Saxum Vineyards, Bone Rock, James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles, California, 2018
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Overview of the Wine
Saxum Vineyards is focused on producing Grenache, Syrah, and Mataro based blends from the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. We let our rocky calcareous soils, steep hillsides, sunny days, and cooling ocean breezes speak through our wines by keeping our yields low, picking the fruit at the peak of ripeness, and using a minimalist approach in the cellar. We respect our land and farm everything sustainably without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Because our vine’s roots penetrate deep through the fissures in the calcareous soil irrigation is rarely needed. Production is kept around 8000 cases a year divided between ten different cuvees, Broken Stones, James Berry Vineyard, The Hexe, Bone Rock, Rocket Block, G2 Vineyard, Paderewski Vineyard, Heart Stone Vineyard, 4hearts Vineyard, and James Berry Vineyard White.
The Bone Rock blend comes from the Bone Rock block of James Berry Vineyard. It is a steep terrace of old head trained Syrah vines on a south facing slope. We unearthed fossilized whale bones when we terraced it and then needed to use jack hammers to plant the vines. This wine might be the most structured blend Saxum produces and because of its density, tannin, and acidity, it needs a few years to unfold. Our wines are never racked off their lees and are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Grape / Blend
63% Syrah, 16% Mataro, 12% Grenache, 7% Graciano, 2% Roussanne
Origin
Paso Robles, California
Last, but definitely not least, we have the Bone Rock. This 2018 version is classic. Serious juice. There is so much going on and it will only get better with age. Complex yet hedonistic, just the right amount of oak, fruit, spice, tannin... everything is in its place. We planted these vines 30 years ago. They are wisened, but not wizened! In any case, this wine rocks.
100 Points - The Wine Independent - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
97-99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Bone Rock ... is still resting in barrel, but it certainly looks to be in line, quality wise, with the other 2018s here. Concentrated, full-bodied, and just a massive wine, it has beautiful darker berry fruits as well as some spice and violet notes, a backward, inward, reserved style, ripe tannins, and a great finish.
98 Points - Vinous
Dark violet. An assertively perfumed bouquet evokes ripe cherry, dark berry preserves, incense and exotic spices, and a peony topnote builds as the wine opens up. Palate-staining, alluringly sweet Chambord, cherry liqueur, vanilla, floral pastille and spicecake flavors deliver a compelling blend of depth and energy. Smooth, even tannins add shape an extremely long, spicy finish that leaves sappy blue fruit, floral and smoky mineral notes behind.
96+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From the oldest block of Syrah at James Berry vineyard, the 2018 Bone Rock is primary Syrah, blended with 16% Mataro, 12% Grenache, 7% Graciano and 2% Roussanne. Its roasted plum and wild berry fruit is accented with tones of graphite, aniseed, bitters and potpourri. The full-bodied palate has an abundance of grainy tannins, rounded freshness and loads of floral perfume on the extended finish. It has the intensity and structure to have a long life in bottle.
Product size: 750ml