2006 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

76% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, and 6% Grenache. This weighed in at 16.7% abv! Again, this is a monster wine, but it doesn't drink like one. No noticeable alcohol on the nose or palate. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, plums, White pepper, Roasted herbs and slight earthy/gamey meats. Full bodied. Great acidity. On the palate, this has loads of fruit. Black raspberries, black cherries and slight plums with a bit of black pepper and char. Long finish. This is a great wine if not quite up to the top vintages of Bone Rock, it is almost there. It is drinking great on its own and would work with Chili. Drink over the next seven to ten years.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2006

Current Price:

$130.00USD

America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we discussed the white Rhone style wines offered at the 2008 Rhone Rangers tasting event at Fort Mason in San Francisco on March 18. This month we turn to the reds, of which we tasted 50. Among those we tasted were some old favorites and some wineries or bottlings with which we were not yet familiar. We don’t pretend that we tasted a representative group of wines, because our sample was skewed to wines we have loved in the past and others about which we have heard positive comments.

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2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008 was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective. Unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. The American wines were mostly from California (144 wineries), but a few examples from Arizona (2 wineries) and Washington State (5 wineries) were also included. While this is a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers aren’t represented, there is still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts. The events included two general tastings and a series of focused seminars.

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2005 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$150.00USD

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

2007 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2007

Score:

Grade:

A+

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

2002 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2002

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$150.00USD

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.

2006 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

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America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

2005 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

2007 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

2002 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review