants,raspberry, pepper, and strawberry. Perfectly integrated, sweet tannins and a LONG, LONG finish. Extraordinary. Will still benefit from a couple years in the cellar.
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This is, I believe, the first of the '07 Saxums I've had. Lots of rich, ripe aromatics (floral, smoke, classic Syrah), as with other Saxums. Full-body, but good freshness, with the Grenache coming through, and a good deal of tannin. Still young but can be enjoyable now if you give it some time to open.
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Superb. Big and juicy but with great focus and bright acidity. Tastes like it has more Grenache than the 5%. Very good intensity and very long aftertaste.
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--- COLOR: Opaque black-purple with garnet-purple rim that has a little haze NOTE: Drank next to the 2005 Saxum Booker and this came in a shade behind. The nose seems very Grenache-driven (though only 5% of the blend), almost brambly, with loads of sweet, ripe blackberry and mulberry compote, then a little raspberry jam and some garrigue along with a whiff of heat. The mouth is very rich and hedonistic, displaying more beautiful blackberry liqueur, black pepper, meat juices (13% Mourvedre). Within the first hour the tannins still clamp down a lot, but this really does soften after about 8 hours and becomes a beautiful melange of black fruit syrup and 60% dark chocolate bar, a bit of tar and tobacco in the afterglow. It's missing that glycerin I crave so it's not a 98/99 pointer for me, but I can see how it could get to 95 in a couple of years. Give this some time.
DECANT: 1-8 hours GLASS USED: Bordeaux TASTE: 9.3+ OTHER: COST: 75 VALUE: 8.0 PREVIOUSLY TASTED: n/a TRY AGAIN: 2014 - 2020 PAIRING: Okay with Pizza, but a bit too hot Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net ---
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An amazing wine that has a long life ahead it. It's so young but drinking great and should even get better over the years. Outclassed by the 2007 Scarecrow and the SQN shot in the dark. I've been buying the Saxum Bone Rock since the first vintage the 2000 but this one is definitely the best ones I've consumed.
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A smack of blueberries and alcohol on the nose. The palate is huge and monolithic, essentially blueberry pie. Lots of creaminess and some oak and black pepper which accentuates the alcohol. Unbalanced for now. Surprisingly crowd pleasing though. Let them sleep.
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This wine was huge. Bursting with lots of flavor. Bold fruit, hints of sweet tabacco. Smooth finish that belies the 15.7% alcohol. Everything was so very well balanced. Had this wine along side 2007 Hundred Acre Cab. Both wines were superb. This one is very unique, and it's easy to see why wine is so highly rated. It's also very age worthy. It could go on for a long time. Now I just have to find another bottle. Wish me luck.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and decanted about 4 hours before serving.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of cocoa powder, currants, black berries and a deep perfume. Rich and juicy flavors of berries, cherries, chocolate and currants. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some serious air time or continue to hold let's say 3-4 years before trying again.
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Wow. Popped and poured for the Super Bowl after reading Don C.'s note on the Boards. This was surprisingly open and after a short time was good to go. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is vibrant with black raspberries, raspberries, leather, grilled meats and black pepper. Great texture. That Saxum ability to be large yet dance on your tongue with a lightness that belies its alcohol. Great fruit. Finish that goes on forever. Just a wow wine. Although it is still young, there is some room for development and this could be perfect.
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This was a pop and pour and shared with friends. I had a few tastes over about a 2 hour period. Wonderful black cherry and blueberry nose with licorice and black pepper. Dark, rich and packed with fruit, black pepper, some chalk/mineral elements and licorice. A long finish. Well done. The people with whom I shared the wine, all new to Saxum, were quite pleased.
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Popped in poured and watched over a couple hours. Pretty tight and feeling more structured and hard than my go around with other 07 Saxums. It did open up a bit after 2-3 hours in my glass. There is a nice purity here of course with some hints of complexity. As mentioned above I never got the soft fat feeling I have from the JB and HS when I've tasted those. The fruit opening up was forward and big. this needs some time clearly or to be opened the night before. Nice.
