This wine continues to drink very well with notes similar to my last tasting in 2019. Concentrated dark fruit with notes of plum, black raspberry, cassis, forest floor, herbs with hint of spice. Nicely balanced with long satisfying finish.
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Not as powerful as a typical Saxum but that's expected because of the vintage. Nonetheless, a lovely, well balanced wine that yet again shows that top producers made great wines in this challenging vintage. Great now and will probably be at peak for another 2-3 years
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Consistent with previous tasting notes - specifically, our very first bottle. As with other Saxum offerings, it's all about the purity and complexity of the fruit, and what fruit it is.
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Good cork and stained medium dark maroon. Fruit has evolved nicely and is alive and kicking. Had concerns prior to opening it wouldn't be but not to worry. Not as alcohol heavy as the 2014 I recently had, a good thing. Medium thickness on the palate. Well made wine. Although the grape makeup is fashioned after French and to some extent Spanish wines, doesn't taste at all like either. Uniquely American version. Higher Grenache percentage may be reason for liking this more than the 2014. Flavor intensified with both time in glass and in recorked bottle tasted next day. CT says end point is 2024 and although I think it could exceed that, for the fruit I would have now. A wonderful wine that gave enjoyment with each sip. I always put the cork back in empty bottles with a sligh remainder of wien at the bottom. Something I mention I've noticed. I uncork wines to smell prior to writing review, and most have some residual bouquet, but Saxum's don't. Might not mean anything but mentioned anyways.
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In a blind tasting compared with another bottle opened and frozen three weeks earlier. This was preferred by 9 to 5 votes. Dark garnet, opaque. More evolved than the last bottle opened in 2019, now fully mature. Full-bodied but soft and round, concentrated black fruits, mild tannins. Should be consumed soon. Ric
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Bottled opened three weeks earlier, a glass removed, the rest frozen and compared with a freshly opened bottle in a blind tasting. The fresh bottle was preferred 9 to 5 votes. Dark garnet, opaque. More evolved than the last bottle opened in 2019, now fully mature. Full-bodied but soft and round, concentrated black fruits, mild tannins. Should be consumed soon. Ric
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A really good showing by this producer that I'm not yet sold on despite waiting years to get on the list and 10 years of purchases (allocated in small amounts). On the whole I've been underwhelmed but this bottle was really nice. I do remember the Grenache taking charge of the wine which meant less ripeness, more finesse and I was good with that. I am writing this after the fact (Thanksgiving consumption) but nonetheless, without specifics my impression was one of satisfaction for a good bottle. Take that for what its worth.
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Strong violets on the palette. Needs time to breathe. Very nice bottle. Hot with alcohol. Very fragrant. See how this develops. * No new notes on nights after opening. Violets ascendant and dominant palette note. Most tame Saxum I’ve encountered.
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From Magnum, it has been since 1994 that I had a Saxum with secondary fermentation. This one had significant fizz, which dissipated with a very vigorous shake and foaming over.
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Hot out of the gate. A bit astringent. But, time cured all. Once decanted (after three hours of being uncorked), it softened up and showed beautiful fruit, velvety tannins, and a lovely mouthfeel. Not the best JBV, but still very nice (with air).
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First tasting of this vintage. Deep garnet, with floral, black berries, and spice scents. Full bodied, smooth and well balanced. A great effort in a poor vintage.
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Raspberry and mulberry predominate, with charcoal and an unusual slug of mint, and finished with a subtle spice. As in the past, gentler and more mild-mannered than more recent iterations of this cuvee, the tannins present but soft, everything balanced and easy-going. Never the most powerful or spectacular of JBVs, it is nonetheless one of the more enjoyable to drink.
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Opened, decanted half and enjoyed with food and on its own. Saved half under vacuvin. Dark purple garnet color. Nose offers dark fruits, a bit of VA that blows off with time, and cassis/kirsch notes. Good fruit in the intro with a touch of black raspberry (Chambord) and then a savory pork fat and herbal note. Long finish with fine grained tannins. Perhaps some sweetness from the alcohol but not overly ripe fruit as there is a freshness to the wine. Absolutely delicious. Opens up over time and benefitted from decanting.
15.5% abv. Quality cork. Branded.
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Tasting notes by Charlie C 11/21 are pretty much spot on would just add about the great iron / meaty quality this opens up too.. wonderful wine with many more years ahead of it.
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Lovely cherry red color. Deep berry nose. Intense yet round fruit. Nothing in your face but not shy. Black cherry, blueberry, black pepper. Dusty tannins, lovely acidity, perfect balance. Give this a little air if you can, but even as a PNP it shows well. Cherry notes become more prominent on the mid-palate. Finishes long, long with blackberry and blueberry fruit. Gorgeous fruit. Drinking beautifully now and should continue to do so for the next 10 years. 69% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 2% Counoise, 1% Rousanne.
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Again, terrific bottle that has aged beautifully. Dark deep purple hue. Dark deep fruit on the nose, a little earthy. Mild body, soft, luscious, velvety smooth, long finish. Terrific bottle.
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We opened this with several bottled and Syrahs- this was mid bodied and soft, but truly full of life and bright fruit. Subtle mid-palate, with depth and strong finish. Truly an experience!
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Drinking nicely and better after about an hour of air. Had 1 glass left over and drank 24 hours later. Was disappointed to find it start to be spoiled/oxidized.
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Drinking very well now. No decant required. Not terribly full bodied, but wonderful cherry on the tongue with a prominent tobacco finish. Compares well to the 05 Rocket Block
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Dark red in color. 15.5% ABV. 69% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 2% Counoise and 1% Roussanne. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, anise, violets and pepper. Full bodied with notable acidity and balance. Lush and polished. Blueberry, black cherry liqueur, kirsch and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and smooth with subtle tannins. The 2011 Saxum lineup has consistently shined over the years and this wine is no exception. Best over the next 2-3 years.
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I should have drunk this wine 5 years ago; it has begun falling apart and has lost its former power and elegance. It reminds me of a weak and cheap version of Aussie Shiraz as it has become thin and light. It’s a nice blend of 5 Rhone grapes but no longer has fortitude or staying power.
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Impenatrable almost black color, beautiful dark fruit, saddle leather, complex nose with savory and floral notes. Full bodied, sweet tannins resolved, balanced, powerfull yet elegant. Long, long finish. Spectacular wine.
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Showing really well after just 60 minutes in a wide decanter. I really could drink this over and over again. Dark purple colored, medium legs, and light sediment in the bottle. Aromas of black currant, blueberry, blackberry, green olive and minerals. On the palate, I noticed blackberry, black currant, vanilla and something mineral/stony (graphite?). Medium to full body with a silky texture, medium acidity, and a super long finish.
We enjoyed this with charcuterie and a cheese plate, and it compared favorably with the next bottle (2013 Colgin IX Syrah) that we enjoyed with dinner. I expected to prefer the Colgin, but found a slight preference for the Saxum JBV, which was bigger and more satisfying. FWIW, the Colgin is a bit more polished, but the Saxum just hit the right notes for me.
Kudos to the Saxum team on another winner that has improved over the years.
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This is the real deal. Dark purple in color. Decanted about 20 minutes before dinner and it was perfect with prime rib. Heady mix of pepper, sage, dark red fruits and Sonoran scents. Delicious.
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Delicious black berry and floral notes on the nose and rich palate with spice and refreshing acidity on the long finish. Drinking beautifully! Paired beautifully with hickory smoked chicken off the BGE.
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No notes at the time but from memory a very nice Rhône blend with no hard edges and in the early stages of its drinking window with room to evolve and become more complex. 93+
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Absolutely delicious! In a great drinking window, right now, but still gave it about a 90 min decant. Still so much fruit, but quite balanced and elegant. The nose was floral and rich, with black plum, black and red raspberry, hints of clove and spice, and even a little blueberry. The palate was chocolate covered espresso beans, with black cherry, black raspberry, boysenberry, and some white pepper. The finish was long, smooth, & silky. The 2011 vintage sometimes gets a bad rap, but this JBV did not disappoint in any way. In fact, we wish we had another bottle as we were fighting over the last sip!
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Very nice bottle, medium-full bodied with long finish. Showing bright red fruits in stark comparison to the dark black fruits offered by a 2013 Alban Reva opened alongside. (Aug. 17, Milford, MI)
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Good fruit. Time to drink I think but it still needs to open a bit. Some good dark fruit with wintergreen present. Trying another glass tonight to see how it evolves.
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Well we had friends come over for a bbq, socially distanced of course. We had not been with these people since before quarantine began. So we sat and ate and drank wine all evening. We started with this wine in a magnum format which was opened 6 hours before dinner and then decanted using a vinturi into two decanters. The nose was dark fruit and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, plums, figs, tobacco and hints of chocolate. The finish went on forever. Just a great bottle of wine.
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one hour decant deep berry at first out if decanter but later an earthy herby aroma that brought images of california to my mind-a californian garrigue
This had real sense of place or terroir I enjoy saxum but this new aspect was rxtra special
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Boysenberry, blackberry jam. Some soy notes on finish. More fruit forward than savory. Not as ripe as some other years, but still a big wine. Very good now.
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Similar to the bottle I had 6 months ago. Opened early afternoon and slow ox'd for 7 hours. . The nose was dark fruit and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, plums, figs, tobacco and hints of chocolate. The finish went on forever. Just a great bottle of wine.
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Even after a two hour decant, this blend has big, chewy tannins with dark blackberry fruit. Medium bodied with notes of cassis and lavender. Believe this wine could use another few years to further evolve.
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Decanted 3 hours. An excellent Grenache blend with highly concentrated dark fruit, cassis, hints of cedar with great balance and well integrated tannins. WA suggests drinking by 2019 but I believe this wine is still ascending in the cellar so I really wouldn't rush to consume it. I would put the drinking window to 2019-2026+.
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Blend of Grenache 69% Mourvedre 15% Syrah 13% Cournoise 2% and Roussanne 1%, all coming together nicely. Opened several hours beforehand but not decanted. At first the Grenache hogged the spotlight, but it evolved in the glass to be more of a blend. Drinking well, but clearly potential to age in the cellar.
