Saxum, Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles

Unfortunately my last bottle but this is just fantastic!

2012 vintage

Solid Saxum. Drinking well but not memorable.

2012 vintage

Drank in the BVI. Big wine but not overdone (at least 12 years into it).

2012 vintage

Probably an underappreciated Saxum blend. Almost a third is mourvedre so not necessarily the full throttle typical wine (but almost 16% alcohol). Has mellowed over the years, still full bodied with rich fruit, not enough in the bottle to go around.

2012 vintage

And, five years later, this still needs a few more years of cellar time, tannic and rustic from the attack all the way through the finish. But I do have a fondness for these "kitchen sink" blends - a little bit of dust (tempranillo?), a little bit of funk (mourvedre?), a lot of pepper (zinfandel, petite syrah), and all of that Saxum fruit you expect, plus a bit of slate and iodine just to pile on. Fun wine.

2011 vintage

It has been three years to the day since I last tried this wine and there has been no change. Opened three hours prior to dinner. Dark fruit and hints of coffee on the nose. The palate was dark berries, red plums, tobacco, coffee and some spices. The finish went on forever.

2012 vintage

Drank in SF As good on night two Very delicious

2011 vintage

Drinking very well at 12 years.

2012 vintage

Popped and poured. This is a solid red wine. On the nose, I get strawberry reduction, bramble, plum, and espresso. In the mouth, this is juicy and rich, with notable cherry concentrate flavors. The finish continues the theme, with more sweet and loaded red fruits. Overall, this is a nice BBQ wine. It’s a tad overpriced for that experience, but sometimes one has to just let go and enjoy. 90 points.

2011 vintage

Nice. Circumstances lead to saving half a bottle in the fridge for 3 days. Was a little diminished and not as enjoyable. Drink now.

2011 vintage

Really solid wines, seem to do much better >10 years after bottling. Maybe I should keep buying them.

2011 vintage

Drank over the course of 3 days. Remained a massive black fruited wine without much change throughout.

2012 vintage

Saxum remains one of my favorites, this label and year is drinking very well right now.

2012 vintage

Deep red, menthol, cigar, and forest floor nose, light on its feet for a Zin blend, very good with grilled tenderloin

2012 vintage

Quite nice

2011 vintage

Very high alcohol and almost no aromatics to speak of, along with a bit of strange funk - this reads so differently from every other Paderewski I've had that I'm assuming something is just off here.

2012 vintage

Not a wine to pop and pour. Way to much iron in the front gave it 90 minutes of air. Really opened up beautifully. Was well balanced when served with mildly spiced sausage and peppers. Drink or hold

2012 vintage

Nice funk on the nose. Noticed some menthol. Nice composed beautiful nose. Nose predominant and palette somewhat subdued but noticed some geomycin and nori elements. Aging with finesse.

2011 vintage

Very smooth yet light for a saxum. Pleasure to drink. Decanted 2.5h before dinner and was in excellent spot for the next 3hours.

2011 vintage

Popped and poured. Big, rich, and silky. Delicious right out of the gate. Already showing hints of complexity. Anticipate that it will open up nicely with some air. Wish I had another bottle to see how this will be in a few more years.

2012 vintage

This has never been among my favorite Saxum bottlings, as I'm not much of a zinfandel fan. However, this bottle may have been among the best Saxum's I've had. Decanted for about an hour, it probably could have used more. Nice balance, aromas exploded from the glass, finish went on forever.....

2011 vintage

Dark crimson in color. 15.9% ABV. 45% Zinfandel, 36% Mourvedre, 12% Tempranillo and 7% Petite Sirah. Intoxicating nose of black and blue fruits, molten licorice, scorched earth and wild flowers. Full bodied with mouth watering acidity and notable balance. Super rich and lush. The Zinfandel is prominent with raspberry liqueur, blueberries, kirsch and cracked black pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Fascinating wine that is hard to resist ten years in. Best over the next several years.

2012 vintage

Really nice, unique nose and taste

2012 vintage

In a great place. Drinking really well right now. Paired with chili for super bowl

2012 vintage

Day 1: 93 pts. Day 2: 92 pts. Day 3: 90-91 pts. Same as previous notes. Advise: Drink it the same day it is open, do not drink it in multiple days, it is already too fragile and on the way down. Awesome wine though.

2011 vintage

It has been over a year since I last tried this wine and there has been no change. Opened three hours prior to dinner. Dark fruit and hints of coffee on the nose. The palate was dark berries, red plums, tobacco, coffee and some spices. The finish went on forever.

2012 vintage

Loved this, and my wife also loved it. Sad that it’s my last bottle. Similar to previous notes.

2012 vintage

Popped and poured. This is a solid red wine. On the nose, I get dark, wild fruit, blackberry paste, burning embers (although this may be an effect of the absurd wildfire smoke outside?), and a touch of heat. In the mouth, this is juicy and rich, with a dark, spicy side. The finish is full and expansive. Overall, this is a solid PR mixed-blacks blend that is very enjoyable now – giddy up! 90 points.

