2008 Saxum, James Berry, Paso Robles, Bottle (750ml)

RP98 "The 2008 James Berry Vineyard (52% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre, and 17% Syrah) saw some of its Grenache aged in the concrete eggs that are now catching on among some of the top producers on California’s Central Coast. With strong minerality from the limestone soil, this exuberant, fleshy, full-bodied wine is already drinking well. (I believe it was actually bottled just a day or two before my visit, which makes its performance that much more remarkable.) Dense purple, with sweet notes of barbecue smoke and meats as well as roasted herbs, extravagant black cherry, black currant, and blackberry fruit are all present in this wine, but there is plenty of underlying structure that comes from both the minerality and the Mourvedre component. Pure, full-bodied, but again, impressively elegant and nuanced, this is a tour de force and another prodigious example of this extraordinary vineyard site." RP Aug 2010

JD98 " I had previously reviewed the 2008 Saxum James Berry Vineyard from a tasting at the winery, so it was enlightening to get to set down, and drink through a full bottle. A blend of 52% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre, and 17% Syrah, aged for 19 months in puncheons and smaller barrels, it presents an unabashedly Californian profile that oozes sweet fruit and flesh, but balances it with a seamless, weightless texture and perfect balance. Notes of sweet crème de cassis, raspberry, smoked meats, and flowers all soar from the glass and are followed by a powerful, yet polished wine that carries loads of perfectly ripe, sweet fruit, good acidity, gorgeous depth, and a blockbuster finish. Profound, and a joy to drink, this should easily evolve for 4-6 years, and perform brilliantly for 2 decades.' JD Mar 2011