2017 Saxum, Gratias Red, Paso Robles, Bottle (750ml)

JD95 "Lastly, the 2017 Gratias is being offered free to those on the mailing list as a way of saying thank you, a great example of the type of person Smith is. Already bottled, it offers an incredibly perfumed, pretty, sexy style as well as notes of kirsch and strawberries intermixed with plenty of spice and flowery incense notes. Full-bodied, silky, and as gulpable as it gets, it’s a classy wine that does everything right. Drink it any time over the coming decade. Saxum’s Justin Smith has hit a home run with these recent vintages, and his 2015s, 2016s, 2017s, and 2018s all have singular styles, with the quality remaining sky-high. The 2018s show the slightly more pure, fresh, yet concentrated style of the vintage nicely. While not yet bottled, these will offer pleasure in their youth as well as benefit from short term cellaring. The 2017s are more pretty, perfumed wines that don’t quite have the density of the 2016s yet certainly don’t lack for fruit. Most are already drinking nicely today, yet as with all great wines, they’re going to evolve gracefully. Lastly, the 2016s are some of the greatest wines I’ve tasted from this estate, and they offer massive, layered, yet impeccably balanced profiles that are a joy to drink today; they’ll also be a joy to drink in 10-15 years as well. As I’ve written more than once, there are few mailing lists worth being one, but without a doubt, this is one of them." JD Oct 2019

VM95 " Inky ruby. Ripe red and blue fruit, baking spice and floral qualities on the highly perfumed nose. Stains the palate with sappy cherry and boysenberry flavors that take on star anise, cola and candied lavender nuances as the wine opens up. Shows superb energy and depth and finishes impressively long and smooth, with pliant tannins folding smoothly into the wine's lingering fruit." JR for VM Feb 2020