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Slow O'd overnight then decanted 30 minutes and followed for about 3 hours. The grenache really shows here, with exotic raspberry and boysenberry. It is extremely floral. The palate is actually a bit leaner for a Saxum, and that is totally fine with me. Frankly, this was one of the better Saxum's that I've had, and I was not expecting that from 2011.
Day 1: This wine improve over the course of 3 hours. Up front too much floral and big fruit. Over time this wine added funk, spice, stone, cherry, blue currants and rose petals. Medium to long finish. Drinking well now but I could see this aging for another 10 years. 94 points Day 2: Rich wine with underbrush, spice, stone, concentrated fruit featuring cherries and plums and menthol. Nice floral elements on the lengthy finish. This has a long life ahead. 95 points Recommendation: Drink now with a solid 2 hour decant or hold for at least a decade.
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Dark and opaque. Big smoky aroma of dark fruits. Dense, concentrated, still young and needing more age. Lots of concentrated fruit, big for a mostly grenache wine, and plenty of tannin. Still mostly closed after 3 hours. Give this a couple more years in the cellar, then open no later than the morning of drinking it and give it plenty of air. Ric
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Saxum Tasting (Zurich): Comprehensive vertical tasting of several Saxum vineyards and a total of 24 wines. Most wines on a good to very good level in the 93 to 95 points range, just one on an exceptional (97+ points) level (James Berry Bone Rock 08). The consistency of the wine-making at Saxum is impressive but the tasting proofed to be rather a bit boring with less difference between the vineyards and vintages showing than expected and wished for. Heart Stone stood out a bit (bigger vats used, little new oak) thanks to more terroir expression. James Berry (mostly Grenache) and James Berry Bone Rock (elevated complexity and sexiness) were great. Best vintage (we tried wines from 2003 to 2011) is clearly the 2007 which produced the wines with the most depth.
TN: I'm a big fan of Central Californian Grenache based wines as the combination of the warm climate with the elegance and light-footedness of grape seem a match made in heaven. Hence it is no wonder that the highest scores in this mini-vertical (6 vintages) went to the wines with the highest share of Grenache in the blend (perfect correlation!). The 2011 consists of 69% Grenache (rest Syrah, Mourvedre). Stems, smoke, earth, minerality and red berries on the nose and palate. The stems, herbal component added complexity and an additional layer of freshness. I liked that a lot. Powerful on the nose, light-footed, medium-bodied on the palate. Good precision, length and balanced. Very fine tannins. Great to drink today without a decant.
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Opened early afternoon and brought to the club for the 4th of July celebration. The nose was dark fruit and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, plums, figs, tobacco and hints of chocolate. The finish went on forever. Just a great bottle of wine.
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Popped and poured. Bright red fruits without any distinctive aromas. Bright acids, big fruit and moderate tannins. Beautiful but still young. We should have decanted/aerated first
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Double decanted this bottle about four hours prior to consuming. 2011 is a vintage at Saxum I can really get behind. This wine is ripe yet edgy with a more savory driven style than you typically find from this estate. The nose is like a fall barbecue in the south of France. Intoxicating aromas of wild berries, creosote, lavender, charred meat, and cherry wood. The palate is so well balanced with vibrant ripe fruit, firm tannins, and tremendous complexity for such a young wine. I would like to see Saxum go more towards this style but I imagine the typical customer and usual vintage characteristics would clash with that premise.
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Grand Saxum Tasting (Gustav in Zurich): Grand Saxum tasting over several vineyeards and vintages. 23 wines in total. What was remarkable is the consistancy in aromatics across vintages and partly also across vineyards. Big and powerful wines but not without elegance. As a vintage 2007 stood out as exceptional across all vineyards. Booker stood out as the most consistent on a high level while James Berry vineyards had the highest range, but was oustanding in some vintages. The top wines for me were 2008 Bone Rock and Booker 2007.
Tasting note: A more red type of fruit, whiffs of menthol and greenish herbs, maybe a tad medicinal and a bit of dard choclate or mocca. Not as powerful a palate as the Booker vineyard and probably sweeter. Tannins still very present and mouthcoating, but well balanced.
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Steve's birthday lunch. Opened three hours prior to going to the restaurant and in my opinion that was not enough time. Fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark cherry, cassis, tobacco and hints of mocha. The finish very long. Each glass got better so I am assuming that a 5 or 6 hour slow ox would have raised the score. We drank it with pan seared pork medallions in a balsamic glace.
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I am between 94 and 93 here. I think I'm going to settle on 93. When compared to the '13 JBV, there are characteristics that are better and a few that are worse. I noticed that this one is almost 70% Grenache. About 25% less Grenache in the '13 which this one was enjoyed side-by-side with. This wine seemed to have much better balance than the '13, which gave lots of dense and hedonistic red and black fruits right up front. The fruit profile of this one was a little bit weird. I was getting plum, herba, ash, tobacco and fig. Red fruits were here, but definitely were not the highlight of this wine. I see the '13 significantly outdoing this one when it has two more years of age on it. Definitely would not kick this one out of bed for eating crackers. Would love to try this wine with pulled pork sliders. I don't think this one really is going to get much better in the bottle, but next time it might be best to decant and slow-ox this one the night before....
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Expected more. Decanted over an hour and softened a bit but still Harsh and edgy. Plenty of stuffing to arrive at something great but disjointed. Others agreed Maybe more time in bottle?
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Opened 6 hours before dinner. Red fruit on the nose with hints of spices. The palate was dark red berries, plums, a touch of chocolate and a hint of spice. The finish is typical Saxum and just goes on and on. I do not think it was as good as the bottle i had in November. The reason could be we drank it alongside a Saxum Broken Stones which was the better of the two wines. Anyway for those of you who know me tomorrow I begin myself imposed 91 days of sobriety and my low carb diet. My annual cleanse the temple routine so I will be reading the posts everyday but not posting again till around April 22nd. So good drinking everyone.
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I was disappointed by this wine given JB’s critical acclaim. It was boring, muted, didn’t give much at all. I’m thinking Saxum’s may be best in their infancy. Just had a decent Paderewski but again, maybe less a mouthful than I expected.
Not a great bottle of wine. Bought from WineBid. It was much lighter than expected and very acidic. Fruit was not very rich or deep. Maybe just an off bottle or badly stored. Much better syrups for $30-40.
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Dark inky color, almost clear rim. Fruity, floral nose. Dark cherry, raspberry on the palette. Really well balanced, only a faint trace of heat, with a long, tart finish. This is a Paso GSM to give the Rhône a run for its money.
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One of nine bottles of wine, 1 white and 8 red the 15 of us drank at the holiday spectacular at my club. All the reds except one were opened 6 hours before dinner. Also I tasted all the wines after being opened for two hours as I knew at the end of the night they might all have tasted the same. I opened this bottle took one sniff and knew it was ready to go but i did wait the two hours to taste. Red fruit on the nose. The palate was dark cherry, red plums, red meat, cherry wood and tobacco. I do believe there was a hint of chocolate on the very long finish. It was my second favorite wine of the night.
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Better than the bottle opened 2 years ago. Assume in part due to benefit of bottle age. Noticeable acidity - - very spicy, with prominent red fruit notes. Nice bottle for Thanksgiving.
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Tremendous nose of red and dark fruits. Nice mouthfeel with plenty of tannins. Noticeable initial green leafy note which resolved somewhat with time in the glass but did persist on the finish. Perhaps needs to mature in the bottle or have extended decant. We drank pop and pour.
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Bright-toned with more red fruit than usual. For my palate, this is my preferred style to the heavier, darker years. In a beautiful place right now. Dare I say more CnP than CA.
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This is a really nice GSM. Drinking well now and likely no rush to open at this point. Reasonable alcohol level for the region, nice structure and fantastic finish. Took about 90 minutes of decant to really open up; definitely not a pop n pour wine.
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SO'd overnight then decanted for an hour, deep ruby, black raspberries with a touch of spice & pepper, med. tannins, long finish; delicious, drink or hold (no rush)
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Splash decant Light purple, nice gradient showing a bit of age. Great nose. Ink, hint of tar, raspberry, bruised apple maybe a bit of honey comb all nose. Very soft and round mouth feel. Velvety. Raspberry jam with powder sugar. Almost Lindsey tart flavors. Acid seems almost fully integrated. Good time to drink. Medium plus weight.
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It surprised me how well defined but subtle this wine was (also, you can not tell this is a 15.5% alc, or at least I couldn’t). It has a beautiful earthy nose of black berries, (specially blue and raspberries) with hints of violets. The mid-palate was interesting, not in a bad way, perhaps a result of the blend? Lingering fantastic finish as well. You could barely sense the 15.5% alcohol, what a fantastic wine!
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Similar to my notes from labor day, opened for 6 hours and poured though a vinturi. Dark cherry, red plum, charred meat, cherry wood and tobacco. The only difference with this bottle was that the tobacco flavor on the very long finish was a bit more pronounced. Just an outstanding bottle of wine.
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Decanted for 3 hours. White pepper on the nose with violet notes. Black and blue fruits on the palate. Nice acidity. Drinking lighter than other vintages - but really outstanding.
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Sweet fruit bomb; surprisingly light on its feet. Well integrated and drinking beautifully. No heat to speak of; luscious and very tasty. I should think it would be a crowd pleaser if served with the right food.
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Slow ox'd for 6 hours and then decanted through a vinturi. Better than the last bottle I had last year - perhaps the extra aeration. The nose was fruit with hints of tar and spice. The palate was dark cherry, red plum, charred meat, a hint of cherry wood and strains of tobacco which came out on the amazing long smooth finish. Just an awesome bottle of wine.
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Pop and pour. In the glass, dark saturated red at the rim fading immediately to black. On the nose, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and a hint of violets. On the palate, smooth, fruit-saturated and rich without the heaviness that often comes with those descriptors - but make no mistake; this is all about the fruit. While this can probably last in the cellar for a good long while, I don't foresee much in the way of secondary nuances.
