2013 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

This is 100% Grenache made only in selected vintages. The bottle lists 16.4% abv but there is no heat. Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is explosive with black raspberries, black cherries, char and slight gun powder notes. Full bodied. Light tannins. Great texture. On the palate, this is deep and complex. Black raspberries, roasted herbs and slight black cherries. Long finish. Delicious. This is still drinking youthfully and should drink well for another ten to fifteen years. Great on its own, this would work nicely with roasted fowl.

Grade:

A+

Score:

Vintage:

2013

Current Price:

$208.00USD

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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2013 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

A+

From Magnum. Consumed over 4 days, it was probably best on day 3 and day 4. 100% Grenache. 16.4% Alcohol and not noticeable. Purple in color. The nose has cherries, dark cherries, some coffee grounds, spice and slight floral notes. On the palate, this is not as big of a wine as expected. Wonderful seamless texture. Delicious. Dark cherries, cherries, spice along with light tannins. Long finish. Will work with a wide variety of foods. This is still quite young and has a few more years until maturity and a good decade or more after that. One of the top examples of California Gren

2005 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Score:

100

Grade:

A+

In the running for wine of the year. Consumed from Magnum while tailgating at the Browns vs.

2018 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$135.00USD

This is quite young but still delicious. It is a blend of 64% Grenache, 16% Mataro, 14% Syrah, 6% Carignan. Deep purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, slight blueberries, some black licorice, floral notes and spice. Full bodied. Vibrant with lots of energy. On the palate, loads of black raspberries and black cherries with medium tannins. It takes some time to open in the glass but then shows a nice minerality. Delicious. Long finish. This needs another seven to ten years to hits its peak but is delicious today

2010 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2010

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$140.00USD

This is really in a great spot right now. Drinking superbly. Will it get better? Perhaps, but absolutely worth opening a bottle right now. A blend of 52% Grenache, 26% Mourvèdre and 22% Syrah. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is great with black raspberries, white pepper, black cherries, and slight roasted coffee beans. On the palate, this is soft, gulpable but also deep and complex. Black raspberries and plums intertwined with char, slight earth and roasted meats. A long finish. It is delicious and a show stopper. No rush, this should easily do another ten to fifteen

2013 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

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