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This was the WOTN alongside a 1995 Pontet Canet, 2004 Larkmead LMV Salon, and 2006 Mollydooker Carnival of Love. Amazing balance for such a young wine and absolutely delicious.
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My second Saxum...and enjoyed it a lot more than my first. Huge black and blue fruit, smoked and peppered meat, vanilla, and spice. Just a huge wine but walks the line. Now I really want to try an aged Saxum. Thanks JW!
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15.&% alcohol. Opened and double decanted through a vinturi before serving. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of sandlewood, cassis, Kirsch, florals, blueberries, cocoa and talc. Lots happening here. Flavors of black berries, Bing cherries, dark chocolate and black licorice. Medium acidity, firm to very firm tannins, full bodied. Hold. No rating at this time but I'm guessing good to very good here. Just needs more time in the bottle.
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This wine was way too young, and the tannins were a bit too strong for me. If given a few years, I think it will be a lot better than I have rated it. The nose had a lot going on. Black currant, cherry, smoke, tar, pepper, floral notes, and vanilla. The palate, though tannic, had lots of rich, thick, dark fruit. It also had a little chocolate, and some smoke, tar, and pepper. It had a good amount of oak on the finish.
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12/24/2023 - larrybbaldwin Likes this wine: 91 Points
A bit dusty, musty on opening but grew into its ripe and lovely self. Dried fruit with firm acid, it feels as its trajectory is pointing down not up.
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7/26/2023 - MQuentel@web.de Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a thick ship. 82% Syrah with a bit of Grenache and Mouvedre. Not dissimilar in style to an Amarone, the wine fires from all guns. Cassis liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, plums, chat olives - plus some pipe tobacco and nougat. Amazingly, the perceived medium acidity takes control of this monster and balances it out. It gets better with air, the freshness increases with air, not decreases. On the palate, in addition to the fruit, it shows some spicy notes that suit it well. For pure elegance drinkers in the sense of a Grand Crus from Burgundy, the wine is not suitable, but undoubtedly this is great stuff, which despite the high alcohol is not too hot and has an amazing balance and especially complexity. "Vini extremi" is what the Italians say to something like this.
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3/18/2022 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 98 Points
Crazy good. Combines youthful power and intensity with secondary lusciousness. Absolutely stunning.
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8/28/2021 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 96 Points
15.7% abv. Medium-dark ruby, extremely aromatic. Damn cork broke off upon removal. Note to self: Ah-so on anything much older than a decade or so. On the plate, ripe plum, black pepper, iodine, black olive, meat and a sweet floral hint. A hint of alcohol on this high octane bruiser. Outstanding depth, length, intensity and concentration, but not heavy on the palate. Flamboyant, wild and exotic. I usually prefer the Grenache-based Saxums with age, but this exceeded my expectations.
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11/14/2019 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark purple to almost inky black color in the glass, clear looking as best as I could tell. Huge nose of currants, dried plums, dark chocolate covered cherries, black pepper, you name it. It's in there. Rich flavors of juicy currants, black berries and dried plums. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied plus some if possible. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. Wowzer. Massive.
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9/22/2019 - brigcampbell wrote:
Very dark, hello. Dark blackberry, cocoa, and plenty of white pepper. The alcohol is aggressive mid palate. I'd be worried as this ages the booze will overhead the fruit. It's not balanced now. Still fun.
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9/15/2019 - Immigrator Likes this wine: 97 Points
Popped and held for 6 hours in a wide-bottomed decanter. Dark, inky purple with a moderate amount of sediment present when decanting. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black currant, black pepper. On the palate, it's delicious with lots of black currant, dark cherry, and additional notes of vanilla, bark, minerality, and a pronounced high alcohol bite. Medium acidity, a super long finish, full body, and a polished mouthfeel. The '07 JBV Bone Rock does not disappoint and will definitely keep well for another 5-7 years, probably longer.