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Even keeled, scintillating blue fruits whose high rubbing alcohol pokes through. Otherwise balanced and super long. Over a few hours sense of alcohol recedes. Definitely needs time to open up. 93 once it was really firing but less appealing at other moments.
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Was expecting far more from a Saxum, but I must admit that I did not decant or allow the wine much time to breathe. After an hour in the glass, with very little wine remaining, it was tasting nice - - therefore, I strongly recommend a 1-2 hour decanting.
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This bottle was opened after a concert and poured without any decanting. It was clear and deep red in colour and had a nose of dark berries and some sweet candied cherries. In the glass was a wonderful wine filled with flavours of cherries, caramel and some lighter spices. Both the acidity and tannins were nicely balanced and the wine had a long finish which made this a wonderful bottle tonight.
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Still an amazing bottle of wine. Opened for 4 hours and let sit then poured slowly over the next 2 hours. Fruit on the nose, the palate is dark cherry, red plum, raw meat, and spices. The finish is what I refer to as the typical Saxum finish, ultra long and smooth. Served alongside grilled Elk Steaks wrapped in bacon.
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Double decanted for 9 hours before drinking. Very reticent on the nose, some volatility, a touch of floral, apricot jam, slate. later a charred stout-like note came through, but never an expressive bouquet. Medium to full bodied, great palate presence, sweet red fruits, raspberry, pepper, fresh earth. The finish was long with a crisp acidity that helped with the balance. Slightly hot from the alcohol, tannins mostly resolved, a bit of bitterness in the end. It was not ponderous given the high alcohol, but not sure why that's a compliment (why is the alcohol always so high?). Great purity, very ripe, well made structured wine, but just not my cup of tea. It was good, but rather over the top and this is a cold vintage Saxum. Think I'm done with these guys. At $100 a bottle, time to drop off the mailing list.
Needs at least a 1 hr decant to fully integrate and open up. Beautiful wine. Deep ruby red. Very perfumed bouquet with flowers, but finishing with an unique blend of mineral must and even some sawdust. Palate is red fruit dominated with some black fruit. Mostly fruit laden grenache with cranberry, raspberry and blackberry hints and some smoked meatiness from the syrah. Full bodied. High acidity. Savory tannins with a very long finish. There is a lot going on with this wine. Absolutely delicious.
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Pop and poured into decanter - note after 20 minutes. Nose of raspberries, blackberries, black currant and rose petal. Red and black fruits on the palate with hints of licorice and pepper on the finish. Showing a bit of heat but overall a nice wine that will drink well on the earlier side.
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Double decanted then SO'd for a few hrs, purple, black raspberries with a touch of spice & pepper, med. tannins, long finish; delicious, but needs more time
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The fourth bottle of the evening and it was an instant success, opened about an hour and a half before dinner and poured through a vintorio. Fruit on the nose, the palate was dark cherries, red plums and spice. The long Saxum finish was smooth as silk.
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Ruby red with purple rim. Dark fruit, black pepper and spice in the nose. Full body, with tannins kicking on the back end. Great structure. Long finish. We did decant but we did not leave it for a long time in the decanter. Already delicious, this will be fantastic in a few years.
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Drank over two nights. Better on Night 2. Not the typical Saxum but quite good for the vintage. Certainly drinking well now but doesn't hit the heights of other vintages. Purple in color. A nose of dark cherries with some spice. Palate matches. A bit of complexity. I wonder how this develops over time.
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Needs some air time -- 3-4 hours or more -- in order to blossom into the bold brash wine that it is. For me the nose is not particularly compelling (mild blueberry, cocoa and vanilla) but the palate delivers the usual Saxum style of rich fruit (lots of it) and sweet chocolatey-vanilla oak with a silken smooth mouthfeel. To its credit the wine does not feel heavy or ponderous or alcoholic (though it is 15.5% ABV). Does not require food and in some cases both this wine and some foods would be better off without each other, though certainly BBQ meats are a natural match. In sum a crowd pleaser, unless it's the AFWE crowd (while I drink holistically, I have to be in the mood for this style of wine; but when I am in the mood Saxum rarely fails to deliver). As one who started buying Saxum back in the $45/bottle days, though, I admit that at $89 (for this vintage) or $98 (more recent releases) it becomes a less certain value proposition.
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Drinking well right now, one of the better 2011's I've had, but there doesn't ever seem to be a real "bad" year for this producer. Velvety texture, vanilla, cinnamon, ham, sweet medium red fruits and spices with a bit of heat on the finish. Should drink well for another 5 years.
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This wine was drank after 20 minutes of decanting at a local steakhouse. The wine was clear and beautiful deep purple in colour. The wine had a strong nose of ripe cherries. The cherry flavour continued in the glass but there was a noticeable sour aftertaste. The acidity was fine but the tannins seemed a bit strong. Tonight, this wine seemed somewhat off from what I expected.
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A saxum tasting at Cooking School (ICASI): Really nice showing. Saxum is one producer who managed to do did quite well in 2011. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has black raspberries and coffee grounds. Some black pepper. On the palate, this is not real ripe. Good acidity. Has a certain bitterness and cooler climate quality that is unusual for Paso or Saxum. That said, it has food friendliness and enough structure to carry some weight. Nice finish. Probably not as long lived as most Saxum's but this still has upside potential.
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I think this really needs a extended decant at this point to really open up. Right now it just really clamps down on the end with a smokey tannin feel. Still its a really fine wine with red fruits popping on the front end, Luxury mouthfeel, that really separates it from lots of CA Rhones. Super wine that I think just still needs a couple of years to really emerge.
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A good wine indeed, with raspberry liqueur, bacon, cured meat, flowers, spice and berry flavors. Structured, elegant and powerful at the same time with a nice structure and long finish. A little much on the glycerine scale as far as how much of this I can drink in one sitting. A good drink nonetheless.
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This bottle was opened and poured without decanting after 30 minutes. The wine was clear and a deep hue of purple in colour. The nose was quite strong on caramel. In the glass was a wonderful wine filled with caramel, red cherries and a candied flavour similar to raspberries. I've never noticed this latter in a wine before but I greatly enjoyed this flavourful bottle tonight and look forward to seeing how this wine evolves over time.
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Gorgeous and very interesting aromas: very floral - violets, toast, cool fruit - red and blue, spicy. The palate is filled with nice dark red and blue fruit, sweet tannins and good freshness.
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Was a bit cradle robbing, i know... and also Think this bottle might be in a bit of a dumb phase, as it was not showing as well as the last bottle tasted, but did open up toward the end of the evening. Was very muted on both bouquet as well as mid and finish, but started after a few hours to show some great light and dark red fruit, and some good acidity, with a nose of candied cherries and some menthol notes... IMHO, just needs some time to integrate... would hold them for a bit, or make sure to give some good decanting.
Pop-and-pour, Very primary Grenache flavors, not my favorite Saxum at this point (and I have quite a few) but hopefully the flavors will integrate and improve with some age.
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Such a hot mess. PnP one night but still tastes the same the following night. Big and jammy with just alcohol most prominent on the nose. Maybe my wife and I don't gravitate towards these type of wines anymore. No score given and will not seek out anymore of these.
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Dark purple in color. Drank with dinner, grilled burgers with blue cheese, outside on the deck. Did not do formal tasting notes because of the setting. Layers of gorgeous red fruit, balanced, stood up to the food well - some with strong flavors, and it was just heavenly! WOTN.
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The interesting thing about a Saxum is that upon first sip your initial thought is "Oh, I've had a wine like this before", but then it passes over your palate, around your mouth and down your throat and then you realize, no, you probably haven't. So much more than a Grenache based blend. Decant required.
This is the first bottle of Saxum that has been close to the lofty reputation. Past bottles have been big disappointments. This is very similar to Myriad Syrah but at double the price.
Deep and dark with ever so slight of a nose starting to peek out beneath its burly exterior. Over time in glass I was able to coax out some nice blackberry liquor with a nice touch of herbs. A little more restrained than many other Saxum I have tried. Think it needs more time.
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Chevalier Wine Tasting (Chicago, IL): Tasting, brief note. Blackberry and plum with some liqueur, licorice notes and a forward ripe character. For me, this is borderline over-ripe, but incredibly well with just enough structure to remain nicely balanced.
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Opened and placed in a brown bag for a blind tasting of California Syrahs. Opened about 1 hour before the tasting and then followed over a 3 or 4 hour period. Tasted with food.
Dark, deep purple color. Initial note is leather. Fine, smooth Italian leather. Shows some smoky notes of bacon. Black cherries and a hint of licorice. Good acidity that gives the wine lift on the finish. Delicious wine. Will likely improve with some more time in the cellar.
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Not sure where this is headed. Very elegant cold vintage style wine. But knowing how older Saxums develop I do have trust that it will turn into something great.
Rating for right now would be 90
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Note after 2 hours in a decanter. I'm used to Saxum being more black and blue fruit dominated - this was much more red fruit dominated. A bit lighter in style than most Saxum's - probably partly due to the vintage. Nice balance - it will be interesting to see if this puts on more weight as it ages. Nice wine.
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Decanted for several hours. Decidedly rich for such a cold year: could only be a new world wine. Quite floral and spicy. Lay this one down for a few years. I think it will reward some patience.
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Tasted blind, I immediately got Grenache as the primary varietal, I thought the texture was a tad thin but great acidity and decent complexity, I thought medium priced CdP in a hot year. Was surprised to see Saxum as it didn't seem as silky and velvety. With some air it did get some of that texture, very nice wine.
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First sniff, the captivating essence of Grenache and Mourvèdre, hits all the right buttons, I'm hooked before I take a sip. Now a nice big sip, the blast of dark fruit, leather and spice, I'm thinking short black skin tight leather, but than the flavors float away leaving my palate dripping wet and begging for more. Another sip, wow, love that faint black tar, damp mossy woods come to mind.
