Saxum Vineyards
Heart Stone Vineyard Syrah Blend
Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, USA
Best on day 3, but boy o boy it was great every time I checked in.
Best on day 3, but boy o boy it was great every time I checked in.
Dec 23rd, 2021
Nice cold weather wine. Big and bold. I can chew this wine. Lots of raspberry notes.
Nice cold weather wine. Big and bold. I can chew this wine. Lots of raspberry notes.
On the the nose, grilled meats, soy, mint, menthol, black currants, dry blackberries, blue fruits, black plum, dark spice and decayed dark florals. The mouthfeel is full, rich, ripe that starts juicy and slowly dries across the palate. Fruits are the much like the nose. There's a good presence of tarriness, deep-dark Asian-Indian spices, dry stems, leather, pepper, wood shavings, menthol, mint & herbaceousness. Then, the fruits start to differentiate themselves on the longer plate set; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, mocha powder, caramel, crushed dry rocks, graphite, soy, grilled meats, dry decayed floral bouquet, violets & black cherry cola. The earth still outshines the fruits. The structure is still big. The elegant stingy finish swirls of everything above quite simultaneously on a long rich high acid finish. Still needs 5+ years. Photos of the the heart stone, vines of the "Heart Stone Vinyard" and those beautiful Paso Syrah grapes at harvest. The Heart Stone Vineyard is in the Paso Robles Adelaide AVA with a 30 acre oak forest on a hill and 8 acres planted to Rhone varietals. It was planted by John and Mary Swanson in 2000. They hired Justin Smith (Winemaker/Owner Saxum Winery) to select the property and plant the vineyard. He agreed on the condition he could take all the grapes. 2003 was the first vintage of Saxum Heart Stone. The high density blocks are planted on gentle South slopes of limestone and shale. It has 8 different clones of Syrah, 5 of Grenache and 2 Mourvedre.
On the the nose, grilled meats, soy, mint, menthol, black currants, dry blackberries, blue fruits, black plum, dark spice and decayed dark florals. The mouthfeel is full, rich, ripe that starts juicy and slowly dries across the palate. Fruits are the much like the nose. There's a good presence of tarriness, deep-dark Asian-Indian spices, dry stems, leather, pepper, wood shavings, menthol, mint & herbaceousness. Then, the fruits start to differentiate themselves on the longer plate set; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, mocha powder, caramel, crushed dry rocks, graphite, soy, grilled meats, dry decayed floral bouquet, violets & black cherry cola. The earth still outshines the fruits. The structure is still big. The elegant stingy finish swirls of everything above quite simultaneously on a long rich high acid finish. Still needs 5+ years. Photos of the the heart stone, vines of the "Heart Stone Vinyard" and those beautiful Paso Syrah grapes at harvest. The Heart Stone Vineyard is in the Paso Robles Adelaide AVA with a 30 acre oak forest on a hill and 8 acres planted to Rhone varietals. It was planted by John and Mary Swanson in 2000. They hired Justin Smith (Winemaker/Owner Saxum Winery) to select the property and plant the vineyard. He agreed on the condition he could take all the grapes. 2003 was the first vintage of Saxum Heart Stone. The high density blocks are planted on gentle South slopes of limestone and shale. It has 8 different clones of Syrah, 5 of Grenache and 2 Mourvedre.
Apr 29th, 2017
One of the more restrained offerings I've tried from this producer, likely due to the vintage. Was ripe, but not massive. Decent acid which was also a nice surprise. Could I say a balanced Rhone blend from Paso?
One of the more restrained offerings I've tried from this producer, likely due to the vintage. Was ripe, but not massive. Decent acid which was also a nice surprise. Could I say a balanced Rhone blend from Paso?
May 11th, 2016
2010 Vintage. 15.7% Alcohol. 51% Syrah, 49% Grenache. Corked
2010 Vintage. 15.7% Alcohol. 51% Syrah, 49% Grenache. Corked
Sep 1st, 2019Tar, licorice, and blueberry. Yum. Thanks Rob!
Tar, licorice, and blueberry. Yum. Thanks Rob!
Jan 14th, 2018Warm and inviting aroma of strawberries and bramble. This is dark and brooding Syrah/Grenache blend with notes or meat drippings, dark cherry and a limestone finish
Warm and inviting aroma of strawberries and bramble. This is dark and brooding Syrah/Grenache blend with notes or meat drippings, dark cherry and a limestone finish
Sep 21st, 2017
Don't drink enough of this stuff. Awesome nose of bacon, and sweetened cinnamon. Red fruit is very subdued with a high and tight tannic finish. This needed a loooong time to open. 4 hours in the bottle without a decant and still getting better with each glass.
Don't drink enough of this stuff. Awesome nose of bacon, and sweetened cinnamon. Red fruit is very subdued with a high and tight tannic finish. This needed a loooong time to open. 4 hours in the bottle without a decant and still getting better with each glass.
Dec 26th, 2016
Big fruit. Plenty of fruit. In a very good spot
Big fruit. Plenty of fruit. In a very good spot
Mar 21st, 2016