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9/2/2019 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour into a decanter. Inky, dark red wine, fading almost immediately to black at the core. On the nose, loads of crushed berries and stone fruit. On the palate, pure, clean fruit - blueberries and raspberries are dominant, but there are secondary notes of currants, plums, and black pepper. Somehow, despite that, this wine doesn't come across as a fruit bomb, and I think it's due to that purity of fruit. Still substantial tannins on the finish, which makes me wish I had another bottle to check in ten years.
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9/1/2019 - Bebes wrote: 90 Points
We decanted for two hours. We had the 2007 in 2019. I felt the alcohol overwhelmed the wine. Nobody raved about it which suggested to me that it had aged behind its years. Normally I would have a lot to positively say about a Saxum wine
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7/13/2019 - Cailles wrote: 93 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: Currently, the weakest of the three Bone Rock wines tested (2011, 2008) as it showed some heat along the same aromatic profile as the others (dark, dense fruit, minerality, nuttiness). A bit less expressive too. I guess, this just needs more time to unfold, integrate and open up. As all Saxums the structure is fine and elegant, despite all the power. If you pop a bottle today, I would give it a long decant (4+ hours) or better just wait a few years.
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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:
Ripe fruit, greenish herbs. Complex texture and layered on the palate. Plush tannins keep acidity in check.
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4/17/2019 - bobvictor Likes this wine: 96 Points
Near perfection. Rose petals sorrounded and then absorbed by blackberries. Silky smooth and luscious.
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3/23/2019 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
I think that wine has not reached it's peak yet...
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12/5/2018 - AJCM Likes this wine: 93 Points
It needs at least 2hrs to soften the alcohol content.
A blend of 82% Syrah, 13% Mourvedre, and 5% Grenache
Once the alcohol has dissipated, one can feel the abundant aromas of blue and black fruits, acacia flowers, spice, pepper, and earth. Notes of minerals, pepper, violet....creamy feeling.
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11/24/2018 - drazhen wrote: 99 Points
Every now and then I will have a $200 bottle of good ol’ Cali wine like this and scratch my head and wonder why I ever pay $1,000 for those Lafite’s.... This wine is near perfection. What an extraordinary vintage 2007 was. They have a few other bottlings as good as this at Saxum. 15.7% alcohol hits you at first but after an hour decant the heat subsides and the amazing structure comes out. What a long finish this has. Pure joy.
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11/11/2018 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank with the other 2007 Saxums, my #3...but still an amazing wine. The most acid of all, with very vibrant red and black fruit. More linear profile, where the others were full and round. Wish I had more to taste, and it was the most difficult to grasp. Was #1 for many.
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7/19/2018 - Kevnzworld wrote:
Decanted for two hours.
The nose reminds me of a berry lifesaver mixed with alcohol.
The first taste had the heat from the alcohol mixed with the sweetness of the berries.
Even after three hours it’s evident that this is too young. The acidity and heat overpower the fruit and other flavors.
The 15.7 alcohol is still weighing on this wine.
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1/16/2018 - Backdoctor wrote: 100 Points
Amazing wine. Big fruity nose and palate. Decanted for over an hour and back in bottle for two more. Outstanding wine. Ready to drink
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10/7/2017 - cookie7 wrote:
Decanted for three hours. Showed extremely well. Paired in a flight with the SGN Labels which seemed to show a bit more pepper and darker fruit.
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10/1/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Black as night and amazing density of fruit with good spice and pepper. Lovely now but no hurry on this one.
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8/26/2017 - MLwine Likes this wine: 96 Points
Flat out delicious. Smooth, balanced, fruity, rich, but still remarkably light on its feet for such a flavorful wine.