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Good wine, seems a bit more restrained then what I am used to with Saxum, which is a good thing. Good dark blue fruit, hints of herbs and some floral elements. Did not hold up as well on day 2. Still, nice palate coating flavors.
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A bit austere at first but opened up nicely. Greener than most bottles of Saxum. Not as tannic as expected considering it was so young. More raspberry and less dense purple fruit than other Saxums. Lighter on its feet comparatively. Still nice, but I've enjoyed other bottles more. Killer nose full of grilling spice and earth. Loved it.
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decanted for 3+ hours. deep red/purple in color. nose is heavy with cherry and with some time in the glass some nice florals. on the palate nice cherry and red raspberry flavors with spice and florals. very good and continued improving after being opened for 5-6 hours.
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Cherry secrets, strong meat and rhubarb on the mid-palate, lots of oak but are balanced out very well with the fruit and frankly the alcohol. I found the body to be silky smooth and enjoyable but far form the best James Berry's. Very good wine overall. Decanted for an hour in wide base decanter and consumed over next 4 hours. I don't think it improved all that much in the time in decanter after the first hour or 2.
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Decanted and drank over the next 3 hours. Aroma is some big blueberry and blackberry, along with some floral scents. The taste is not fruit forward, though. It's got some eucalyptus that combines with muted fruit. Somewhat acidic on the palate. I don't know if this is ever going to be something I really dig or not, but it doesn't seem to be showing much right now.
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Purple/ruby in color. The nose is nice with black raspberries, leather, camphor and vanilla. On the palate, this is thinner than I have come to expect. There is a nice complexity and accessibility despite its youth. Slightly disjointed. I know this saw less oak than usual, but I taste it more. I have no doubt it will integrate over time. It a fantastic wine, but for my tastes, not as good as prior vintages. A great wine for the vintage though. I think it peaks in about 3 years and stays there for about 6 more.
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Wonderful blend of power and elegance. Raspberry jam, mint, and spices on the palate and nose. Great structure with silky smooth tannins. Should age beautifully for 10+ years.
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Deep crimson color. The aromatics of this wine are much more floral than previous examples. With coaxing a very strong menthol and mint note appear. The palate is full bodied with blue fruits yet very elegant at the same time. Wonderful structure and power.
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Red fruit, cherries, smoke, roses, spices and a kiss of oak. The palate is full-bodied, filled with juicy red and blue fruit, very nice and soft tannins yet not heavy at all. This is maybe the most elegant Saxum i have tasted. I just love this style!
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Enjoyed this over 2 days but will just write a combined note from memory. Very re fruited with a nice weight to it. There was also some spice & lavander that came through on day 2. I can't wait to try one of these with a few years on it. I also like the change up this gives you vs a lot of he heavy wines I drink. This gives you the same power of the flavors but just dances on the palate.
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Splash decanted twice, then aerated in-bottle for a few hours. Grenache is not my favorite Rhone varietal, but we enjoyed this nuanced offering, which developed some really interesting aromatics after about an hour in the glass.
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Poured it through the rabbit aerator, than shook the decanter, than back into its bottle to rest several hours latter, poured a glass. Nose, fresh, flora, hints of tree sap and cherry Color, by the light of my computer screen, pitch black with a purple ring Now I know you want to know what I think. First sip,bam, road tar, rustic woods, warmth, than its fades to??? Another sip, tannins are making my lip cling to my tonge Flavors keep rotating from rustic woods to leather to tar to smoked fruit, very interesting. Great wine, well done.
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Tasted at the New York Wine Experience 2013 Very purple/blackish color. Nose still closed and does not give anything away. On palate Grenache fruit comes out. Noticeably sweeter than the preceding Chateau Beaucastel Quite pleasant but much too young to pass any judgment, really
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4/20/2024 - spendergast Likes this wine: 96 Points
This wine continues to drink very well with notes similar to my last tasting in 2019. Concentrated dark fruit with notes of plum, black raspberry, cassis, forest floor, herbs with hint of spice. Nicely balanced with long satisfying finish.
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3/24/2024 - Amerique wrote: 96 Points
Rich, delicious dark raspberry fruit with licorice and leathery flavors, excellent structure, fully mature, very soft, long finish, ample acidity
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1/12/2024 - warrenpeace wrote: 94 Points
Not as powerful as a typical Saxum but that's expected because of the vintage. Nonetheless, a lovely, well balanced wine that yet again shows that top producers made great wines in this challenging vintage. Great now and will probably be at peak for another 2-3 years
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12/25/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Everything's there for a full bodied fruit forward wine, but probably average for a Saxum.
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12/17/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good. Thought this was going to rock me but it did not. Smooth, full-bodied, not much of a nose, average finish.
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11/23/2023 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red, not a big nose, cranberries, black cherry, herbs, cola, and a nice finish, tea and herbs on the finish
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7/23/2023 - rogerr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. I recommend a decant. A bit disjointed early on. I suggest holding for another 2 years.
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7/5/2023 - hawk30 wrote: 95 Points
Awesome. Would not hold much longer.
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6/25/2023 - deadwax Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big wine. Tannins mostly resolved leaving a big field of fruit on the pallet. Well made.
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4/27/2023 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes - specifically, our very first bottle. As with other Saxum offerings, it's all about the purity and complexity of the fruit, and what fruit it is.
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3/1/2023 - pmarlo wrote: 94 Points
Good cork and stained medium dark maroon. Fruit has evolved nicely and is alive and kicking. Had concerns prior to opening it wouldn't be but not to worry. Not as alcohol heavy as the 2014 I recently had, a good thing. Medium thickness on the palate. Well made wine. Although the grape makeup is fashioned after French and to some extent Spanish wines, doesn't taste at all like either. Uniquely American version. Higher Grenache percentage may be reason for liking this more than the 2014. Flavor intensified with both time in glass and in recorked bottle tasted next day. CT says end point is 2024 and although I think it could exceed that, for the fruit I would have now. A wonderful wine that gave enjoyment with each sip.
I always put the cork back in empty bottles with a sligh remainder of wien at the bottom.
Something I mention I've noticed. I uncork wines to smell prior to writing review, and most have some residual bouquet, but Saxum's don't. Might not mean anything but mentioned anyways.
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2/16/2023 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was a hit last night with Korean Short Ribs. Still drinking well although no need at all cellar longer.
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2/2/2023 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 92 Points
lovely well balance wine
drink now if you have any left
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1/6/2023 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 94 Points
In a blind tasting compared with another bottle opened and frozen three weeks earlier. This was preferred by 9 to 5 votes. Dark garnet, opaque. More evolved than the last bottle opened in 2019, now fully mature. Full-bodied but soft and round, concentrated black fruits, mild tannins. Should be consumed soon.
Ric
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1/6/2023 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bottled opened three weeks earlier, a glass removed, the rest frozen and compared with a freshly opened bottle in a blind tasting. The fresh bottle was preferred 9 to 5 votes. Dark garnet, opaque. More evolved than the last bottle opened in 2019, now fully mature. Full-bodied but soft and round, concentrated black fruits, mild tannins. Should be consumed soon.
Ric
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12/2/2022 - guitarguy wrote: 92 Points
A really good showing by this producer that I'm not yet sold on despite waiting years to get on the list and 10 years of purchases (allocated in small amounts). On the whole I've been underwhelmed but this bottle was really nice. I do remember the Grenache taking charge of the wine which meant less ripeness, more finesse and I was good with that. I am writing this after the fact (Thanksgiving consumption) but nonetheless, without specifics my impression was one of satisfaction for a good bottle. Take that for what its worth.
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10/13/2022 - 559Cheers wrote: 92 Points
Strong violets on the palette. Needs time to breathe. Very nice bottle. Hot with alcohol. Very fragrant. See how this develops.
* No new notes on nights after opening. Violets ascendant and dominant palette note. Most tame Saxum I’ve encountered.
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10/5/2022 - Mike V wrote: 90 Points
From Magnum, it has been since 1994 that I had a Saxum with secondary fermentation. This one had significant fizz, which dissipated with a very vigorous shake and foaming over.
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9/23/2022 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hot out of the gate. A bit astringent. But, time cured all. Once decanted (after three hours of being uncorked), it softened up and showed beautiful fruit, velvety tannins, and a lovely mouthfeel. Not the best JBV, but still very nice (with air).
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7/23/2022 - Maphill01 wrote:
Bottle from auction. Seemed more tired than last bottle I had in 2018. If this is representative, time to drink up.
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7/2/2022 - HRT wrote:
First tasting of this vintage. Deep garnet, with floral, black berries, and spice scents. Full bodied, smooth and well balanced. A great effort in a poor vintage.
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5/14/2022 - thalver wrote:
For my tastes, the 2011 saxums seem to be drinking well. Balance and length of finish were very good, even for a Saxum
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3/22/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Largely consistent with previous tastings, excepting some volatile acidity that, over the course of a couple hours, never completely blew off.
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3/19/2022 - ChrisR Likes this wine:
Raspberry and mulberry predominate, with charcoal and an unusual slug of mint, and finished with a subtle spice. As in the past, gentler and more mild-mannered than more recent iterations of this cuvee, the tannins present but soft, everything balanced and easy-going. Never the most powerful or spectacular of JBVs, it is nonetheless one of the more enjoyable to drink.
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2/25/2022 - t_moderne wrote: 95 Points
Opened, decanted half and enjoyed with food and on its own. Saved half under vacuvin.
Dark purple garnet color.
Nose offers dark fruits, a bit of VA that blows off with time, and cassis/kirsch notes.
Good fruit in the intro with a touch of black raspberry (Chambord) and then a savory pork fat and herbal note. Long finish with fine grained tannins. Perhaps some sweetness from the alcohol but not overly ripe fruit as there is a freshness to the wine.
Absolutely delicious.
Opens up over time and benefitted from decanting.
15.5% abv.
Quality cork. Branded.
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2/4/2022 - Cabernet4me2 wrote: 95 Points
Tasting notes by Charlie C 11/21 are pretty much spot on would just add about the great iron / meaty quality this opens up too.. wonderful wine with many more years ahead of it.
