2019 Saxum, James Berry Vineyard Rocket Block, Paso Robles 1x750ml

Vinous 97

The 2019 Rocket Block is very pretty, wafting up with a flourish of savory herbs and dusty florals, accentuating notes of cherry sauce and sage. This is silky-smooth with outstanding purity, mixing rich dark red fruits with exotic spices and cinnamon that form toward the close. It finishes dramatically long and intense, caking the palate in chalky tannins and primary concentration. Residual acids add a pleasant freshness. The Rocket Block is a blend of 70% Grenache, 19% Mataro, 7% Syrah and 4% Counoise from a parcel in the James Berry vineyard planted in 1995 with a north-north-east slope and less sun. [Eric Guido, 18/05/2023]

Anticipated maturity: 2025-2038