Lot 405
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2006 (1) WA 95
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2008 (1) WA 98
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2009 (1) WA 98
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2010 (1) WA 98
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2011 (1) WA 96+
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2012 (1) WA 97+
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2013 (1) WA 97
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2014 (1) WA 98
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2015 (1) WA 97
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2016 (1) WA 96
Lot 405 Details
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2006 (1)
Paso Robles.
scraped label.
An unfined/unfiltered blend of 45% Syrah, 38% Grenache, and 17% Mourvedre, aged 32 months in a combination of wood vessels, the prodigious 2006 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red exhibits beautiful sweet creme de cassis, black raspberry, blackberry, truffle, smoke, and herb notes. This spicy, rich, full-bodied effort should drink beautifully for a decade. August 2009 WA 95
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2008 (1)
Paso Robles.
scraped label.
With strong minerality from the limestone soil, this exuberant, fleshy, full-bodied wine is already drinking well. (I believe it was actually bottled just a day or two before my visit, which makes its performance that much more remarkable.) Dense purple, with sweet notes of barbecue smoke and meats as well as roasted herbs, extravagant black cherry, black currant, and blackberry fruit are all present in this wine, but there is plenty of underlying structure that comes from both the minerality and the Mourvedre component. Pure, full-bodied, but again, impressively elegant and nuanced, this is a tour de force and another prodigious example of this extraordinary vineyard site. August 2010 WA 98
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2009 (1)
Paso Robles.
marked label.
Simply put, the 2009 James Berry Vineyard is one of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted from California, or anywhere for that matter. Bright, floral aromatics lead to expressive red fruit in this impossibly elegant, dazzling wine. A melange of rose petals, mint and licorice follows as the James Berry shows off its breathtaking clarity and finesse. Fine-grained, chalky tannins frame the exceptional finish. In 2009 the James Berry Vineyard is 57% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre and 12% Syrah. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. August 2011 WA 98
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2010 (1)
Paso Robles.
As it approaches its eighth birthday, the 2010 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red is drinking beautifully, wafting from the glass with complex aromas of smoky cassis, incense, burnt sage and dark chocolate. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and velvety, with an ample core of ripe fruit, fine-grained and resolved tannins and a long, intense finish. May 2018 WA 98
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2011 (1)
Paso Robles.
scraped label.
Reminding me of a top 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape (the 2010 Raymond Usseglio Cuvee Imperiale to be exact), the 2011 James Berry Vineyard is a blend of 69% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 2% Counoise, and a splash of Roussanne, that was aged in a combination of concrete (Grenache) and larger oak puncheons. A fresh, detailed and more elegant example of the cuvee, it offers gorgeous notes of ripe berry fruit, loads of exotic spice, violets, pepper and lavender to go with a full-bodied, beautifully pure and layered profile on the palate. It’s no blockbuster, but has loads of energy and tension, as well as class and refinement. Give it 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy it over the following decade or longer. August 2014 WA 96+
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2012 (1)
Paso Robles.
There are 1,580 cases of the 2012 James Berry Vineyard and it reminds me of the 2009 Janasse Chaupin (which is one of Justin’s favorite wines). Incorporating more Mourvedre than normal, it’s made from 43% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah and 10% Counoise that’s aged in a combination of concrete and barrel. Rock star stuff, with fabulous black raspberry, cassis, spring flowers and charred meat aromas and flavors, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, yet stays lively, incredibly pure and elegant, with lots of fine tannin emerging on the finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and have 15-20 years of ultimate longevity. August 2014 WA 97+
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2013 (1)
Paso Robles.
marked label.
The 2013 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red is made from 45% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah and 8% Counoise (which Justin commented was a blend that was put together relatively late). It saw a big chunk of whole cluster (the Grenache was mostly destemmed though) and was brought up all in puncheons and foudre (the normal concrete component went to the Rocket Block). It offers up gorgeous notes of black raspberries, cherries, cassis, ground herbs and flowers. This beauty hits the palate with incredible purity, fine tannin and an overriding sense of elegance and finesse, backed up by full-bodied richness and depth. It needs to be forgotten for 3-4 years and it will drink beautifully through 2028. August 2018 Drink: 2018-2028 WA 97
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2014 (1)
Paso Robles.
The sensationally pure and seamless 2014 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red (42% Grenache, 24% Mourvèdre, 21% Syrah, 8% Counoise and 5% Roussanne) was brought up in a mix of barrels and foudre, followed by six months in concrete tanks. The wine offers incredibly rich and layered notes of black raspberries, creme de cassis, crushed flowers, melted licorice and peppery herbs in its full-bodied, impeccably balanced profile. Showing the more upfront, hedonistic style of the vintage, this full-bodied beauty still has ample underlying tannin, beautiful mid-palate depth and a killer finish that keeps you coming back for more. September 2016 Drink: 2017-2027 WA 98
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2015 (1)
Paso Robles.
Made from 33% Grenache, 32% Mourvèdre, 24% Syrah and 11% Counoise, the 2015 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red reveals a deep garnet-purple color and expressive nose of black currants, black cherries and mulberries with hints of baking spices, chocolate box, violets and Sichuan pepper. The palate is surprisingly elegant, with great intensity of flavors framed by soft, sensuous tannins and a lively line carrying the fruit and spices to a long, long finish. Septembe 2017 Drink: 2017-2030 WA 97
SAXUM JAMES BERRY VINEYARD 2016 (1)
Paso Robles.
scraped label.
The 2016 James Berry Vineyard Red is a blend of 55% Grenache, 24% Mataro, 13% Syrah and 8% Counoise. It was made with 24% whole cluster and aged 21 months in 82% new French oak. Medium to deep ruby, the nose is super intense: cranberry jelly, raspberry, strawberry and red cherry jam aromas mingle with notes of spun sugar, orange oil, dried flowers, potpourri and loads of amaro accents. Medium to full-bodied, intense, layered and super pretty in the mouth with all those high-toned accents, it has a super finely grained frame, addicting freshness and a very long finish. This is on fire! 1,160 cases produced. February 2020 Drink: 2020-2035 WA 96