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12/16/2021 - marcabrams wrote:
Last one… corked! Sadness
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12/10/2021 - bambam Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep color and flavors to match. Great balance as always from Saxum. Has more life it. Drink or hold.
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11/27/2021 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely cherry red color. Deep berry nose. Intense yet round fruit. Nothing in your face but not shy. Black cherry, blueberry, black pepper. Dusty tannins, lovely acidity, perfect balance. Give this a little air if you can, but even as a PNP it shows well. Cherry notes become more prominent on the mid-palate. Finishes long, long with blackberry and blueberry fruit. Gorgeous fruit. Drinking beautifully now and should continue to do so for the next 10 years. 69% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 2% Counoise, 1% Rousanne.
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11/7/2021 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Again, terrific bottle that has aged beautifully. Dark deep purple hue. Dark deep fruit on the nose, a little earthy. Mild body, soft, luscious, velvety smooth, long finish. Terrific bottle.
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10/17/2021 - mpricher wrote: 92 Points
We opened this with several bottled and Syrahs- this was mid bodied and soft, but truly full of life and bright fruit. Subtle mid-palate, with depth and strong finish. Truly an experience!
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9/3/2021 - rogerr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Better after some time in the glass. Nicely balanced and drinking well. I think will improve a bit with age.
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6/17/2021 - rogerr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking nicely and better after about an hour of air. Had 1 glass left over and drank 24 hours later. Was disappointed to find it start to be spoiled/oxidized.
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5/28/2021 - Hipdoc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well now. No decant required. Not terribly full bodied, but wonderful cherry on the tongue with a prominent tobacco finish. Compares well to the 05 Rocket Block
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5/22/2021 - tomlee wrote: 96 Points
Dark red in color. 15.5% ABV. 69% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 2% Counoise and 1% Roussanne. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, anise, violets and pepper. Full bodied with notable acidity and balance. Lush and polished. Blueberry, black cherry liqueur, kirsch and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and smooth with subtle tannins. The 2011 Saxum lineup has consistently shined over the years and this wine is no exception. Best over the next 2-3 years.
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4/25/2021 - rogerr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Needs a decant and more time in the bottle.
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3/21/2021 - Sanlucar wrote: 90 Points
I should have drunk this wine 5 years ago; it has begun falling apart and has lost its former power and elegance. It reminds me of a weak and cheap version of Aussie Shiraz as it has become thin and light. It’s a nice blend of 5 Rhone grapes but no longer has fortitude or staying power.
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2/8/2021 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Impenatrable almost black color, beautiful dark fruit, saddle leather, complex nose with savory and floral notes. Full bodied, sweet tannins resolved, balanced, powerfull yet elegant. Long, long finish. Spectacular wine.
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2/6/2021 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious black berry and floral notes on the nose and rich palate with spice and refreshing acidity on the long finish. Drinking beautifully!
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2/5/2021 - norsktorsk wrote: 96 Points
awesome. drinking right on. my last bottle
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1/10/2021 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Rich, delicious mixed berry fruit with leather and oak flavors, excellent structure, tannins still dominant, ample finish
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12/31/2020 - Immigrator wrote: 96 Points
Showing really well after just 60 minutes in a wide decanter. I really could drink this over and over again. Dark purple colored, medium legs, and light sediment in the bottle. Aromas of black currant, blueberry, blackberry, green olive and minerals. On the palate, I noticed blackberry, black currant, vanilla and something mineral/stony (graphite?). Medium to full body with a silky texture, medium acidity, and a super long finish.
We enjoyed this with charcuterie and a cheese plate, and it compared favorably with the next bottle (2013 Colgin IX Syrah) that we enjoyed with dinner. I expected to prefer the Colgin, but found a slight preference for the Saxum JBV, which was bigger and more satisfying. FWIW, the Colgin is a bit more polished, but the Saxum just hit the right notes for me.
Kudos to the Saxum team on another winner that has improved over the years.
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12/20/2020 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine:
drinking well now
pop n pour came off lively w lucid fruit and clean finish
remained lovely over 3 hours
residual on next day still quite good
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11/29/2020 - Backdoctor wrote: 94 Points
Everyone loved it, big and bold, super balanced.
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11/29/2020 - thalver wrote:
Pop and pour......the nose showed well from the beginning...big but balanced. Lingering finish. Drinking well.
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11/23/2020 - Cadby wrote: 96 Points
2011 Saxum James Berry
Decadent & heady beefy nose. Stunning complexity. Anticipation delivered.
Oh and Happy Birthday to me!!!
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11/14/2020 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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11/7/2020 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is the real deal. Dark purple in color. Decanted about 20 minutes before dinner and it was perfect with prime rib. Heady mix of pepper, sage, dark red fruits and Sonoran scents. Delicious.
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10/11/2020 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious black berry and floral notes on the nose and rich palate with spice and refreshing acidity on the long finish. Drinking beautifully!
Paired beautifully with hickory smoked chicken off the BGE.
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10/10/2020 - Munch Likes this wine: 93 Points
No notes at the time but from memory a very nice Rhône blend with no hard edges and in the early stages of its drinking window with room to evolve and become more complex. 93+
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10/10/2020 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
consistent with notes of 5/28/2016 - still drinking very well
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8/25/2020 - Wine Problems Likes this wine: 96 Points
Absolutely delicious! In a great drinking window, right now, but still gave it about a 90 min decant. Still so much fruit, but quite balanced and elegant. The nose was floral and rich, with black plum, black and red raspberry, hints of clove and spice, and even a little blueberry. The palate was chocolate covered espresso beans, with black cherry, black raspberry, boysenberry, and some white pepper. The finish was long, smooth, & silky. The 2011 vintage sometimes gets a bad rap, but this JBV did not disappoint in any way. In fact, we wish we had another bottle as we were fighting over the last sip!
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8/22/2020 - jmcnewjersey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice bottle, medium-full bodied with long finish. Showing bright red fruits in stark comparison to the dark black fruits offered by a 2013 Alban Reva opened alongside. (Aug. 17, Milford, MI)
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8/20/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Double decanted for an hour, deep ruby, black raspberry with touch some spice, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, ready to drink
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7/17/2020 - herzog330 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good fruit. Time to drink I think but it still needs to open a bit. Some good dark fruit with wintergreen present. Trying another glass tonight to see how it evolves.
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6/6/2020 - ELH wrote: 94 Points
Even better on second day.
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6/1/2020 - norsktorsk Likes this wine: 95 Points
awesome
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5/24/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Well we had friends come over for a bbq, socially distanced of course. We had not been with these people since before quarantine began. So we sat and ate and drank wine all evening. We started with this wine in a magnum format which was opened 6 hours before dinner and then decanted using a vinturi into two decanters. The nose was dark fruit and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, plums, figs, tobacco and hints of chocolate. The finish went on forever. Just a great bottle of wine.
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5/23/2020 - norsktorsk Likes this wine: 95 Points
awesome
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5/13/2020 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good fruit left. Starting to show its age a bit. Medium bodied -- not as intense as other Saxums
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5/9/2020 - norsktorsk Likes this wine: 95 Points
awesome
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5/8/2020 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep red, gorgeous nose, beautiful red fruits, tart cherry and lingering finish
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3/23/2020 - VoteferPedro wrote: 93 Points
one hour decant
deep berry at first out if decanter but later an earthy herby aroma that brought images of california to my mind-a californian garrigue
This had real sense of place or terroir
I enjoy saxum but this new aspect was rxtra special
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3/19/2020 - norsktorsk wrote: 95 Points
beautiful
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3/7/2020 - ChrisR Likes this wine:
Delicious. More like a chateauneuf du pape than most Saxum. Black raspberry, soy, earth. Good flavor intensity without weight or richness.
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2/23/2020 - norsktorsk wrote: 94 Points
lots of Grenache great
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2/2/2020 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Boysenberry, blackberry jam. Some soy notes on finish. More fruit forward than savory. Not as ripe as some other years, but still a big wine. Very good now.
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1/20/2020 - RMundell Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drinking great right now.
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1/12/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to the bottle I had 6 months ago. Opened early afternoon and slow ox'd for 7 hours. . The nose was dark fruit and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, plums, figs, tobacco and hints of chocolate. The finish went on forever. Just a great bottle of wine.
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12/24/2019 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
This cool vintage JB is not quite as deep as the norm, but very fine indeed.
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12/1/2019 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Even after a two hour decant, this blend has big, chewy tannins with dark blackberry fruit. Medium bodied with notes of cassis and lavender. Believe this wine could use another few years to further evolve.
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12/1/2019 - spendergast Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 3 hours. An excellent Grenache blend with highly concentrated dark fruit, cassis, hints of cedar with great balance and well integrated tannins. WA suggests drinking by 2019 but I believe this wine is still ascending in the cellar so I really wouldn't rush to consume it. I would put the drinking window to 2019-2026+.
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11/16/2019 - ELH wrote: 94 Points
Blend of Grenache 69% Mourvedre 15% Syrah 13% Cournoise 2% and Roussanne 1%, all coming together nicely. Opened several hours beforehand but not decanted. At first the Grenache hogged the spotlight, but it evolved in the glass to be more of a blend. Drinking well, but clearly potential to age in the cellar.
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11/9/2019 - galewskj wrote: 94 Points
Slow O'd overnight then decanted 30 minutes and followed for about 3 hours. The grenache really shows here, with exotic raspberry and boysenberry. It is extremely floral. The palate is actually a bit leaner for a Saxum, and that is totally fine with me. Frankly, this was one of the better Saxum's that I've had, and I was not expecting that from 2011.
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11/8/2019 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 95 Points
Day 1: This wine improve over the course of 3 hours. Up front too much floral and big fruit. Over time this wine added funk, spice, stone, cherry, blue currants and rose petals. Medium to long finish. Drinking well now but I could see this aging for another 10 years. 94 points
Day 2: Rich wine with underbrush, spice, stone, concentrated fruit featuring cherries and plums and menthol. Nice floral elements on the lengthy finish. This has a long life ahead. 95 points
Recommendation: Drink now with a solid 2 hour decant or hold for at least a decade.
