Saxum "44" James Berry Vyd., Paso Robles 2005

Purple/red.

Vinturi - deep, saucy nose shows savory meat/nut and black raspberry/Chambord notes. A bit of heat, but this grows on you.

Loaded and beyond "round" - shows significant textural sweetness as well as great density/concentration. But, again, gets thrown off track by some intrusive alcohol action in the mid-palate and finish. There's much to like here, but doesn't quite pull it off for me. But we'll see what this shows with another day or three of air. May eat my words. Significant acid/tannin "chew" coats the front teeth.


$80? 81% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, 9% Grenache. 44 months in puncheons (500 liter barrels), I think. 15.9% listed alcohol.