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8/3/2017 - Dale M wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 3 hrs. Showed surprisingly young given the decade of age, certainly more structured that a regular James Berry given the much higher percentage of Syrah vs. Grenache. Very fresh and bright berry fruit with the classic JB floral overlay. Zero indication of heat or any type of imbalance, seamless really. My one and only bottle but if I had more, I'd hold it for another 5 years to see where it goes.
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6/18/2017 - Mr T wrote:
Big wine
Folks loved it
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6/16/2017 - jaylew1 wrote: 97 Points
Shockingly young. Blue and black fruits. Drinking beautifully but still incredibly dense and dark. Could use more time.
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5/21/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 99 Points
Some great wines with Friends; 5/20/2017-5/21/2017 (The Barn at Walden): From Magnum. Just a killer bottle of wine. Inky purple in color. The nose is great. Black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted meats, slight blueberries, and some floral notes. Clean and young. On the palate, what a great texture. In this era of Saxum wines, they were so powerful yet so light on their feet at the same time. Lots of black raspberries and blueberries, some earthiness and minerals. Complex. Juicy. Deep. Long finish. No hint that this wine has 15.8% alcohol. Just deliciousness and fantastic. Great wine.
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5/5/2017 - tomlee wrote: 98 Points
Blood red in color. 15.7% ABV. 82% Syrah, 13% Mourvedre and 5% Grenache. Soaring nose of molten licorice, camphor, blueberries and violets. Plush, full bodied and exceptionally well balanced. Lush and creamy on the palate with flavors of cassis liqueur, graphite, tar and minerals. The finish is silky, seamless and very long. Domestic Syrah simply does not get much better. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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4/21/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing wine. Everything in balance and long, long finish.
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1/7/2017 - shadow wrote: flawed
corked
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8/18/2016 - mwiens Likes this wine: 98 Points
Smooth, flavorful. Long finish. Little tannins, but who cares. This was wow. Can't wait to try the other 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard.
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3/13/2016 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tremendous pure dark fruit, slight smokiness, full body, smooth mouthfeel, ameliorated tannins and long finish. Very pleasant, indeed!
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11/20/2015 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Fully mature. Beautiful wine. Previous notes apply.
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7/4/2015 - psirah wrote:
Served this after Paul Bara Brut Rose with Mediterranean/Middle Eastern roasted chicken dish. Interesting wine, which was in a great place after it warmed up a little.
Nose consisting primarily of lilac and rosemary with a back-end of grilled meat. Of note, this had a hint of smelling sweet, as if there was an abundance of fresh, ripe fruit on the palate; however, this was not the case. Smooth almost seamless throughout the delivery this dark fruit with a savory/earthy presentation. Enjoyable and this seemed to be in a great place, a position I'd expect it to stay for quite a few years.
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4/11/2015 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
Big Blind Tasting at Behrens am Kai, Düsseldorf
Never drank before, very massive and concentrated Cal Cab. Pure Eucalyptus syrup. You think cassis and black currant are in the background. Tannins ripe, mighty and pleasable but needs a lot of air. 15,8% is well integrated. I like this style even it is a little bit overboarding. We will see what happens in the 5-10 years. 95-96
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4/4/2015 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding wine. Spicy, red fruit and berries. Intense and powerful. Keep the rest of them for a while.
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3/26/2015 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 98 Points
Dark garnet-purple, completely opaque, darker than its sibling vineyards. Actually has faster "legs" and less viscosity than several of the others, especially James Berry. The aroma is very pronounced, of dark fruits, smoke, and meat, with French oak. Very concentrated flavors, also black fruits and tar, but the fruit nicely balances the tannin and acid...excellent balance! Slightly hot on the finish, which lingers a long time. Opened seven hours before pouring, still great five hours later; this should probably be aged another couple of years but can be enjoyed now with several hours of airing.
Ric
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3/16/2015 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Love this wine; 1 hr decant and it was singing.
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1/3/2015 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine:
How could I drink this wine by accident? It has disappeared from its slot. Must have been a great night.