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11/1/2019 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark and opaque. Big smoky aroma of dark fruits. Dense, concentrated, still young and needing more age. Lots of concentrated fruit, big for a mostly grenache wine, and plenty of tannin. Still mostly closed after 3 hours. Give this a couple more years in the cellar, then open no later than the morning of drinking it and give it plenty of air.
Ric
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10/7/2019 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Spectacular nose, dark fruit, secondary notes, medium to full bodied, smooth, tannins resolving, perhaps even elegant. Long finish.
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7/28/2019 - sonodoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very enjoyable! Had as a pop and pour. Lots of red and black fruit, smooth tannins, very smooth with a long finish.
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7/13/2019 - Cailles wrote: 95 Points
Saxum Tasting (Zurich): Comprehensive vertical tasting of several Saxum vineyards and a total of 24 wines. Most wines on a good to very good level in the 93 to 95 points range, just one on an exceptional (97+ points) level (James Berry Bone Rock 08). The consistency of the wine-making at Saxum is impressive but the tasting proofed to be rather a bit boring with less difference between the vineyards and vintages showing than expected and wished for. Heart Stone stood out a bit (bigger vats used, little new oak) thanks to more terroir expression. James Berry (mostly Grenache) and James Berry Bone Rock (elevated complexity and sexiness) were great. Best vintage (we tried wines from 2003 to 2011) is clearly the 2007 which produced the wines with the most depth.
TN: I'm a big fan of Central Californian Grenache based wines as the combination of the warm climate with the elegance and light-footedness of grape seem a match made in heaven. Hence it is no wonder that the highest scores in this mini-vertical (6 vintages) went to the wines with the highest share of Grenache in the blend (perfect correlation!). The 2011 consists of 69% Grenache (rest Syrah, Mourvedre). Stems, smoke, earth, minerality and red berries on the nose and palate. The stems, herbal component added complexity and an additional layer of freshness. I liked that a lot. Powerful on the nose, light-footed, medium-bodied on the palate. Good precision, length and balanced. Very fine tannins. Great to drink today without a decant.
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7/4/2019 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened early afternoon and brought to the club for the 4th of July celebration. The nose was dark fruit and chocolate. The palate was dark berries, plums, figs, tobacco and hints of chocolate. The finish went on forever. Just a great bottle of wine.
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7/4/2019 - larrybbaldwin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Bright red fruits without any distinctive aromas. Bright acids, big fruit and moderate tannins. Beautiful but still young. We should have decanted/aerated first
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6/28/2019 - Badfish Likes this wine:
Double decanted this bottle about four hours prior to consuming. 2011 is a vintage at Saxum I can really get behind. This wine is ripe yet edgy with a more savory driven style than you typically find from this estate. The nose is like a fall barbecue in the south of France. Intoxicating aromas of wild berries, creosote, lavender, charred meat, and cherry wood. The palate is so well balanced with vibrant ripe fruit, firm tannins, and tremendous complexity for such a young wine. I would like to see Saxum go more towards this style but I imagine the typical customer and usual vintage characteristics would clash with that premise.
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6/22/2019 - sirpat00 wrote: 95 Points
Grand Saxum Tasting (Gustav in Zurich): Grand Saxum tasting over several vineyeards and vintages. 23 wines in total. What was remarkable is the consistancy in aromatics across vintages and partly also across vineyards. Big and powerful wines but not without elegance. As a vintage 2007 stood out as exceptional across all vineyards. Booker stood out as the most consistent on a high level while James Berry vineyards had the highest range, but was oustanding in some vintages. The top wines for me were 2008 Bone Rock and Booker 2007.
Tasting note:
A more red type of fruit, whiffs of menthol and greenish herbs, maybe a tad medicinal and a bit of dard choclate or mocca. Not as powerful a palate as the Booker vineyard and probably sweeter. Tannins still very present and mouthcoating, but well balanced.
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5/30/2019 - markcic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Steve's birthday lunch. Opened three hours prior to going to the restaurant and in my opinion that was not enough time. Fruit and mocha on the nose. The palate was dark cherry, cassis, tobacco and hints of mocha. The finish very long. Each glass got better so I am assuming that a 5 or 6 hour slow ox would have raised the score. We drank it with pan seared pork medallions in a balsamic glace.
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5/11/2019 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points
I am between 94 and 93 here. I think I'm going to settle on 93. When compared to the '13 JBV, there are characteristics that are better and a few that are worse. I noticed that this one is almost 70% Grenache. About 25% less Grenache in the '13 which this one was enjoyed side-by-side with. This wine seemed to have much better balance than the '13, which gave lots of dense and hedonistic red and black fruits right up front.
The fruit profile of this one was a little bit weird. I was getting plum, herba, ash, tobacco and fig. Red fruits were here, but definitely were not the highlight of this wine. I see the '13 significantly outdoing this one when it has two more years of age on it. Definitely would not kick this one out of bed for eating crackers. Would love to try this wine with pulled pork sliders. I don't think this one really is going to get much better in the bottle, but next time it might be best to decant and slow-ox this one the night before....
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5/4/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to prior note after double decanting for 90 min.
Fruit seemed to drop off later in the night (decreased score)
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4/20/2019 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Soft, round, elegant dark red fruit, excellent structure, long finish
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2/25/2019 - Briankage wrote: 94 Points
Smooth and delicious
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2/4/2019 - Pcrage Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Expected more. Decanted over an hour and softened a bit but still Harsh and edgy. Plenty of stuffing to arrive at something great but disjointed. Others agreed Maybe more time in bottle?
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1/20/2019 - markcic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened 6 hours before dinner. Red fruit on the nose with hints of spices. The palate was dark red berries, plums, a touch of chocolate and a hint of spice. The finish is typical Saxum and just goes on and on. I do not think it was as good as the bottle i had in November. The reason could be we drank it alongside a Saxum Broken Stones which was the better of the two wines. Anyway for those of you who know me tomorrow I begin myself imposed 91 days of sobriety and my low carb diet. My annual cleanse the temple routine so I will be reading the posts everyday but not posting again till around April 22nd. So good drinking everyone.
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1/17/2019 - guitarguy wrote: 87 Points
I was disappointed by this wine given JB’s critical acclaim. It was boring, muted, didn’t give much at all. I’m thinking Saxum’s may be best in their infancy. Just had a decent Paderewski but again, maybe less a mouthful than I expected.
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1/13/2019 - iamandyc wrote: 88 Points
Not a great bottle of wine. Bought from WineBid. It was much lighter than expected and very acidic. Fruit was not very rich or deep. Maybe just an off bottle or badly stored. Much better syrups for $30-40.
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12/24/2018 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:
Dark inky color, almost clear rim. Fruity, floral nose. Dark cherry, raspberry on the palette. Really well balanced, only a faint trace of heat, with a long, tart finish. This is a Paso GSM to give the Rhône a run for its money.
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11/24/2018 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of nine bottles of wine, 1 white and 8 red the 15 of us drank at the holiday spectacular at my club. All the reds except one were opened 6 hours before dinner. Also I tasted all the wines after being opened for two hours as I knew at the end of the night they might all have tasted the same. I opened this bottle took one sniff and knew it was ready to go but i did wait the two hours to taste. Red fruit on the nose. The palate was dark cherry, red plums, red meat, cherry wood and tobacco. I do believe there was a hint of chocolate on the very long finish. It was my second favorite wine of the night.
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11/22/2018 - jmcnewjersey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Better than the bottle opened 2 years ago. Assume in part due to benefit of bottle age. Noticeable acidity - - very spicy, with prominent red fruit notes. Nice bottle for Thanksgiving.
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11/17/2018 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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11/17/2018 - beau11 wrote: 96 Points
Soft suave wine with beautiful rasberry and ripe cherry. Long finish with tannin resolved. In a great spot
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11/11/2018 - TheRhoneranger Likes this wine: 94 Points
over the course or 3 hours it got better and better
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10/26/2018 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Violets, floral, dark red raspberry. Tannins have integrated. Just love it. Pepper and spice. Chocolate, tobacco, dried herbs? 2018-2025+
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9/15/2018 - Geoff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tremendous nose of red and dark fruits. Nice mouthfeel with plenty of tannins. Noticeable initial green leafy note which resolved somewhat with time in the glass but did persist on the finish. Perhaps needs to mature in the bottle or have extended decant. We drank pop and pour.
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9/10/2018 - MDRwinos wrote: 90 Points
1:30 decant. Tannins definitely present in first glass. Softened slightly over the rest of the bottle. Will hold my other bottle until 2019.
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8/14/2018 - ledwards wrote: 95 Points
Bright-toned with more red fruit than usual. For my palate, this is my preferred style to the heavier, darker years. In a beautiful place right now. Dare I say more CnP than CA.
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7/29/2018 - fournet Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a really nice GSM. Drinking well now and likely no rush to open at this point. Reasonable alcohol level for the region, nice structure and fantastic finish. Took about 90 minutes of decant to really open up; definitely not a pop n pour wine.
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5/26/2018 - jsmorris707 wrote: 95 Points
SO'd overnight then decanted for an hour, deep ruby, black raspberries with a touch of spice & pepper, med. tannins, long finish; delicious, drink or hold (no rush)
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5/6/2018 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Splash decant
Light purple, nice gradient showing a bit of age. Great nose. Ink, hint of tar, raspberry, bruised apple maybe a bit of honey comb all nose.
Very soft and round mouth feel. Velvety. Raspberry jam with powder sugar. Almost Lindsey tart flavors. Acid seems almost fully integrated. Good time to drink. Medium plus weight.
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12/30/2017 - Lord Rodney wrote: 92 Points
Great nose of dried meat and smoke. But the Taste is more dry than expected. Where will it go?
