Saxum Vineyards
Broken Stones Red Rhone Blend
Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, USA
Huge wine. But great structure. Balanced. Needs more time to settle.
Huge wine. But great structure. Balanced. Needs more time to settle.
Dec 23rd, 2023
My second bottle of Saxum Broken Stones to open, the other (2015) about 6-8 months ago. I wanted to open a Broken Stones as I made the Saxum list after about a 5yr wait, and Broken Stones is one of the wines I’m allocated. Thankfully I’ve been able to buy Saxum the last 5yrs or so from a friend’s allocation, so I can test out my taste preference before buying direct.
Compared to the 2015, this was so much more perfumed and ready to go. Wow! Brambly dark fruit, dark chocolate, potpourri, and a hint of smoked jerky. Deceptively nimble on the palate with great lift…blackberries, blueberries, violets, savory herbs, and sweet smoke. Texture here is hedonistic. Youthful, but less tannic than the 2015. Aromatics filled the room! Enjoy now with a short decant.
As an aside, I got to try this next to a 2017 Heart Stone and a 2017 Hexe (both included in this upcoming release), as well as a 2019 James Berry. I found the Broken Stones to be more purple fruit forward and supremely fragrant, the Heart Stone a touch more savory and red fruited, and the Hexe a total monster in regards to fruit and structure.
My second bottle of Saxum Broken Stones to open, the other (2015) about 6-8 months ago. I wanted to open a Broken Stones as I made the Saxum list after about a 5yr wait, and Broken Stones is one of the wines I’m allocated. Thankfully I’ve been able to buy Saxum the last 5yrs or so from a friend’s allocation, so I can test out my taste preference before buying direct.
Compared to the 2015, this was so much more perfumed and ready to go. Wow! Brambly dark fruit, dark chocolate, potpourri, and a hint of smoked jerky. Deceptively nimble on the palate with great lift…blackberries, blueberries, violets, savory herbs, and sweet smoke. Texture here is hedonistic. Youthful, but less tannic than the 2015. Aromatics filled the room! Enjoy now with a short decant.
As an aside, I got to try this next to a 2017 Heart Stone and a 2017 Hexe (both included in this upcoming release), as well as a 2019 James Berry. I found the Broken Stones to be more purple fruit forward and supremely fragrant, the Heart Stone a touch more savory and red fruited, and the Hexe a total monster in regards to fruit and structure.
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Nice nose of black currants, plums, strawberries, sweet cherries, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, cinnamon, eucalyptus and peppercorn.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blueberries, black currants, wood, licorice, light vanilla, chocolates, beef jerky, spices, dark coffee, pencil lead, earth, light vegetables, tobacco and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a great GSM Blend from Paso Robles. Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Needs 3 hours to open up properly, but good after an hour of airtime. Tannins show up after 2 hours in the decanter.
This 15 years old is good by itself or with food. Feels more like a 10 to 15 year old, good quality, Right Bank Bordeaux.
Wine Enthusiasts 89 points (big miss).
Really enjoyed smelling on it for a while. Delicious and tasty.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.
A blend of 74% Syrah, 24% Grenache and 2% Mourvedre.
15.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$125 (current vintage)
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Nice nose of black currants, plums, strawberries, sweet cherries, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, cinnamon, eucalyptus and peppercorn.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blueberries, black currants, wood, licorice, light vanilla, chocolates, beef jerky, spices, dark coffee, pencil lead, earth, light vegetables, tobacco and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a great GSM Blend from Paso Robles. Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Needs 3 hours to open up properly, but good after an hour of airtime. Tannins show up after 2 hours in the decanter.
This 15 years old is good by itself or with food. Feels more like a 10 to 15 year old, good quality, Right Bank Bordeaux.
Wine Enthusiasts 89 points (big miss).
Really enjoyed smelling on it for a while. Delicious and tasty.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.
A blend of 74% Syrah, 24% Grenache and 2% Mourvedre.
15.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$125 (current vintage)
Surprising given the high alc @ 16.3%. Balanced. A lot of fruit with power by great along the front mid back. Really enjoyed this over several hours. And with braised lamb shank.
Surprising given the high alc @ 16.3%. Balanced. A lot of fruit with power by great along the front mid back. Really enjoyed this over several hours. And with braised lamb shank.
Nov 13th, 2020
Paired this 07 with mesquite smoked baby backs-what a great pairing. I find that Paso Wines can get sappy with age. Not the case here. Fruit is integrated well and not over the top...pink peppercorn and kirsch on the nose, with blackberry preserve and hint of wild game paired with super fine tannins makes for a stunner.
Paired this 07 with mesquite smoked baby backs-what a great pairing. I find that Paso Wines can get sappy with age. Not the case here. Fruit is integrated well and not over the top...pink peppercorn and kirsch on the nose, with blackberry preserve and hint of wild game paired with super fine tannins makes for a stunner.
May 17th, 2020
Tighter than a clam with lockjaw. Hold.
Tighter than a clam with lockjaw. Hold.
Dec 16th, 2018Great wine, rich and full bodied, paired well with the ribs.
Great wine, rich and full bodied, paired well with the ribs.
Jul 30th, 2018
Dilly Dilly
So good
All smiles tonight
Dilly Dilly
So good
All smiles tonight
In a good spot. The heat has blown off completely. Bold and striking.
In a good spot. The heat has blown off completely. Bold and striking.
Oct 16th, 2017