Tons of floral, wild dark berries and spice on the nose. Mid season cherry. Palate is so good. Rich, elegant, deep, gritty and nimble. Some nice amplitude in the mid palate and great tension and red fruits on the finish. Needs mega air so I can only assume score goes higher tomorrow. — 5 months ago
17% alc is pushing it; even for me lol — 7 months ago
Very nice balanced well aged complex blend. — 7 months ago
It’s like almost every Napa chard from a high end producer. It’s good but not amazing. It reminds me of a warm hug. — 2 years ago
Inky black. Moderate fruity aroma. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry and blueberry. Nice — 4 years ago
Maybe stored too long. Not the jammy big nose fruit forward wine I was expecting. Still quite nice. — 5 years ago
Very interesting Roussanne. Saline notes, good minerals, sweet finish. Pretty complex. — 7 years ago
Bottle from Wally and Steve’s 50th, drank at Steve’s house June 2026 — a month ago
A beautiful wine by a brilliant producer. Deep purple color. Bacon fat hints with earthy and truffles on the nose that evolve into dark fruits. Soft tannins on the mouthfeel linger to a grapey finish. Excellent — 3 months ago
1/2026. Good fruit. Bold and sits nice on the palate. Full bodied. Paired well with the crab cakes at Mr. Friendly’s. — 6 months ago
Merry Christmas 2025! 🎅🎄🎁 🍷 ❄️ ⛄️
As I have said, Charles Hendricks is my favorite new world winemaker for Malbec. This 12 is perfect with chocolate truffles.
Many would not get this blind. They would call Napa Cabernet or Napa Bordeaux blend.
It is around its precipice. Ripe, juicy, lush fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, strawberries, blueberries, mocha powder, dark chocolate to chocolate mousse, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, dry top soil, moist to dry clays, tumbleweed, some light dry herbs, chard barrel shavings, dark spices, black tea, black licorice, dark cola, dry, crushed limestone/rocks, leather, dry tobacco, dark, withering flowers, liquid violets-lavender, grand, round, acidity, well; balanced, structured, tensioned with a polished/elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on spice & dry earthiness. — 7 months ago
I’ve got lots of love for these wines, but I always struggle with when to open. They are fantastic young and equally fantastic with age. Jeb said of this wine, “the greatest GSM blend from California, ever.”, and stamped it with a perfect score. Strong praise, and while I’m not there, I don’t regret opening this.
Consumed from decanter the first 2-3hrs before decanting back to bottle and finishing the remaining third later in the evening. Much better later in the day. Wound up tight initially. Classical high end Paso with this distinct airy-jammyness. So much going on with squeezed blackberries, peppercorn, lots of kirsch. Some garrigue. Mouth coating and a total wave of flavor on the palate…black fruit, cherry cordial, cherry drizzled smoked meats. It’s both supremely juicy and hauntingly tannic at the finish. Even with time to open, the ABV makes itself known, but you know that going in. If you like the style, it’s hard to beat. — 3 years ago
Exceptional. Top 5 across all Bojo and tops of a great lineup from Burgaud. — 5 years ago
Rich plum and dark fruit, low acidity in the mid-palate but a smooth finish. — 2 months ago
Great nose & a clean finish. Not out of TJ wines, not in a negative way, but just different. — 4 months ago
Saxum — James Berry Vineyard White 2023
Paso Robles – Willow Creek District AVA, California 🇺🇸
Overview
A powerful, Rhône-inspired white blend composed of 46% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, 20% Chenin Blanc, and 4% Chardonnay, sourced entirely from the iconic James Berry Vineyard, delivering intensity, texture, and serious structural presence.
Aromas & Flavors
Dense stone fruit, baked pear, preserved citrus peel, and subtle tropical tones lead the aromatics. Layers of honeysuckle and warm orchard fruit intertwine with gentle herbal nuance and faint almond creaminess. On the palate, ripe yellow peach, quince, lemon oil, and savory mineral notes unfold with depth and clarity.
Mouthfeel
Rich, broad, and commanding with impressive mid-palate weight. The wine carries a firm line of tension through the back palate, preventing any sense of heaviness despite the elevated alcohol. Texture is polished, energetic, and confidently structured, warm yet controlled.
Food Pairings
Roast chicken with herbs and lemon. Grilled halibut or monkfish with beurre blanc. Moroccan spiced tagine. Aged Comté or Alpine cheeses. Cream-based seafood pasta.
Verdict
Serious, layered, and unapologetically bold, this is a thinking person’s white wine. Intensity meets balance, delivering both immediate impact and clear aging potential. A standout expression of Paso Robles whites pushing into Grand Cru mindset territory.
Did You Know?
James Berry Vineyard is one of Paso Robles’ most celebrated sites, better known for producing legendary Rhône-style reds. Seeing this level of complexity and structural precision translated into a white blend highlights just how versatile and elite this terroir truly is.
🍷 Personal Pick
This is not a casual patio white, it’s a layered, expressive, high-octane wine (15.2% ABV) built for contemplation, food, and cellar evolution. Definitely a white wine for red wine lovers. — 6 months ago
Paul Hobbs two nights in a row! Gold color. Very deep, thick wine with subtle acidity. Aged pineapple with stone fruits and subtle apricot, peach, and melon elements. Fairly unique and complex in my mind. I prefer other single vineyard Paul Hobbs Chards style wise but wasn’t bad by any means. 93.5 rounding up. — 3 years ago
Fruit forward and jammy with light tannins — 4 years ago
One word....outstanding. — 6 years ago
Diane Ramcharan
Finally opening this one up! — 17 days ago