2015 Saxum, James Berry, Paso Robles, Bottle (750ml)

RP97 Made from 33% Grenache, 32% Mourvèdre, 24% Syrah and 11% Counoise, the 2015 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red reveals a deep garnet-purple color and expressive nose of black currants, black cherries and mulberries with hints of baking spices, chocolate box, violets and Sichuan pepper. The palate is surprisingly elegant, with great intensity of flavors framed by soft, sensuous tannins and a lively line carrying the fruit and spices to a long, long finish.

VM97 Glass-staining ruby. Heady aromas of mineral-tinged dark berry liqueur, incense and roasted coffee, with a suave floral nuance adding brightness. Smoky, appealingly sweet and focused, offering palate-staining black and blue fruit and candied licorice flavors that are braced by juicy acidity and a late flourish of five-spice powder. Closes with outstanding clarity and floral-dominated persistence, leaving suave floral pastille and spicecake notes behind, eventually.