Saxum 2016 G2 Vineyard Red Wine Paso Robles Willow Creek District
$159.94
2016 G2 VINEYARD
42% Grenache, 35% Mataro, 20% Tannat, 3% Zinfandel
ALC: 15.7%
Cases 750 ml: 642 Cases, 1.5 L: 54
Vineyard: G2 Vineyard Released: July 2018
Drink: now - 2027
98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Checking in as a blend of 47% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 13% Tannat (this is the first vintage to included Tannat, and since 2015 this cuvee has been more Grenache dominated), the 2016 G2 Vin...
98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Checking in as a blend of 47% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 13% Tannat (this is the first vintage to included Tannat, and since 2015 this cuvee has been more Grenache dominated), the 2016 G2 Vineyard is crazily exotic, with notes of black raspberries, white pepper, salty minerality, chalk and blood orange. Full-bodied, supple, polished and nicely structured, it should drink relatively great right out of the gate if the tannin integrates. (8/10/17)"
96 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "Saturated ruby. Wild, spice- and mineral-accented cherry and dark berry aromas, along with a sexy floral top note and a subtle touch of earthiness. Broad and alluringly sweet, offering palate-staining black and blue fruit, candied violet, spice cake and cola flavors that deliver a compelling blend of richness and energy. Puts on weight with air while maintaining vivacity, and finishes extremely long and chewy, featuring youthful tannic grip and an emphatic echo of sweet blue fruit. Drink: 2026-2036. (Sep 2018)"
94-96 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "I tasted a representative blend of the 2016 G2 Vineyard, a wine that's still youthfully primary, revealing spicy aromas of cherries, plums and wild berries. On the palate, it's full-bodied, bright and taut, with fine-grained but distinctly savory tannins that are already nicely integrated into its generous core of fruit. The blend contains 42% Grenache, 35% Mataro, fully 20% Tannat and 3% Zinfandel, and Smith observes that he was very careful in fermenting the Tannat to avoid extracting excessive structure. (May 2018)"
NOTES FROM JUSTIN SMITH, the winemaker:
"The 2016 G2 is a real winner too. Perhaps even darker than the JBV (partially thanks to the addition of Tannat, what some call the Heart of Darkness). It is a truly exotic wine. Not far beneath the core of plum and blood orange there are scents of what I would imagine a Moroccan market would smell like, incense and spice and perhaps a touch of something illegal (at least in most of the US!). I think this wine will reward some patience in the cellar, more so than the other Grenache blends we made in 2016. Give her 3 years to really strut her stuff.
The 2016 vintage is one of the finest, if not THE finest vintage to come around in our 17 years of Saxum. (Isn’t it always true that the current vintage is the best ever?) What happened to make the 2016 wines so nice you ask? Well, what stands out to me is how even keeled the whole season was. It was a drought busting rainy winter, followed by a nice warm spring. The spring had minimal frost which in turn provided a good set of fruit and gave us the option to thin the fruit down to just the perfect clusters. To top it all off, a moderately warm, but not too hot, summer season allowed the fruit to reach optimal ripeness and retain great natural acidities. The 2016s are definitely a tad darker and denser than the 2015s. I love the 2015s for their beauty, and I love the 2016s for their pleasure. They impress with their balance, walking that razor’s edge of having density and richness while still possessing depth, complexity, and mystery. Yes, I really love how many hidden layers the wines have, and how the layers are slowly revealed as you get to know the wines better throughout an evening. Maybe like a well written book that takes you ever deeper into it’s world, slowly revealing it’s true heart."
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HOWEVER, we are not responsible for damage caused to the wine due to the weather; heat or cold. If the weather is hot or cold, we urge that you either ask us to hold the wine(s) for you or order overnight shipping.
