GSM Blend/Rhone Blend

76% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, and 6% Grenache.  This weighed in at 16.7% abv!  Again, this is a monster wine, but it doesn't drink like one.  No noticeable alcohol on the nose or palate.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, White pepper, Roasted herbs and slight earthy/gamey meats.  Full bodied.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this has loads of fruit.  Black raspberries, black cherries and slight plums with a bit of black pepper and char.  Long finish.  This is a great wine if not quite up to the top vintages of Bone Rock, it is almost there.  It is

Really great showing for this bottle.  93% Syrah and 7% Grenache.  16.1% abv.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meats and roasted herbs, floral notes, white pepper and slight earthiness.  Full bodied.  Again, that Saxum lightness of being both enormous and light on its feet at the same time.  No sign of alcohol on the nose or palate.  On the palate, loads of black raspberry fruit with some roasted meats, minerality and juicy acidity.  Long finish.  Most tasters had this highly ranked.  Drinking youthfully.  This bottle was purchased

This wine has been troublesome since release with what appears to be trapped CO2.  I don't think it is refermentation as there are not really any off odors that usually accompanies.  It was interesting to try at 19 years from vintage.  This bottle was opened and allowed to breathe for an hour or so prior to serving.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, very earthy, slightly sweaty, some roasted meats.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is some carbonation.  Not frothy but a line of bubbles in the glass.  The wine is drinkable and pretty

In a vertical tasting of Saxum Bone Rock, 2000 thru 2007, this was the groups favorite.  It is in a beautiful, still youthful, place right now.  This is a blend of 88% Syrah, 8% Grenache, and 4% Mourvedre with 15.7% abv.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, some char, some roasted meat and slight floral note.  Full bodied.  Lots of energy and at the same time, almost weightless as it dances across the palate.  Notes of black raspberries with minerality and char.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  Drinking very well on its own, this will wor

93% Syrah and 7% Grenache.  Weighs in at 15.9% abv. but it is not noticeable until you stand up.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted herbs, gamey meats and slight floral note.  This was a warm vintage, but this bottle, bought on release, has held up nicely.  Still drinking youthfully.  On the palate, black raspberries with roasted herbs and a nice iron/minerality note.  Nice finish.  Delicious.  This seems like it should till have another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this would go great with a burger.  

Another blend of 92% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 3% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.  15.6%abv.  This is still showing youthfully and its hard to believe this is 22 years from vintage.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, white pepper, slight bacon fat and a bit of char.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  No sign of alcohol on the palate.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some white pepper and a bit of char.  Based on this bottle, bought on release and cellared, this has another decade of life at least.  Great on its own, thi

This is the first vintage and first wine under the Saxum label.  It is a blend of 92% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 3% Mourvedre.  14.8% abv.

My personal view of extended barrel age wines is that they take more time to be ready to drink than regular aged wines.  This one is from what might be a slightly lighter vintage, but held true.  It is a blend of 58% Syrah, 28% Mourvedre, 11% Grenache, and 3% Viognier.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, plums, black cherries, spice, roasted meats, and slight black olive.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is tight but with air has black raspberries, black cherries with underlying roasted meat and herbs.  A bit of black pepper comes out with air.

This is 95% Grenache.  Ruby/purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, char and floral notes.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this has lovely black cherry fruit, some cherries and spice.  Nice finish.  This seems to be about at peak at this point.  It should drink well for another five to eight years, but won't get better.  Nice on its own, this will be better with food.  A nice wine with beef stew.  

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  This is a blend of 43% Grenache, 43% Syrah and 14% Mataro.  It comes in at 15.6% abv, but it is not noticeable on the wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  There is a bit of volatile acidity on the nose but it was not bothersome.  Lots of black cherry fruit with black raspberries and white pepper.  Strong acidity.  On the palate, black cherries, and some black raspberries.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would be nice with ribs off th