2015 Saxum, G2 Vineyard, Paso Robles, Bottle (750ml)

RP96 The newest vineyard in the Saxum lineup, the 2015 G2 Vineyard contains 56% Grenache and 44% Mourvèdre. Sporting a medium to deep garnet-purple color, it leaps from the glass with an exuberant red currant and Bing cherry nose, complemented by notes of dried Provence herbs, lavender, orange peel and black pepper. Full-bodied with a firm, grainy texture and tons of freshness, it has lovely spice and herbal layers on the very long finish.

JD96 The 2015 G2 Vineyard had just been bottled and is one of the lighter colored releases in the lineup. A blend of 56% Grenache and 44% Mourvèdre, it has an ethereal perfume of kirsch, blueberries, seaweed wrappers, herbes de Provence and hints of dried pepper. This flows to an elegant, silky, sweetly fruited red beauty that stays beautifully light and elegant on the palate, with fine, savory tannin, impeccable balance and a great finish. I’ve raved so much about the wines from Saxum’s Justin Smith, I feel like a broken record every new vintage. Nevertheless, these latest vintages are all stellar, and certainly the move to the new cellar hasn’t affect or changed the quality here. The 2014s show the richer, more fleshy style of the vintage, yet still carry the slightly more streamlined/elegant style that Smith has chosen over the past few years. The 2015s play even more in that realm, which is very much the vintage, and are lively and elegant, with pretty, perfumed characters – and plenty of fruit. The 2015s share a lot of similarities to the 2011s (which shined for their aromatics), yet have more fruit and power. It’s worth noting that the majority had just been recently bottled, which makes these showings even more impressive. A vintage that really excites me is the 2016s, which appear to be a return to a more bombastic style, with beautiful fruit and texture.