Paso Robles

• Willow Creek

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.  

Another blend of 92% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 3% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.  15.6%abv.  This is still showing youthfully and its hard to believe this is 22 years from vintage.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, white pepper, slight bacon fat and a bit of char.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  No sign of alcohol on the palate.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some white pepper and a bit of char.  Based on this bottle, bought on release and cellared, this has another decade of life at least.  Great on its own, thi

This is the first vintage and first wine under the Saxum label.  It is a blend of 92% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 3% Mourvedre.  14.8% abv.

This is a blend of 46% Grenache Blanc, 31% Roussanne, and 23% Chenin Blanc from the great James Berry vineyard in Paso Robles.  What a delicious wine!  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with honey, orange peel, minerals, quince and slight wild thyme note.  Full bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is nuanced and complex.  Great balance.  Orange citrus, quince with slight honey and lots of minerality.  Long finish.  This is still young but could probably go another ten years and gain in complexity what it loses in vibrancy.  Still, if you just have o

This is a blend of 92% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper, chocolate and roasted meat.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lots of black raspberries with some blueberries over a bit of roasted meat (more char).  Long finish.  Drinking nicely if not fully mature.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this needs bigger food.  It would work well with Prime Rib.

This is a blend of 35% Zinfandel, 26% Mourvedre, 19% Tempranillo, 11% Syrah, and 9% Petite Sirah.      Purple in color with some ruby hues.  Opaque and dark.  The nose is nice with black cherries, plums, cherries, char and spice. Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is drinking at peak and delicious.  Complex and deep.  Notes of black cherries, cherries, and plums with underlying asphalt/gravel.  Long finish.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  Great on its own, this will need big food.  Ribs off the grill would be a good match.  

This is a blend of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Syrah, 19% Tannat, and 4% Grenache.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, blueberries, spice and slight black cherries.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Tight but deep.  Blueberries, raspberries, with some cedar and spice.  Long finish.  This is a big wine but it is deft as well.  Drink over the next twelve to fifteen years.  This is great on its own and will need big food to stand up to it.  A nice match would be spicy Indian foods.