2003 Broken Stones Syrah
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Tasting notes
(from James Berry and Denner Vineyard fruit; 80% syrah with 12% grenache and 8% mourvedre; 15.3% alcohol) Bright medium ruby. Sappy, vibrant aromas of black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice. Wonderfully dense and creamy, with sappy, fruit-drivenflavors of dark berries, minerals and licorice. This has a silky, fine-grainedtexture rare for wines from this growing region. Finishes with sweet tannins, superbbreadth and an impression of youthfulness. (A barrel sample of the young 2004 showed Cote-Rotie-like aromas and compelling sweetness and fat, while a super-cuvee made from the best ten barrels from Hart Stone Vineyard, the main source of the Broken Stones bottling, was even more explosive, offering liqueur-like sweetness in conjunction with great perfume and lift, with added verve conferred by the 30% mourvedre component. Both of these wines have the potential to merit ratings in the 93-95 range.)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2003 Broken Stones, a 350-case blend of 80% Syrah, 12% Grenache, and 8% Mourvedre, offers a fabulously sweet nose of black raspberries, blackberries, licorice, pepper, and subtle herbs, followed by pure, full-bodied flavors that coat the palate, but are neither heavy nor cloying. The oak component is virtually undetectable as it is concealed by the wine’s wealth of fruit and extraordinary concentration. It should drink well for 10-12 years. The 2003s were bottled about seven weeks before my visit, but I could hardly complain about the fact they weren’t “showing.” I highly recommend that wine enthusiasts who love Rhone Ranger wines pay a visit to the James Berry Vineyard, one of the true grand cru sites in the region. Tel. (805) 227-4662
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.