2011 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Mostly Syrah with a bit of Rousanne. The 2011's from Saxum are in a great place right now. They drink a bit younger than most of Justin Smith's wines. Pop and pour, this one was great. Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, white pepper and "purple" floral notes. On the palate, this has a great texture. Big but not blowsy. Lots of energy. Good acidity. Notes of black raspberries over char and spice. Long finish. This was great on its own (with a cigar) by the fire but will work well with heavier stews and roasted meats, or even cheeses. No hurry, this should easily go another seven to ten years.

Grade:

A+

Score:

Vintage:

2011

Current Price:

$130.00USD

Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

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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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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

2003 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2003

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$160.00USD

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

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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2011 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

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2003 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

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