Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Saxum — James Berry Vineyard White 2023
Paso Robles – Willow Creek District AVA, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A powerful, Rhône-inspired white blend composed of 46% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, 20% Chenin Blanc, and 4% Chardonnay, sourced entirely from the iconic James Berry Vineyard, delivering intensity, texture, and serious structural presence.

Aromas & Flavors
Dense stone fruit, baked pear, preserved citrus peel, and subtle tropical tones lead the aromatics. Layers of honeysuckle and warm orchard fruit intertwine with gentle herbal nuance and faint almond creaminess. On the palate, ripe yellow peach, quince, lemon oil, and savory mineral notes unfold with depth and clarity.

Mouthfeel
Rich, broad, and commanding with impressive mid-palate weight. The wine carries a firm line of tension through the back palate, preventing any sense of heaviness despite the elevated alcohol. Texture is polished, energetic, and confidently structured, warm yet controlled.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken with herbs and lemon. Grilled halibut or monkfish with beurre blanc. Moroccan spiced tagine. Aged Comté or Alpine cheeses. Cream-based seafood pasta.

Verdict
Serious, layered, and unapologetically bold, this is a thinking person’s white wine. Intensity meets balance, delivering both immediate impact and clear aging potential. A standout expression of Paso Robles whites pushing into Grand Cru mindset territory.

Did You Know?
James Berry Vineyard is one of Paso Robles’ most celebrated sites, better known for producing legendary Rhône-style reds. Seeing this level of complexity and structural precision translated into a white blend highlights just how versatile and elite this terroir truly is.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is not a casual patio white, it’s a layered, expressive, high-octane wine (15.2% ABV) built for contemplation, food, and cellar evolution. Definitely a white wine for red wine lovers. — 8 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Dark Ruby color with aromas of berry fruits, herbs and earthy oak spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry, raspberry and currants with espresso, cacao and earthy notes. Well balanced, lively acidity, fine tannins long ending with fruit, oak, mineral and tobacco spice! Very Nice Napa Cab! — 2 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Beautiful drinking Barbaresco with its red cherry, berry fruit, spice, licorice, dried herbs, rose petal & tobacco. — 22 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Gave this lots of air that showed an elegant, perfumed nose of dark cherry, berry with notes of cola, savory spices, licorice, floral, violets & tobacco leaf. — a month ago

Jon Ebsworth

8.9

Paraffin notes on the nose, lemon and lime notes on the palate. Took a while to open up, interesting bottle at almost a decade under screw cap. At 10 Greek St on their LBB list — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Lucid and pretty. Limestone, lime, pear. Fresh but very resolved. Salinity and great minerals. Showing really well — 3 months ago

with Bex, Major-General and 1 other

Ron Siegel

9.3

Open & drinking well with dark cherry, berry fruit, earth, mineral, spice & violet — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Happy New Year all! 🍾🥂

This 07 outshines/performs the overall vintage.

Outstanding mousse & lively acidity. Lime zest, lemon pulp in juice, grapefruit w/ pith, orange citrus blend with peel, kiwi, tropical melons, white nectarines, excellent white spice, baguette crust, gritty white chalk, dry, crushed limestone bits, grey volcanics, oyster shells, saline/sea spray, light tones of fresh herbs, yellow lilies, spring flowers with greens, excellent acidity, well; structured, balanced, knitted, beautiful finish that is even and lands on minerality & spice. — a month ago

GaryWEdwards

9.4

A wonderful expression of Merlot primarily that ticks all the boxes- cigar, dark berry and earthy roots. Brilliant — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.7

From mag. Beautiful stuff. Lime, slate, honeysuckle, pear. Fresh and bright with a light salinity. Great texture and mouthfeel. Delicious and long. This is all in place- the best mdt I’ve tasted. Lovely. — 4 months ago

with Bex, Walker and 1 other