SAXUM Bone Rock

VM: 96+

The 2009 Booker Vineyard is 70% Syrah and 30% Mourvèdre from one of the rockiest, steepest hillsides in Paso Robles. Layers of dark fruit, spices, tar and licorice emerge from the glass in this deep, sensual wine. Booker usually sees the highest percentage of new oak, and elements of spiciness come through on the finish, although some of the oakiness blows off with time in the glass. Booker is another site Smith planted and continues to pull fruit from, in this case three blocks of Syrah and one of Mourvèdre. In 2009 there were two lots; the first 100% Syrah vinified with 20$25.00% stems, the second a Syrah/Mourvèdre co-ferment. Both lots were blended for the finished wine.

WA: 95

The 2017 Bone Rock is a blend of 66% Syrah, 16% Graciano, 9% Mataro, 5% Roussanne, 2% Grenache and 2% Petite Sirah aged in about 60% new oak. Deep ruby-purple, it opens to violets, cassis, vanilla, bay leaves and char aromas. Full-bodied, it floods the mouth with dark, spicy fruits with good juiciness and a youthfully firm but ripe frame, and it finishes long and floral.

VM: 96

Inky ruby. A deeply perfumed bouquet features ripe black raspberry, cherry liqueur, cassis, exotic spice and licorice qualities that show outstanding definition and mineral lift. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering impressively concentrated black/blue fruit preserve, violet pastille, spice-cake and savory herb flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. Shows superb energy and breadth on a strikingly long, floral- and spice-driven finish shaped by steadily building tannins.