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1/2/2015 - Amerique wrote: 96 Points
Contrary to the 2007 Saxum James Berry Vyd's excellence, this should have been the wine of the year!
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9/22/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 99 Points
3 for my birthday (Maybach, Saxum, Clos des Papes) (My Home): Beautiful showing for this wine. Popped and allowed to breath a bit then consumed over a couple of hours. Inky purple in color. No doubt, this is a hug wines. Aromas of black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper, licorice and slight floral notes. Great lush texture. Quite nimble on its feet. No heat. Lots of black and blue fruit. Nice balance. Long finish. Awesome.
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9/2/2014 - rogerr wrote: 92 Points
Not my favorite bottle of Saxum from this vintage but still very good.
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8/31/2014 - Vinophiliac559 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still has massive fruit, beautiful wine, could use another 5 yrs in the bottle
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7/14/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 96 Points
3 Rhys, Saxum, Suduirat +++ (Dick and Sue's): Great showing for this wine. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, grilled meats. Full bodied. No heat. Lots of black raspberry fruit. Showing some development, but nowhere near peak. So smooth and easy to drink with a great lush texture. Long finish. I think this was a great pairing and perfect placement in the meal.
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5/17/2014 - Whine-oh wrote: 94 Points
Slow Oed for 3+ hours then decanted prior to taking to offline. Dark, no sed. Wonderful nose a of dark berries, vanilla, flowers n spice. Palate also big, no noteable heat, good balance n structure. This new worldean Syrah blend stood out tonight from our heralded old world selection. Hold or drink with some airtime.
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5/17/2014 - Javachip wrote: 92 Points
San Diego WineSpectator.com Offline, 5/17/2014 (Grant Grill, U.S. Grant Hotel, San Diego): 82% syrah, 13% mourvedre, 5% grenache. 15.7% alcohol. Opened, allowed to breathe in bottle, then decanted and re-bottled 4 hours before serving. Clear dark inky purple black color. Huge glorious bouquet of sweet boysenberry pie, jammy black fruit, bitter cocoa, sweet oak, vanilla and bourbon. Massively extracted yet balanced and structured. A 94 point bouquet with a 91 point palate.
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5/10/2014 - rogerr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured. 2007 is on the rustic side compared to more recent vintages. Needs food and would recommend a several hour decant if possible.
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4/25/2014 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
First bottle was slightly corked so opened a second. That one was very good. Big, brooding but with time opened up to reveal great dark aromatics with a touch of flowery notes. Thick and juicy in the mouth. Had it together with a 2001 that was very impressive.
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2/15/2014 - Amerique wrote: 96 Points
Sweet, high tannins, blackberry fruit
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2/3/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
Two Big Syrahs for the Big Game (Watching the SuperBowl): Opened and allowed to breath for about an hour (it needed more, but this was a last minute decision). Purple in color, shining and bright. The nose is great with black and red raspberries, white pepper, a bit of grilled meats. Full bodied. Smooth with no sign of alcohol or heat. Great velvety texture. The flavors jump deftly on the palate. Tightly wound, it kept unwinding as the night progressed. Still quite young and needs plenty of time at this point. Just delicious though.
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1/30/2014 - bobwire wrote: 96 Points
full bodied, not sweet, hints of blackberry, great tannins. great great finish. high alcohol percentage but certainly not in taste.
great fun wine to drink.. its got years of life left but so ready to drink now. last bottle... bummer
IIm on a lot of wine lists that I hem and haw over the price of entry. Saxum is one vineyard that I will never turn down an offering good years or bad.
enjoy and have fun.
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1/23/2014 - Nanda Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wine Flock - Central Coast Syrah Intro/Retro (My Place - Chicago, IL): Big, blunt black fruit nose that isn't showing much delineation. PAlate is lifted with big, bright, ripe red and blue fruit. Plenty of spice. Long finish. My 11/12. Group 8/12.