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10/29/2017 - IvanKrazy Likes this wine: 91 Points
It surprised me how well defined but subtle this wine was (also, you can not tell this is a 15.5% alc, or at least I couldn’t). It has a beautiful earthy nose of black berries, (specially blue and raspberries) with hints of violets. The mid-palate was interesting, not in a bad way, perhaps a result of the blend? Lingering fantastic finish as well. You could barely sense the 15.5% alcohol, what a fantastic wine!
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10/27/2017 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to my notes from labor day, opened for 6 hours and poured though a vinturi. Dark cherry, red plum, charred meat, cherry wood and tobacco. The only difference with this bottle was that the tobacco flavor on the very long finish was a bit more pronounced. Just an outstanding bottle of wine.
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10/14/2017 - cookie7 wrote:
Decanted for 3 hours. White pepper on the nose with violet notes. Black and blue fruits on the palate. Nice acidity. Drinking lighter than other vintages - but really outstanding.
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9/3/2017 - Deb293 wrote: 93 Points
Sweet fruit bomb; surprisingly light on its feet. Well integrated and drinking beautifully. No heat to speak of; luscious and very tasty. I should think it would be a crowd pleaser if served with the right food.
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9/2/2017 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Slow ox'd for 6 hours and then decanted through a vinturi. Better than the last bottle I had last year - perhaps the extra aeration. The nose was fruit with hints of tar and spice. The palate was dark cherry, red plum, charred meat, a hint of cherry wood and strains of tobacco which came out on the amazing long smooth finish. Just an awesome bottle of wine.
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7/17/2017 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. In the glass, dark saturated red at the rim fading immediately to black. On the nose, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and a hint of violets. On the palate, smooth, fruit-saturated and rich without the heaviness that often comes with those descriptors - but make no mistake; this is all about the fruit. While this can probably last in the cellar for a good long while, I don't foresee much in the way of secondary nuances.
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2/16/2017 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
consistent with notes of 5/28/2016
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1/21/2017 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
Even keeled, scintillating blue fruits whose high rubbing alcohol pokes through. Otherwise balanced and super long. Over a few hours sense of alcohol recedes. Definitely needs time to open up. 93 once it was really firing but less appealing at other moments.
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1/2/2017 - mliszt Likes this wine: 96 Points
everything you want from Saxum great the first night and just as great night 2
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12/23/2016 - jmcnewjersey wrote: 90 Points
Was expecting far more from a Saxum, but I must admit that I did not decant or allow the wine much time to breathe. After an hour in the glass, with very little wine remaining, it was tasting nice - - therefore, I strongly recommend a 1-2 hour decanting.
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11/25/2016 - Rosengoo wrote: 94 Points
This bottle was opened after a concert and poured without any decanting. It was clear and deep red in colour and had a nose of dark berries and some sweet candied cherries. In the glass was a wonderful wine filled with flavours of cherries, caramel and some lighter spices. Both the acidity and tannins were nicely balanced and the wine had a long finish which made this a wonderful bottle tonight.
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11/24/2016 - brianngibson wrote: 94 Points
Thanksgiving Day wine. Crushed berries, violets, earthiness. Beautiful wine that paired well with the meal.
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11/12/2016 - cookie7 wrote:
3 four decant. Very perfumed nose of violets, spice and white pepper. Black and blue fruit on the palate. Drinking well today with some air.
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10/28/2016 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still an amazing bottle of wine. Opened for 4 hours and let sit then poured slowly over the next 2 hours. Fruit on the nose, the palate is dark cherry, red plum, raw meat, and spices. The finish is what I refer to as the typical Saxum finish, ultra long and smooth. Served alongside grilled Elk Steaks wrapped in bacon.
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9/11/2016 - WineDuq wrote: 90 Points
Double decanted for 9 hours before drinking. Very reticent on the nose, some volatility, a touch of floral, apricot jam, slate. later a charred stout-like note came through, but never an expressive bouquet. Medium to full bodied, great palate presence, sweet red fruits, raspberry, pepper, fresh earth. The finish was long with a crisp acidity that helped with the balance. Slightly hot from the alcohol, tannins mostly resolved, a bit of bitterness in the end. It was not ponderous given the high alcohol, but not sure why that's a compliment (why is the alcohol always so high?). Great purity, very ripe, well made structured wine, but just not my cup of tea. It was good, but rather over the top and this is a cold vintage Saxum. Think I'm done with these guys. At $100 a bottle, time to drop off the mailing list.
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7/23/2016 - Lazlo Toth wrote: 94 Points
Needs at least a 1 hr decant to fully integrate and open up. Beautiful wine. Deep ruby red. Very perfumed bouquet with flowers, but finishing with an unique blend of mineral must and even some sawdust. Palate is red fruit dominated with some black fruit. Mostly fruit laden grenache with cranberry, raspberry and blackberry hints and some smoked meatiness from the syrah. Full bodied. High acidity. Savory tannins with a very long finish. There is a lot going on with this wine. Absolutely delicious.
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7/17/2016 - cookie7 wrote:
Pop and poured into decanter - note after 20 minutes. Nose of raspberries, blackberries, black currant and rose petal. Red and black fruits on the palate with hints of licorice and pepper on the finish. Showing a bit of heat but overall a nice wine that will drink well on the earlier side.
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7/13/2016 - Lord Rodney wrote: 92 Points
Wolderful bottle from Saxum - Rich but not too heavy - good with pork chops
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6/25/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Double decanted then SO'd for a few hrs, purple, black raspberries with a touch of spice & pepper, med. tannins, long finish; delicious, but needs more time
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6/19/2016 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
The fourth bottle of the evening and it was an instant success, opened about an hour and a half before dinner and poured through a vintorio. Fruit on the nose, the palate was dark cherries, red plums and spice. The long Saxum finish was smooth as silk.
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6/18/2016 - jfpwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ruby red with purple rim. Dark fruit, black pepper and spice in the nose. Full body, with tannins kicking on the back end. Great structure. Long finish. We did decant but we did not leave it for a long time in the decanter. Already delicious, this will be fantastic in a few years.
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6/6/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Drank over two nights. Better on Night 2. Not the typical Saxum but quite good for the vintage. Certainly drinking well now but doesn't hit the heights of other vintages. Purple in color. A nose of dark cherries with some spice. Palate matches. A bit of complexity. I wonder how this develops over time.
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5/28/2016 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
More subtle than I might have expected, with smooth cocoa tones augment blackberry and plum notes...wet stone minerality on the finish.
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5/22/2016 - ParisWino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needs some air time -- 3-4 hours or more -- in order to blossom into the bold brash wine that it is. For me the nose is not particularly compelling (mild blueberry, cocoa and vanilla) but the palate delivers the usual Saxum style of rich fruit (lots of it) and sweet chocolatey-vanilla oak with a silken smooth mouthfeel. To its credit the wine does not feel heavy or ponderous or alcoholic (though it is 15.5% ABV). Does not require food and in some cases both this wine and some foods would be better off without each other, though certainly BBQ meats are a natural match. In sum a crowd pleaser, unless it's the AFWE crowd (while I drink holistically, I have to be in the mood for this style of wine; but when I am in the mood Saxum rarely fails to deliver). As one who started buying Saxum back in the $45/bottle days, though, I admit that at $89 (for this vintage) or $98 (more recent releases) it becomes a less certain value proposition.
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5/4/2016 - Recoveringimporter Likes this wine: 94 Points
So young .... very promising... patience will be rewarded .
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4/29/2016 - TheRhoneranger Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very balanced! Nice dark fruits without being overly tannic.
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3/6/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well right now, one of the better 2011's I've had, but there doesn't ever seem to be a real "bad" year for this producer. Velvety texture, vanilla, cinnamon, ham, sweet medium red fruits and spices with a bit of heat on the finish. Should drink well for another 5 years.
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3/3/2016 - Rosengoo wrote: 89 Points
This wine was drank after 20 minutes of decanting at a local steakhouse. The wine was clear and beautiful deep purple in colour. The wine had a strong nose of ripe cherries. The cherry flavour continued in the glass but there was a noticeable sour aftertaste. The acidity was fine but the tannins seemed a bit strong. Tonight, this wine seemed somewhat off from what I expected.
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2/8/2016 - mhewitt wrote: 95 Points
Open for business. Incredible length and polish.
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1/10/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
A saxum tasting at Cooking School (ICASI): Really nice showing. Saxum is one producer who managed to do did quite well in 2011. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has black raspberries and coffee grounds. Some black pepper. On the palate, this is not real ripe. Good acidity. Has a certain bitterness and cooler climate quality that is unusual for Paso or Saxum. That said, it has food friendliness and enough structure to carry some weight. Nice finish. Probably not as long lived as most Saxum's but this still has upside potential.
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1/9/2016 - hanasowner wrote: 93 Points
Really nice after PnP...dark purple...nose of spice and dark berries...not as full in the mouth as past JBV...smooth finish with some tannins present.
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12/27/2015 - KCBrian Likes this wine: 93 Points
Powerful Sarah that I served with beef Wellington. Great combo.
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12/24/2015 - Ekoostik wrote:
I think this really needs a extended decant at this point to really open up. Right now it just really clamps down on the end with a smokey tannin feel. Still its a really fine wine with red fruits popping on the front end, Luxury mouthfeel, that really separates it from lots of CA Rhones. Super wine that I think just still needs a couple of years to really emerge.
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12/10/2015 - GrapeCrusader wrote: 92 Points
A good wine indeed, with raspberry liqueur, bacon, cured meat, flowers, spice and berry flavors. Structured, elegant and powerful at the same time with a nice structure and long finish. A little much on the glycerine scale as far as how much of this I can drink in one sitting. A good drink nonetheless.
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11/20/2015 - Rosengoo wrote: 95 Points
This bottle was opened and poured without decanting after 30 minutes. The wine was clear and a deep hue of purple in colour. The nose was quite strong on caramel. In the glass was a wonderful wine filled with caramel, red cherries and a candied flavour similar to raspberries. I've never noticed this latter in a wine before but I greatly enjoyed this flavourful bottle tonight and look forward to seeing how this wine evolves over time.
