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

Vino Joe

9.4

Very good Syrah blend. Edgy and peppery. High alcohol content. First time with this wine for me. Needed a good hour plus of decant to open and soften. Drank very well. A bit too smoky and rustic to rank higher but very solid. — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.3

One of the bottles from my annual WWC hosting. I opened this as a side by side to a 2019 Saxum White as the makeup is fairly similar.

80% roussanne/ remaining a mix of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, piquepoul blanc, picardan and bourboulenc.

Nicely expressive at pop, it then faded and hid in a shell for a few hours before coming back at last glass. At 80% roussanne, I expected a more consistent expressive profile (honeyed tropical fruits, some orange) and for the acid to show a touch, but it was a roller coaster. More melon and light fruits vs bigger/more tropical. Medium bodied but not as rich as expected. It’s clean and shows some floral and mineral/stony nuances, but I’d spend the extra and take the Roussanne VV to get more complexity and flavor. — 9 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Saxum James Berry Vineyard 2022
Paso Robles – Willow Creek District, California USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A powerful, high-octane Rhône-inspired blend driven by Grenache 48%, supported by Mourvèdre / Mataro 34%, Syrah 8%, Counoise 8%, and Carignan 2%, clocking in at a formidable 15.7% ABV. This is an unapologetically bold, savory, and densely structured wine built on concentration, extraction, and muscular tannins rather than finesse or freshness. The warmth and sheer intensity dominate the profile, making this a statement wine that clearly favors power-seekers over balance-driven palates.

Aromas & Flavors
Dark red and black fruit compote, roasted herbs, cured meat, dried Mediterranean spices, and earthy savory tones lead the nose. On the palate, dense blackberry, plum reduction, and baked cherry collide with pepper, leather, and umami notes, finishing with pronounced alcohol warmth and firm structural grip.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, dense, and firmly tannic with noticeable heat on the finish. The texture is packed and chewy rather than lifted or agile, delivering weight and intensity over elegance or precision.

Food Pairings
Slow-braised short ribs. Charcoal-grilled lamb. Smoked brisket. Rich game meats. Hard aged cheeses. Best enjoyed with substantial, protein-driven dishes to balance the wine’s power.

Verdict
An impressive example of Paso Robles muscle and concentration, but stylistically far from my personal preference. The elevated alcohol and bold extraction make this more overwhelming than pleasurable for my palate, despite the quality of fruit and craftsmanship. A wine that will thrill lovers of massive, savory, high-impact reds.

Did You Know?
James Berry Vineyard in the Willow Creek District sits on steep, rocky limestone soils, producing naturally low yields and highly concentrated fruit, a major reason Saxum wines are known for their intensity, structure, and cult following.

🍷 Personal Pick
While undeniably well made, this style is simply too warm and forceful for my palate. I personally gravitate toward wines with greater tension, freshness, and drinkability rather than sheer power. — 6 days ago

Miriam De Lyon

9.5

The 2009 vintage is still lovely! — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.5

I’ve got lots of love for these wines, but I always struggle with when to open. They are fantastic young and equally fantastic with age. Jeb said of this wine, “the greatest GSM blend from California, ever.”, and stamped it with a perfect score. Strong praise, and while I’m not there, I don’t regret opening this.

Consumed from decanter the first 2-3hrs before decanting back to bottle and finishing the remaining third later in the evening. Much better later in the day. Wound up tight initially. Classical high end Paso with this distinct airy-jammyness. So much going on with squeezed blackberries, peppercorn, lots of kirsch. Some garrigue. Mouth coating and a total wave of flavor on the palate…black fruit, cherry cordial, cherry drizzled smoked meats. It’s both supremely juicy and hauntingly tannic at the finish. Even with time to open, the ABV makes itself known, but you know that going in. If you like the style, it’s hard to beat. — 3 years ago

Bev Perry

9.4

This was the 2014 vintage. — a month ago

Stephen Mathews

9.3

17% alc is pushing it; even for me lol — a month ago

Rob N

9.4

This wine from Saxum is a great value — smooth, even fruit; great balance overall. 79% syrah, 7% petite sirah, 7% grenache, 5% mourvédre. 97 points from Robert Parker and $129 when I bought it from K&L although market looks more like $160 now. — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.1

Very big and rich. A slightly active shrill thing on the nose. Very rich plum and cherry. Roses and violets. A beast but rounded and under control. A bit much for my taste but it has some balance and purity that is admirable — 9 months ago