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1/23/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Chicago Wine Flock..."Top Central Coast Syrah from Rich" (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind. Open 5+ hours before serving. Deep, dark and very intense. Massive concentration, but manages to retain elegance and balance. Seems short on acidity, so I'd drink sooner rather than later. very pleasant;y surprised when this was unveiled because I have not had god experiences with the Saxum 2007 (non Bone Rock) James Berry, which is more Grenache vs mostly Syrah here.
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10/26/2013 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Previous tasting notes apply; spectacular wine
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10/12/2013 - JJB1 Likes this wine: 97 Points
A very special wine, complex, dark and sooo big. I will definitely look for some more. This wine demands your complete attention! It got only better and better as we went through the bottle.
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10/10/2013 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 97 Points
WOTY thus far. Absolutely exceptional. Preparation - I was drinking it at a dinner in NYC so it was in my office. No decanter so three hours before dinner I poured out about four ounces into a glass and the poured it back, let the bottle rest open, and then recorded to bring to the restaurant. Decanted into a wide bottom decanter at the restaurant and then sat for about another hour as we had a Ramonet Chassagne Montrachet with shrimp cocktail. The color was extremely dark. Red, but almost impenetrably black. When I poured this, the nose was spicy as well as fruity. There was some cedar pn the ose as well. Dark fruit. On the palate, there were layers and layers of complexity, even though still mostly primary. Raspberry and dark red fruits, a bit of blueberry. Smooth dark smoked black pepper with the characteristic meatiness that people ascribe to the Mourvedre. Still some tannic bite to it but rough edges of youth are gone. BRAVO Justin. I have more and this could be the WOTY every year for the next five years . . . But then again I've got other Saxums to enjoy.
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9/23/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 96 Points
Wine, Browns and my 55th Birthday (My Home): Seems to be in an awkward phase at the moment. Still outstanding, but was better on Day 2 IMO. Purple in color. Lots of black raspberry fruit, minerals, smoked bacon, black pepper. Smooth and no trace of alcohol on the palate. Tons of fruit but a bit disjointed on opening. Came together over night and was delicious.
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8/10/2013 - Bob & Sue Atlanta wrote: 98 Points
Just outstanding. Decanted for an hour, drank over the next three. This is a brooding monster of mostly syrah, that I believe needs more time in the cellar. It is almost as if the wine is in the barrel sample stage. Great now but should be better if not magnificent over time.
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6/29/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just a great bottle of wine. My first time to try the Bone Rock. This is just a baby but beautifully balanced with deep dark fruit and incredibly long finish. I hope to try this again in about 5 years.
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4/14/2013 - tirmi Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great wine. Black fruits. No need to decant. Excellent balance, full bodied
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1/14/2013 - Knicksfan wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful but tight. Needed significant decanter time to begin to show its stuff. Massive fruit and tannin. Let it rest.
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12/11/2012 - Wine_lvr wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple. Rich rasperry and cherry flavors, herbs. Very concentrated, slate, peppery. One would expect more complexity and lenght below the muscles. One would expect more than the 5% Grenache. Overall good wine but after one glass is enough. Not really my style of wine. Drink - 2020.
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12/2/2012 - KeithAkers wrote: 83 Points
Second Annual Butcher&Larder dinner (Butcher&Larder, Chicago IL): nose: extremely forward and on the overdone side with tones of black fruits, black cherries, liqueur and some spice tones. Deep, and though it is in the overdone category, it isn't too bad.
taste: full bodied with a lot of density to it as well. On the slightly overwhelming side with tones of black fruits, liqueur, spice tones, road tar and some ashpalt.
overall: this was drinkable on pop n pour. I tasted a little later and it was bordering offensive. I wasn't really a fan of this.
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11/10/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Sorry guys. I hate to tip the scale here, but I just wasn't feeling this wine and neither were the majority of the crowd.
Really brooding and black as night. Massive in your face bitter chocolate and blackberries. Some stinky foot, meat and dried herbs.