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11/2/2015 - MayValley wrote: 95 Points
Gorgeous and very interesting aromas: very floral - violets, toast, cool fruit - red and blue, spicy.
The palate is filled with nice dark red and blue fruit, sweet tannins and good freshness.
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10/17/2015 - Cabernet4me2 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Was a bit cradle robbing, i know... and also Think this bottle might be in a bit of a dumb phase, as it was not showing as well as the last bottle tasted, but did open up toward the end of the evening. Was very muted on both bouquet as well as mid and finish, but started after a few hours to show some great light and dark red fruit, and some good acidity, with a nose of candied cherries and some menthol notes... IMHO, just needs some time to integrate... would hold them for a bit, or make sure to give some good decanting.
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10/17/2015 - G8tor80 Likes this wine: 87 Points
I found this to be very primary, not a lot of complexity, may just be in an awkward stage right now, with 7 bottles left I guess I'll see!
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10/17/2015 - G8tor80 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Pop-and-pour, Very primary Grenache flavors, not my favorite Saxum at this point (and I have quite a few) but hopefully the flavors will integrate and improve with some age.
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9/21/2015 - jfont123 Does not like this wine:
Such a hot mess. PnP one night but still tastes the same the following night. Big and jammy with just alcohol most prominent on the nose. Maybe my wife and I don't gravitate towards these type of wines anymore. No score given and will not seek out anymore of these.
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7/4/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 98 Points
Dark purple in color. Drank with dinner, grilled burgers with blue cheese, outside on the deck. Did not do formal tasting notes because of the setting. Layers of gorgeous red fruit, balanced, stood up to the food well - some with strong flavors, and it was just heavenly! WOTN.
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7/4/2015 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 95 Points
The interesting thing about a Saxum is that upon first sip your initial thought is "Oh, I've had a wine like this before", but then it passes over your palate, around your mouth and down your throat and then you realize, no, you probably haven't.
So much more than a Grenache based blend.
Decant required.
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3/18/2015 - jaxpaj wrote: 94 Points
This is the first bottle of Saxum that has been close to the lofty reputation. Past bottles have been big disappointments. This is very similar to Myriad Syrah but at double the price.
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3/8/2015 - twelch wrote:
Deep and dark with ever so slight of a nose starting to peek out beneath its burly exterior. Over time in glass I was able to coax out some nice blackberry liquor with a nice touch of herbs. A little more restrained than many other Saxum I have tried. Think it needs more time.
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2/7/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Chevalier Wine Tasting (Chicago, IL): Tasting, brief note. Blackberry and plum with some liqueur, licorice notes and a forward ripe character. For me, this is borderline over-ripe, but incredibly well with just enough structure to remain nicely balanced.
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2/6/2015 - beezer6 wrote: 95 Points
Chevalier Wines First Tasting Group (Chevalier Wines - Chicago): Feminine styling actually. Supple touches with a very chewy and young palate.
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1/30/2015 - t_moderne wrote: 92 Points
Opened and placed in a brown bag for a blind tasting of California Syrahs.
Opened about 1 hour before the tasting and then followed over a 3 or 4 hour period. Tasted with food.
Dark, deep purple color. Initial note is leather. Fine, smooth Italian leather.
Shows some smoky notes of bacon. Black cherries and a hint of licorice. Good acidity that gives the wine lift on the finish. Delicious wine. Will likely improve with some more time in the cellar.
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1/30/2015 - G_H wrote:
Not sure where this is headed. Very elegant cold vintage style wine. But knowing how older Saxums develop I do have trust that it will turn into something great.
Rating for right now would be 90
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12/24/2014 - ews3 wrote: flawed
Corked :-(
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11/7/2014 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good but not great. Just seems a bit disjointed and a bit rough on the edges. Will hold off on my last bottle to see if it comes together.
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8/15/2014 - Backdoctor wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 9.5 hrs, open a total of 23 hours before the meal. Great wine, still big and bold with all that air.
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8/13/2014 - cookie7 wrote: 93 Points
Note after 2 hours in a decanter. I'm used to Saxum being more black and blue fruit dominated - this was much more red fruit dominated. A bit lighter in style than most Saxum's - probably partly due to the vintage. Nice balance - it will be interesting to see if this puts on more weight as it ages. Nice wine.
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7/11/2014 - Bodes Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for several hours. Decidedly rich for such a cold year: could only be a new world wine. Quite floral and spicy. Lay this one down for a few years. I think it will reward some patience.
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7/6/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted blind, I immediately got Grenache as the primary varietal, I thought the texture was a tad thin but great acidity and decent complexity, I thought medium priced CdP in a hot year. Was surprised to see Saxum as it didn't seem as silky and velvety. With some air it did get some of that texture, very nice wine.
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6/7/2014 - rogerr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nicely balanced after 1 hour decant and little evolution after 24 hours exposed to air.
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5/26/2014 - shadow wrote: 97 Points
First sniff, the captivating essence of Grenache and Mourvèdre, hits all the right buttons, I'm hooked before I take a sip.
Now a nice big sip, the blast of dark fruit, leather and spice, I'm thinking short black skin tight leather, but than the flavors float away leaving my palate dripping wet and begging for more.
Another sip, wow, love that faint black tar, damp mossy woods come to mind.
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5/24/2014 - cadamson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good wine, seems a bit more restrained then what I am used to with Saxum, which is a good thing. Good dark blue fruit, hints of herbs and some floral elements. Did not hold up as well on day 2. Still, nice palate coating flavors.
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5/13/2014 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 97 Points
A bit austere at first but opened up nicely. Greener than most bottles of Saxum. Not as tannic as expected considering it was so young. More raspberry and less dense purple fruit than other Saxums. Lighter on its feet comparatively. Still nice, but I've enjoyed other bottles more. Killer nose full of grilling spice and earth. Loved it.
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5/5/2014 - sachsen wrote: 93 Points
Pure infanticide, despite several hour decant. Will I ever learn?
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4/13/2014 - dky wrote: 94 Points
decanted for 3+ hours. deep red/purple in color. nose is heavy with cherry and with some time in the glass some nice florals. on the palate nice cherry and red raspberry flavors with spice and florals. very good and continued improving after being opened for 5-6 hours.
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2/26/2014 - kstoddard Does not like this wine:
Alcoholic mess. Not a fan.
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2/16/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cherry secrets, strong meat and rhubarb on the mid-palate, lots of oak but are balanced out very well with the fruit and frankly the alcohol. I found the body to be silky smooth and enjoyable but far form the best James Berry's. Very good wine overall. Decanted for an hour in wide base decanter and consumed over next 4 hours. I don't think it improved all that much in the time in decanter after the first hour or 2.
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2/5/2014 - twelch wrote:
Drank but can't remember it
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2/5/2014 - fine137 wrote: 96 Points
Double decant night before, into decanter 2 hours before dinner. Excellent.
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1/30/2014 - Wine Sparty wrote: 89 Points
Decanted and drank over the next 3 hours. Aroma is some big blueberry and blackberry, along with some floral scents. The taste is not fruit forward, though. It's got some eucalyptus that combines with muted fruit. Somewhat acidic on the palate. I don't know if this is ever going to be something I really dig or not, but it doesn't seem to be showing much right now.
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1/24/2014 - RMundell Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking really nice after an hour in the glass.
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1/19/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Purple/ruby in color. The nose is nice with black raspberries, leather, camphor and vanilla. On the palate, this is thinner than I have come to expect. There is a nice complexity and accessibility despite its youth. Slightly disjointed. I know this saw less oak than usual, but I taste it more. I have no doubt it will integrate over time. It a fantastic wine, but for my tastes, not as good as prior vintages. A great wine for the vintage though. I think it peaks in about 3 years and stays there for about 6 more.
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1/18/2014 - fdub Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderful blend of power and elegance. Raspberry jam, mint, and spices on the palate and nose. Great structure with silky smooth tannins. Should age beautifully for 10+ years.
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1/17/2014 - fdub Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep crimson color. The aromatics of this wine are much more floral than previous examples. With coaxing a very strong menthol and mint note appear. The palate is full bodied with blue fruits yet very elegant at the same time. Wonderful structure and power.
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1/5/2014 - MayValley wrote: 95 Points
Red fruit, cherries, smoke, roses, spices and a kiss of oak. The palate is full-bodied, filled with juicy red and blue fruit, very nice and soft tannins yet not heavy at all. This is maybe the most elegant Saxum i have tasted. I just love this style!
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12/27/2013 - lsnider wrote: 93 Points
Enjoyed this over 2 days but will just write a combined note from memory. Very re fruited with a nice weight to it. There was also some spice & lavander that came through on day 2. I can't wait to try one of these with a few years on it. I also like the change up this gives you vs a lot of he heavy wines I drink. This gives you the same power of the flavors but just dances on the palate.
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12/8/2013 - 2loyal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Splash decanted twice, then aerated in-bottle for a few hours. Grenache is not my favorite Rhone varietal, but we enjoyed this nuanced offering, which developed some really interesting aromatics after about an hour in the glass.
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11/24/2013 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent! Tried twice 24 hrs apart w counter time. Look forward to this one in the years to come
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11/13/2013 - shadow wrote: 98 Points
Poured it through the rabbit aerator, than shook the decanter, than back into its bottle to rest
several hours latter, poured a glass.
Nose, fresh, flora, hints of tree sap and cherry
Color, by the light of my computer screen, pitch black with a purple ring
Now I know you want to know what I think.
First sip,bam, road tar, rustic woods, warmth, than its fades to???
Another sip, tannins are making my lip cling to my tonge
Flavors keep rotating from rustic woods to leather to tar to smoked fruit, very interesting.
Great wine, well done.
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10/30/2013 - Bandreas wrote: 88 Points
Tasted at the New York Wine Experience 2013
Very purple/blackish color. Nose still closed and does not give anything away. On palate Grenache fruit comes out. Noticeably sweeter than the preceding Chateau Beaucastel
Quite pleasant but much too young to pass any judgment, really
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