Lauren Willis

9.0

🍷✔️✔️🤤 lovely oaked chardonnay — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2019 vintage. Smoky. Gratuitous. Big-boned. Fairly plushy end to end with enough of a burgeoning tannic finish to act as a capable keel. Undeniably both delicious and Napa. 4.13.23. — 3 years ago

Roger Custer

8.9

This was cheap at Lidl but punches above its price range for sure. Nice and crisp, a bit fruity and not too acidic. — 6 years ago

Danielle

9.8

I love this wine. I hesitated to try it, but I'm SO glad I did! It's dead on key lime with a creaminess that makes me think of the pie! It's not overly tart though which was my worry. Keel and Curley are becoming a local favorite of mine. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

A night of Saxum and Booker comparisons. On the nose, bright, ripe; dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries, pomegranate, vanilla, cinnamon, red vines, crushed volcanic minerals, loamy top soil, dark Burgundian earthiness with dark red florals. The body is M with well resolved tannins. The fruits are bright; dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries & pomegranate. Vanilla, cinnamon, steeped fruit tea, red vines, cherry cola, crumbled, grey volcanic minerals, limestone chalkiness, stem inclusion, red roses, violets, cherry lifesavers, softened leather, bright red florals, brilliant fresh acidity and a long, lush, round, elegant and well polished finish. This will be even better in 2-3 years. Photos of; the James Berry Vineyard, barrel room, rock shale and Justin barrel tasting. Producer notes and history...Justin's father James was a veterinarian in a fast-growing suburb of San Diego who wanted to live in the countryside. He bought the James Berry Vineyard property when Smith was 10 years old and planted Chardonnay, because that's what he liked to drink. He sold the grapes to Fetzer and argued continually with Bobby Fetzer who wanted them farmed organically. Justin Smith does farm organically, but is not certified because he says, "my dad would keel over." James Smith still lives on the property, a few hundred yards away, and still farms a section of the vineyard for his own pleasure. But he has given over the majority of it to Justin, although that didn't happen for years. It was in the late 1980s, John Alban (Alban Vineyards) that convinced James Smith that the area in western Paso Robles was better for Rhône varieties than Chardonnay. Slowly over time, the Smiths pulled out Chardonnay and replanted to Mourvèdre, Viognier and Syrah. Justin did much of the early work. When he graduated from Cal Poly, he came back to manage the vineyard. As payment, his father gave him one block of Syrah. Justin and his college roommate Matt Trevisan started Linne Calodo winery with the fruit, making 300 cases in their first vintage. They later parted ways and Smith formed Saxum. In 2003, he built the garage winery under his house. By 2004 it was the most crowded building in the county. Villa Creek also made its wine there. At the time, they were all making about 500 cases of wine. Saxum is now well out of the garage and makes around 4500 cases give or take what conditions allow. Only a few hundred cases are not sold to their members and into marketplace, mostly in restaurants in California, New York and Chicago. Saxum's largest production wine is Broken Stones, a multi-vineyard blend that's heavily weighted towards Syrah and is a little more mineral driven. There most famous wine is the one Smith has been farming the longest, the James Berry Vineyard red blend. The stylist labels for Saxum's single vineyard wines are made by local artist Joe Kalionzes. Some change from time to time., but the Paderewski Vineyard, Joe scratched an eagle onto a rock that came from the vineyard and made a block print from it. For the Terry Hoage single vineyard wine, he painted a label and scratched some of the paint away to create a dragonfly because Terry Hoage has a big pond in his vineyard with lots of dragonflies. — 9 years ago

Adam Lord

8.9

Refreshingly dry — 7 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion was aged in 75% new oak with a touch more matured in foudres. It includes 55% whole bunches. This has a slight confit-like aroma on the nose, plush cranberry and wild strawberry intermingling with cassis and violet; aromatically, this is the more precocious recent vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine tannins, clean and pure with excellent acidity keeping everything on an even keel towards the finish. The 2018 has a caressing texture and is very persistent. I might quibble and say that I just find the nose a little trop, but the palate is superb. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2022)
— 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

A beautiful light cherry red color in the glass. The nose blooms with floral notes, dried cherries, and soft herbs. This is one of those wines that you would file under easy drinking or fun, but that’s no reason to not take it seriously. After getting plenty of air, it’s so inviting and gracious. Perfectly sweet with just the right amount of fruit, it always keeps an even keel. Layered fruit and spices on the mid palate. Raspberry and cherry are dominant on the palate, along with oak, herbs, and spice. A touch of leather and violets round things off. Tiny production but a truly outstanding wine. If you like standard California Mourvèdre then you may be looking in the wrong place. This is so far above the norm. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Last time I had this one was February 2017, and knowing what I know now, I murdered BOTH bottles. This one poured a dirty maroon into the glass, with nose of mint and dirty raspberry. Hint of baking spice and cumin on the nose. The entry is raspberry with great acidity. Much more even keel with cheese and crackers than even the chicken dish it was first served with. The middle has a terroir driven note, hint of cola and herb, with still very nice acidity to the finish. This wine has had a bit of heat blow off over the last 16 months, but my interpretation of this wine is that it will really be a powerhouse in 2022 and beyond. — 8 years ago

Brian Ritchie

9.3

Simple, light texture. The dark berries do appear quite quickly - which is quite refreshing. Doesn't linger long but definitely full of flavor when drinking. — 10 years ago

Joseph Hammell

9.0

$20 a bit steep — 10 years ago

Dakota Hewlett

9.0

Beautiful color and balanced mango and session flavors. As far as fruity IPAs go thus is pretty good. — 10 years ago

Deborah M

9.3

Weekend catch-up. 2020 Ferren Silver Eagle Vineyard - I pulled this wine to share with friends. Winemaker Matt Courtney founded Ferren after a lengthy apprenticeship with Helen Curley at Marcassin Vineyard. This wine gives briny minerality, citrus, and everything else that’s wonderful about a well made Chardonnay.
— 3 years ago

Jay Bergesen

9.0

Solid. Even keel with a very clean finish. Great “house” Champagne to have on hand. — 5 years ago

Margaret Geiger

9.0

Not overly sweet, has a nice finish and you can taste the peach flavor. — 6 years ago

Jennifer Chambers

9.3

Very nice. Smooth and even keel. Pair with a Julia Roberts film- works with both Pelican Brief, Runaway Bride and Pretty Woman. Flexible. — 7 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.5

Another “is it amaro?” But I care not because I really like it. Stupid bitter. Ever so much mint and maybe licorice but mostly just bitterness that makes you wanna keel over but in the best way. This bitter is a happy field trip. — 8 years ago

Narelle Burke

9.0

Smooth and very drinkable Pinot Noir from the mornington peninsular. — 10 years ago

Carl Crupi

9.0

Even keel, njce sweetness, not over the top. At $10 a bottle fantastic. — 10 years ago

Lisa Boyer

9.0

I have always liked this wine. It's a great even keel wine that pleases most people's palates. Some people don't like Chardonnay and this is a great alternative. — 10 years ago