The palate was big and over the top. The balance wasn't in harmony. Yes, this was only open maybe ten fifteen minutes, but still, think it shoulda shown better.
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10/5/2012 - Uglypinga wrote:
From mag. Dark and brooding young nose. The palate is closed and tight only giving off hints of chocolate, dark berries and black pepper. What shows is very nice but this was murder.
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9/16/2012 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Rich, delicious, smooth, elegant, full-bodied blackberry/blueberry fruit with chocolate, spice, and black olive flavors, excellent structure, long finish, wine is drinking very nice, drank it against a 2007 Cayuse Armada, both were spectacular but quite different renditions of American Syrah wine
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7/6/2012 - bonedocnine wrote: 95 Points
Amazing as usual. Great wine.
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6/24/2012 - Grape Stuff wrote: 98 Points
A seriously gorgeous bottle of wine. ~6-7 hour decant. No formal notes, but an insanely well balanced symphony of ripe black and blue fruits, notes of ripe red currants,raspberry, pepper, and strawberry. Perfectly integrated, sweet tannins and a LONG, LONG finish. Extraordinary. Will still benefit from a couple years in the cellar.
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5/25/2012 - MJHDC wrote:
This is, I believe, the first of the '07 Saxums I've had. Lots of rich, ripe aromatics (floral, smoke, classic Syrah), as with other Saxums. Full-body, but good freshness, with the Grenache coming through, and a good deal of tannin. Still young but can be enjoyable now if you give it some time to open.
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12/25/2011 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine:
Briefly, this was fairly tight with reticent smoky dark fruit. Full bodied with lots of lurking potential but not ready to play.
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12/23/2011 - phenricsson wrote: 97 Points
Superb. Big and juicy but with great focus and bright acidity. Tastes like it has more Grenache than the 5%. Very good intensity and very long aftertaste.
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12/1/2011 - tp096255 wrote: 93 Points
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COLOR: Opaque black-purple with garnet-purple rim that has a little haze
NOTE: Drank next to the 2005 Saxum Booker and this came in a shade behind. The nose seems very Grenache-driven (though only 5% of the blend), almost brambly, with loads of sweet, ripe blackberry and mulberry compote, then a little raspberry jam and some garrigue along with a whiff of heat. The mouth is very rich and hedonistic, displaying more beautiful blackberry liqueur, black pepper, meat juices (13% Mourvedre). Within the first hour the tannins still clamp down a lot, but this really does soften after about 8 hours and becomes a beautiful melange of black fruit syrup and 60% dark chocolate bar, a bit of tar and tobacco in the afterglow. It's missing that glycerin I crave so it's not a 98/99 pointer for me, but I can see how it could get to 95 in a couple of years. Give this some time.
DECANT: 1-8 hours
GLASS USED: Bordeaux
TASTE: 9.3+
OTHER:
COST: 75
VALUE: 8.0
PREVIOUSLY TASTED: n/a
TRY AGAIN: 2014 - 2020
PAIRING: Okay with Pizza, but a bit too hot
Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net
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10/25/2011 - Screameagle wrote: 96 Points
An amazing wine that has a long life ahead it. It's so young but drinking great and should even get better over the years. Outclassed by the 2007 Scarecrow and the SQN shot in the dark. I've been buying the Saxum Bone Rock since the first vintage the 2000 but this one is definitely the best ones I've consumed.
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7/13/2011 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Trip’s farewell dinner! (Cities restaurant - Washington D.C.): Dark fruit, blueberry syrup, not hot, expressive.
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3/27/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
A smack of blueberries and alcohol on the nose. The palate is huge and monolithic, essentially blueberry pie. Lots of creaminess and some oak and black pepper which accentuates the alcohol. Unbalanced for now. Surprisingly crowd pleasing though. Let them sleep.
