2010 Terry Hoage Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2010 Terry Hoage Vineyard is a blend of 46% Syrah, 33% Grenache, and 21% Mourvedre that comes from Jennifer and Terry Hoage’s west side Paso vineyard. Less gamey than when tasted from barrel, it offers up a pure, beautifully fresh bouquet of red and black fruits, spring flowers, ground pepper, leather, and wet stone-like minerality that flows to a rich, fabulously concentrated, and textured palate. Showing the savory, mineral characteristics of the vintage, as well as noticeable underlying tannin, this gorgeous effort needs short-term cellaring, and will thrill for over a decade. A benchmark estate for California, Saxum, under the helm of superstar winemaker Justin Smith, continues to produce some of the most compelling, profound wines on the planet. While Smith’s wines are always full-flavored and intense, there has been a stylistic change over recent vintages, with the wines showing more obvious tannin and structure, as well as additional minerality and savory qualities. These 2010s exemplify this change and are all serious, structured efforts that will need bottle age to blossom. Tel. (805) 610-0363; Fax (805) 238-2267; www.saxumvineyards.com
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Saxum's 2010 Terry Hoage, here in its first vintage, has developed beautifully in bottle. Today, the Grenache aromatics are incredibly resonant as the Hoage shows off a floral dimension that was not at all apparent when the wines was first bottled. Finely-knit and super-refined on the palate, the 2010 is hugely appealing. What a gorgeous wine this has turned out to be. I can't wait to see what Justin Smith does with this fruit as the vines get older. This first effort is promising, to say the least. The blend is 46% Syrah, 33% Grenache and 21% Mourvèdre.
(46% syrah, 33% grenache and 21% mourvedre, a third fermented with whole clusters; 15.1% alcohol): Vivid ruby. Seductive, highly perfumed nose displays strikingly pure raspberry and floral aromas. Fleshy red and dark berry flavors are enlivened by intriguing blood orange and floral pastille accents and become spicier with air. Picks up a suggestion of mocha on the finish, which is impressively focused, balanced and long.
Here in its first vintage, the 2010 Terry Hoage Vineyard bursts onto the palate with rich, dark fruit. The weight power and richness of Syrah comes through beautifully in the layered, sumptuous wine. Flowers, licorice, mint and tobacco and grilled herbs wrap around the finish. The 2010 boasts serious density and fabulous overall balance. It is terrific first effort. The blend is 46% Syrah, 33% Grenache and 21% Mourvèdre.
About the producer
Founded in 2002 by Justin and Heather Smith, Saxum Vineyards is a leading Paso Robles producer of Rhône-inspired wines. Limited to around 8,000 cases annually, the range includes Broken Stones, James Berry Vineyard, Bone Rock and Rocket Block.
Product details
Grenache/ Garnacha , Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro, Syrah / Shiraz
Red
Dry