2011 vintage

Took to the in-laws. Paired with smoked pork BBQ. Full throttle blend, 15.7% alcohol. Everyone seemed to enjoy.

2011 vintage

Wine is tasting amazing right now. I wouldn’t hold on too much longer. With that being said, I’m sure in 5 years it would still be great. Amazing full body and finish. As always, a wonderful wine from Justin Smith.

2011 vintage

Awesome wine, long Saxum finish.

2011 vintage

Nose of candied cherries, spice, and a strong cinnamon note. Black plum, oolong tea, blackberry, graphite, and earthy layers on the palate. Medium plus tannins with black cherry, purple fruit, floral notes, and strong spice on the finish. Good but didn't knock my socks off the way Saxum often does.

2012 vintage

Not quite up to the same quality as the Alban Pandora, still a fantastic wine, with plum and dark berry backed with a bit of black pepper and grilled meat. Drink over the next 3-4 years.

2012 vintage

Nose of dark red and black fruit with crushed herbs. The palate has dark cherries, plums and crushed herbs. The palate has good concentration but a hit of alcohol on the finish.

2012 vintage

Shows exactly as billed - high octane but well polished central coast Zin based blend. I liked it but needed to spend more time to analyze

2012 vintage

Pop and pour. In the glass, a clear meniscus at the rim, shading to clear ruby red and then dark maroon at the core. On the nose, ground pepper, currants, plums, and raspberries. On the palate, more of the same, with secondary notes of minerality and salinity, with ample tannins on the back palate, and a long finish. This is one of those wines that offers both crowd-pleasing fruit and background complexity to hold interest.

2011 vintage

Really balanced. Can’t remember details.

2012 vintage

WIML94 Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Kirsch, plum, black pepper, dark cocoa and black currants. Flavors of black currants, black raspberries, black berries, dark plums and black sweet cherries. Medium acidity, medium to slightly firm tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or continue to hold. I'd drink over the next 2-3 years myself.

2011 vintage

45% Zin, 36% Mouvedre, 12% Tempranillo, 7% Petite Sirah Popped and poured. Opened with loads of cherry syrup, sweet to sour. Led to some mocha, tobacco, cedar. Some spice. Fruit slowly got darker, plums to blueberry. 15.9% alcohol showed a little. Loved it up front, but began to fade. Still a great bottle.

2012 vintage

Blood red color with scents of a musty farmhouse surrounded by flower fields, paraffin and burnt matches. Moderate tannin with flavors of black & red raspberry puree, anise, strawberry licorice, burnt cedar and some road tar. This wine was tasted upon opening and decanted for a couple of hours whence began a rapid decline. The finish was consistently short & sweet – which was a little anti-climactic. Drink now, or before 2025.

2011 vintage

Day 1: 92-93 pts. Day 2: 92 pts. Day 3 : 92-91 pts. First day showed its true color with a bomb of fruit, cedar tones and medium body and long finish. However, instead of improving after the first day starting fading away after the second day....a little bit over price for what you get at that price range...

2011 vintage

Opened three hours prior to dinner. Dark fruit and hints of coffee on the nose. The palate was dark berries, red plums, tobacco, coffee and some spices. The finish went on forever.

2012 vintage

Consistent with previous tasting notes.

2012 vintage

Out of the bottle there is a fragrant nose of licorice, elderberry jams and a hint of brine. On the palate it is savory and voluptuous with a hint of dry cherry adding some sweetness. Could it improve with more age? My feeling is yes, but it is exceedingly hard to resist now. Decanted for an hour before drinking.

2011 vintage

Opaque purple in color. 15.7% ABV. 34% Zinfandel, 31% Mourvedre, 16% Tempranillo, 10% Syrah and 9% Petite Sirah. Killer nose of red and black fruits, molten licorice, scorched earth and flowers. Full bodied with ample acidity. Notably well balanced. Incredibly plush and silky. Packed with concentrated fruit. Raspberry liqueur, blackberry, cassis, coffee and smoke on the palate. Exceptional length on a long, smooth finish. A truly unique blend that is absolutely stunning. Best over the next 2-3 years.

2011 vintage

Delicious blackberry, pepper, and spice on the nose and rich layered palate with a long finish.

2011 vintage

2011 Saxum Padedrewski Vineyard. Racy & Seductive. The finesse belies it’s 15.7%. Stunning. ++++ $90 Served with 28 day home dry-aged NY and Duck fat smashed potatoes.

2011 vintage

So smooth and balanced. Cant believe it's 15.7 abv, just delicious and drinking super right now. Extra long finish

2011 vintage

Fantastic!

2011 vintage

Popped, poured in midst of Covid.. excitement turned to horror with muted flavors and notes of nail polish. Realized too late that loss of smell/taste was a major side effect of the virus. Good thing wife tried before I dumped it!

2011 vintage

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Saxum, Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles

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