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3/19/2011 - h20medic wrote: 98 Points
This wine was huge. Bursting with lots of flavor. Bold fruit, hints of sweet tabacco. Smooth finish that belies the 15.7% alcohol. Everything was so very well balanced. Had this wine along side 2007 Hundred Acre Cab. Both wines were superb. This one is very unique, and it's easy to see why wine is so highly rated. It's also very age worthy. It could go on for a long time. Now I just have to find another bottle. Wish me luck.
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2/26/2011 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 93 Points
DAWGS February 2011 - Rhone Rangers (bstumps house in McKinney, Texas): WIML94-95
Tasted non blind. Opened and decanted about 4 hours before serving.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of cocoa powder, currants, black berries and a deep perfume. Rich and juicy flavors of berries, cherries, chocolate and currants. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some serious air time or continue to hold let's say 3-4 years before trying again.
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2/7/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 99 Points
Wow. Popped and poured for the Super Bowl after reading Don C.'s note on the Boards. This was surprisingly open and after a short time was good to go. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is vibrant with black raspberries, raspberries, leather, grilled meats and black pepper. Great texture. That Saxum ability to be large yet dance on your tongue with a lightness that belies its alcohol. Great fruit. Finish that goes on forever. Just a wow wine. Although it is still young, there is some room for development and this could be perfect.
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2/5/2011 - t_moderne wrote: 95 Points
This was a pop and pour and shared with friends. I had a few tastes over about a 2 hour period. Wonderful black cherry and blueberry nose with licorice and black pepper. Dark, rich and packed with fruit, black pepper, some chalk/mineral elements and licorice. A long finish. Well done.
The people with whom I shared the wine, all new to Saxum, were quite pleased.
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1/21/2011 - WetRock wrote:
Popped in poured and watched over a couple hours. Pretty tight and feeling more structured and hard than my go around with other 07 Saxums. It did open up a bit after 2-3 hours in my glass. There is a nice purity here of course with some hints of complexity. As mentioned above I never got the soft fat feeling I have from the JB and HS when I've tasted those. The fruit opening up was forward and big. this needs some time clearly or to be opened the night before. Nice.
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10/25/2010 - sterin wrote: 96 Points
This was the WOTN alongside a 1995 Pontet Canet, 2004 Larkmead LMV Salon, and 2006 Mollydooker Carnival of Love. Amazing balance for such a young wine and absolutely delicious.
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10/24/2010 - rralls wrote: 97 Points
Decanted 9 hours. Laser focused, but amazingly smooth and well integrated for such a young wine.
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5/19/2010 - Vinsant wrote:
My second Saxum...and enjoyed it a lot more than my first. Huge black and blue fruit, smoked and peppered meat, vanilla, and spice. Just a huge wine but walks the line. Now I really want to try an aged Saxum. Thanks JW!
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3/24/2010 - wineismylife wrote:
Saturdays at One - Volume 14: WIMLNR
15.&% alcohol. Opened and double decanted through a vinturi before serving. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of sandlewood, cassis, Kirsch, florals, blueberries, cocoa and talc. Lots happening here. Flavors of black berries, Bing cherries, dark chocolate and black licorice. Medium acidity, firm to very firm tannins, full bodied. Hold. No rating at this time but I'm guessing good to very good here. Just needs more time in the bottle.
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3/24/2010 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine:
Mercredi (Farpointe Cellar): Creamy berries on the nose. Young, but very good full bodied wine. Needs a few more years in bottle.
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3/24/2010 - mmurry Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine was way too young, and the tannins were a bit too strong for me. If given a few years, I think it will be a lot better than I have rated it. The nose had a lot going on. Black currant, cherry, smoke, tar, pepper, floral notes, and vanilla. The palate, though tannic, had lots of rich, thick, dark fruit. It also had a little chocolate, and some smoke, tar, and pepper. It had a good amount of oak on the finish.
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5/2/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 94 Points
2009 Hospice du Rhone Grand Tasting (Paso Robles): Barrel sample
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