2022 Saxum White James Berry Vineyard

The 2022 James Berry Vineyard White is cut from the same cloth, with perhaps a touch more freshness and liveliness. White peach, quince, honeyed flowers, and minty spice notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, terrific precision and focus, and a great finish. The 2022 is 62% Grenache Blanc, 18% Roussanne, 14% Chenin Blanc, and 6% Chardonnay, fermented in a mix of concrete, oak, and stainless steel, and aged 22 months in 82% new barrels. It’s Paso Robles answer to a great Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc from the likes of Beaucastel or Janasse!

The 2022 White James Berry Vineyard is a wine of contrasts, showing sweet spice with hints of flint stone, yellow apples and incense. This sweeps across the palate with textures of pure silk and decently ripe orchard fruits balanced by hints of tropical citrus and a cascade of inner florals. A saline tinge lingers on, mixed with hints of sour lime and a sensation of liquid stone. This blends opulence with precision in a way that I find wildly attractive.

The James Berry Vineyard White is a blend of 62% Grenache Blanc, 18% Roussanne, 14% Chenin Blanc and 6% Chardonnay fermented in 82% new 600-liter barrels and aged for 22 months. The nose is honeyed, weighty and lumbering, opening with commanding aromas of orange oil, ripe stone fruit, tangerine and nectarine with crushed rock and dried spice accents. The palate is refreshingly svelte, energetic and succulent, with linear precision and a subtle calcareous texture running through the long, tangy, structured finish. A beautiful combination of serious power and admirable focus, this should be a pleasure to watch develop over the coming decade.