Central Coast

• Edna Valley
• Mt. Harlan
• Paso Robles
  • Willow Creek

This is a blend of 67% Syrah, 21% Grenache, and 12% Terret Noir.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, black licorice, spice and smoke.  Medium to full bodied.  Well balanced.  On the palate, this drinks very easy.  Black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of black licorice and pepper.  Nice finish.  An interesting wine but also an enjoyable one.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  This is nice on its own and will work well with food.  A nice choice for a burger or meatloaf.  

Alban wines typically take some time to come around, but at age 7, this was drinking quite well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meats and roasted herbs, slight dark chocolate and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It is on the bigger side but not a monster.  Black raspberry fruit with some black  pepper and a bit of roasted herbs.  Long finish.

James Berry Vineyard is the home vineyard of Saxum and one of the great Rhone varietal vineyards in the world.  Mike Officer of Carlisle does a great job with his allotment.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper, slight black olives and spice.  Full bodied.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black raspberries, blueberries and spice with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and about at peak.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with (Vegetarian) Chil

This is a blend of 43% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah, and 10% Counoise from Paso Robles.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, minerals, char, slight spice and a bit or candied raspberries.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  Lots of energy.  On the palate, this is delicious.  No sign of the 15.8%abv.  Loads of black cherries, black raspberries with a slight char and plenty of minerality.  Long finish.  This is young but drinking well now.  It will get better though.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, it nee

This is a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre.  Torrin wines are bruisers, but at age 13, this one is just starting to calm down a bit.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, roasted meat and leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Loads of black raspberries and some plums with underlying char and a nice minerality.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  It is nice on its own and would work well with a beef stew.  

Hard to believe that a 16 year old California Syrah could taste so youthful, but this bottle was bought on release and well stored.  82% Syrah, 13% Mourvedre, and 5% Grenache.  15.7% abv.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meat, roasted red peppers, white pepper and slight char.  Full bodied.  Well balanced.  Great texture.  Powerful yet agile, it is both huge and deft at the same time.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Medium tannins.  Loads of black raspberry fruit with some minerality, white pepper and char.  Long finish.  Tasting thru th

Really great showing for this bottle.  93% Syrah and 7% Grenache.  16.1% abv.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meats and roasted herbs, floral notes, white pepper and slight earthiness.  Full bodied.  Again, that Saxum lightness of being both enormous and light on its feet at the same time.  No sign of alcohol on the nose or palate.  On the palate, loads of black raspberry fruit with some roasted meats, minerality and juicy acidity.  Long finish.  Most tasters had this highly ranked.  Drinking youthfully.  This bottle was purchased

This wine has been troublesome since release with what appears to be trapped CO2.  I don't think it is refermentation as there are not really any off odors that usually accompanies.  It was interesting to try at 19 years from vintage.  This bottle was opened and allowed to breathe for an hour or so prior to serving.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, very earthy, slightly sweaty, some roasted meats.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is some carbonation.  Not frothy but a line of bubbles in the glass.  The wine is drinkable and pretty

In a vertical tasting of Saxum Bone Rock, 2000 thru 2007, this was the groups favorite.  It is in a beautiful, still youthful, place right now.  This is a blend of 88% Syrah, 8% Grenache, and 4% Mourvedre with 15.7% abv.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, some char, some roasted meat and slight floral note.  Full bodied.  Lots of energy and at the same time, almost weightless as it dances across the palate.  Notes of black raspberries with minerality and char.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  Drinking very well on its own, this will wor

93% Syrah and 7% Grenache.  Weighs in at 15.9% abv. but it is not noticeable until you stand up.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted herbs, gamey meats and slight floral note.  This was a warm vintage, but this bottle, bought on release, has held up nicely.  Still drinking youthfully.  On the palate, black raspberries with roasted herbs and a nice iron/minerality note.  Nice finish.  Delicious.  This seems like it should till have another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this would go great with a burger.