Loading lot detailsâŠ
The February 2025 Auction: Part 4
Swipe left for previous · Swipe right for next
1 / 2Lot 415
Estimate: $225
This auction has ended. Bidding is closed.
Collection name
Reviews
97-99JD
"Not yet bottled, the 2019 James Berry Vineyard will be a blend of 58% Grenache, 27% MourvĂšdre, 6% each of Syrah and Graciano, and the rest Counoise. It has a vivid purple hue as well as full-bodied aromas and flavors of kirsch, blackberries, lavender, violets, and pepper. Possessing off-the-charts purity, ripe, silky tannins, and flawless balance, itâs another example of this cuvĂ©e thatâs going to just about top out the scale. One of Californiaâs unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smithâs Saxum Vineyards, and you wonât find any finer examples of RhĂŽne variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and theyâve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility. And while changes of this magnitude can often result in hiccups in either the style or quality of the wines, thatâs certainly not the case here. I think the wines have never been better, and given the scores Iâve awarded in the past, thatâs saying something. Today, the Smiths release multiple cuvĂ©es, and while the focus in the past might have been the estate James Berry Vineyard, the portfolio includes numerous new vineyard sources and cuvĂ©es, most focusing on single vineyards and even specific blocks inside of a vineyard. This report looks at the 2018s and 2019s, and in a nutshell, these wines epitomize what I consider greatness in wine; the ability to offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure; intensity and richness without heaviness or any sensation of weight; singular profiles; and the ability to improve with bottle age. In addition, the purity and precision this estate can achieve are incredible, and certainly, many estates and winemakers in Paso Robles need to be tasting these wines to understand why theyâre great and what is possible from these incredible limestone soils. As a critic, itâs always a challenge to try and understand why wines show differently and why one estate can produce brilliant wines and others struggle. Given the prodigious wines the Smiths release year in and year out from different vineyards (and now even from different winemaking facilities), itâs become increasingly apparent that the quality coming from Saxum is due to the genius of Justin Smith. After being lucky enough to taste these wines every year for well over a decade now, I can say that no one in California does RhĂŽne varieties and blends better. Iâve written this many times in the past, but Iâll say it again, this is one of the few mailing lists worth being on."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"Not yet bottled, the 2019 James Berry Vineyard will be a blend of 58% Grenache, 27% MourvĂšdre, 6% each of Syrah and Graciano, and the rest Counoise. It has a vivid purple hue as well as full-bodied aromas and flavors of kirsch, blackberries, lavender, violets, and pepper. Possessing off-the-charts purity, ripe, silky tannins, and flawless balance, itâs another example of this cuvĂ©e thatâs going to just about top out the scale. One of Californiaâs unquestionably superstar estates is Heather and Justin Smithâs Saxum Vineyards, and you wonât find any finer examples of RhĂŽne variety wines anywhere in the world. The proprietors of James Berry Vineyard, located in the cooler Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, the Smiths have seen incredible changes over the past decade, and theyâve traded their small, old-fashioned, yet perfectly adequate cellar for a brand-new cave and state of the art winemaking facility. And while changes of this magnitude can often result in hiccups in either the style or quality of the wines, thatâs certainly not the case here. I think the wines have never been better, and given the scores Iâve awarded in the past, thatâs saying something. Today, the Smiths release multiple cuvĂ©es, and while the focus in the past might have been the estate James Berry Vineyard, the portfolio includes numerous new vineyard sources and cuvĂ©es, most focusing on single vineyards and even specific blocks inside of a vineyard. This report looks at the 2018s and 2019s, and in a nutshell, these wines epitomize what I consider greatness in wine; the ability to offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure; intensity and richness without heaviness or any sensation of weight; singular profiles; and the ability to improve with bottle age. In addition, the purity and precision this estate can achieve are incredible, and certainly, many estates and winemakers in Paso Robles need to be tasting these wines to understand why theyâre great and what is possible from these incredible limestone soils. As a critic, itâs always a challenge to try and understand why wines show differently and why one estate can produce brilliant wines and others struggle. Given the prodigious wines the Smiths release year in and year out from different vineyards (and now even from different winemaking facilities), itâs become increasingly apparent that the quality coming from Saxum is due to the genius of Justin Smith. After being lucky enough to taste these wines every year for well over a decade now, I can say that no one in California does RhĂŽne varieties and blends better. Iâve written this many times in the past, but Iâll say it again, this is one of the few mailing lists worth being on."
Have questions?
The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
A late-ripening red lending structure, dark fruit and gamey, meaty complexity to southern Rhone and Mediterranean blends.
Syrah (Shiraz) produces dark, powerful reds with black fruit, pepper and smoked-meat notes. It yields elegant, perfumed wines in the northern Rhone and bold, rich styles in Australia.