Vineyard Grant James

Saxum Vineyards

James Berry Vineyard White Blend 2018

Somm David T
9.4

This Saxum White Blend is unique & delicious. Cheers, Justin. 55% Grenache Blanc, 28% Roussanne & 5% Chenin Blanc.

The nose is a blood orange/tangerine that has orange at its center. White citrus’s-lemon-grapefruit, tropical melons, overripe yellow stone fruits. steeped sun tea, notes of marmalade fruit bits, brown sugar-molasses, caramel hues, some moist herbs, lite white spice, limestone, volcanic minerals, withering yellow lilies and carnations.

The palate is round, juicy and a bit viscous. Gentle oxie notes, Blood orange/tangerine that has orange at its center, white citrus’s-lemon-grapefruit-lime reduction, tropical melons, some pineapple, overripe yellow stone fruits. steeped sun tea, notes of marmalade fruit bits, brown sugar-molasses, caramel hues, some moist herbs, lite white spice w/ palate heat, saline, brioche, well toasted bread crust, frothy cream, white pepper hues, maple tree bark, limestone bits, volcanic minerals, withering yellow lilies and carnations, acidity is off the charts, rich, lush, well balanced, nicely toned structure with elegance for days and lasts minutes landing on darks sugars & spice.

What a beautiful wine experience. Loving it. This wine rips your mind apart. It is a heady wine. Drink now & for 5-7 yrs.
— 8 days ago

Jay, Jeroen and 4 others liked this

Tobin James

French Camp Paso Robles Zinfandel 2021

Great nose & a clean finish. Not out of TJ wines, not in a negative way, but just different. — 5 months ago

Saxum Vineyards

James Berry Vineyard Rocket Block Grenache Syrah

17% alc is pushing it; even for me lol — 8 months ago

Grant Burge

Barossa Ink Shiraz 2021

Heavy but soft. Full of flavour. Great drop — 3 years ago

Tobin James

Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel 2017

Fruit forward and jammy with light tannins — 4 years ago

Martin Woods

Jessie James Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Lyle Fass
9.5

A profoundly backward Jessie James that took a strange, winding path over several days. Initially reduced and giving maybe 10%, with matchstick, damson, sour and mid-season cherry, mineral and very little aromatic expression. The palate was completely discombobulated at first, but the material was obvious: beautiful velvety tannins, tiny-berry fruit intensity, tremendous depth and an extraordinarily long, persistent finish. After about ninety minutes it briefly opened into something spectacular, with deep, voluminous perfume, sweet and sour cherries, mossy minerality and exotic spice, the nose easily operating at a 9.7 level. Then it closed again, the tannins took over and both nose and palate retreated. Two days later it is much more composed, silky and elegant, with pure red fruit, sour cherry and beautifully refined tannins. Very good, serious and clearly built to age, but not at the level of the great 2021 or 2022 Jessie James. — 18 days ago

Zach, Ray and 4 others liked this

James Cole

Privado Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2013

Somm David T
9.4

2013, the last vintage Charles Hendricks made at James Cole. I bought 8 bottles on Winebid that were all $30-$50. This one $50, stealing. Before buying these, the winery sent me a library email of his & his apprenticeship’s wines at $175-$250. So…I caught extreme value.

The nose is dark and brooding. Dark core of currants, black, plum, blackberries, black raspberries, poached/baked strawberries, dark, cherries, some purple fruits, anise to black licorice, rich, dark earth with dry leaves, steep black tea, dark chocolate, mocha powder, caramel, layered, baking, spices, dark spice, chocolate, pudding, withering to candied, dark, florals, violets and lavender.

The palate shows; velvety, rounded, dusty M+ tannins, a dark core of currants, black, plum, blackberries, brambly black raspberries, poached/baked strawberries, dark cherry kirsch & purple fruit blend. Anise to black licorice, rich, dark earth with dry leaves, steep black tea, dark chocolate, mocha powder, caramel, layered, baking, spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanillin, dark spices, espresso roast, chocolate, pudding, dry, crushed, rocks, dry limestone, dry twigs, dry herbaceous notes, black pepper notes, withering to candied, dark, florals, violets and lavender, excellent acidity with a well structured, balanced, elegant finish with good length that is polished, last 90 seconds and long sets on dry earth and clay.

This is peaking with 5-7 yrs of good drinking road ahead.
— 2 months ago

Jay, Ming and 7 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline To pick up on our Opus discussion, I think finding wine that expressly over delivers its price point is the careful craft of every wine professional. To know & share that value w/ others. This is a gleaming example. Cheers! 🍷
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T I believe it is certainly a byproduct of being a Somm. Almost all of my personal cellar is composed of wines that are/were overlooked and under appreciated.

Saxum Vineyards

James Berry Vineyard Syrah Blend 2016

Shay A
9.5

I’ve got lots of love for these wines, but I always struggle with when to open. They are fantastic young and equally fantastic with age. Jeb said of this wine, “the greatest GSM blend from California, ever.”, and stamped it with a perfect score. Strong praise, and while I’m not there, I don’t regret opening this.

Consumed from decanter the first 2-3hrs before decanting back to bottle and finishing the remaining third later in the evening. Much better later in the day. Wound up tight initially. Classical high end Paso with this distinct airy-jammyness. So much going on with squeezed blackberries, peppercorn, lots of kirsch. Some garrigue. Mouth coating and a total wave of flavor on the palate…black fruit, cherry cordial, cherry drizzled smoked meats. It’s both supremely juicy and hauntingly tannic at the finish. Even with time to open, the ABV makes itself known, but you know that going in. If you like the style, it’s hard to beat.
— 3 years ago

Paul, Bob and 31 others liked this

Tobin James

James Gang Reserve Paso Robles Zinfandel 2015

Maybe stored too long. Not the jammy big nose fruit forward wine I was expecting. Still quite nice. — 5 years ago

Jason liked this

William Grant & Sons

Monkey Shoulder Batch 27 Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey

Great blended malt scotch. Slightly sweet. — 6 years ago

Paul Hobbs

Edward James Estate Chardonnay 2023

Refreshing. Tasting pear, tangerine, brioche, and vanilla. Quite lovely, but I still prefer Tor or Aubert for Chardonnay. — a month ago

Grant Burge

The Holy Trinity Barossa Grenache Blend 2021

I have this once every 5 years. Always a good bottle. — 2 months ago

Tobin James

Fat Boy Paso Robles Zinfandel 2010

Rich plum and dark fruit, low acidity in the mid-palate but a smooth finish. — 3 months ago

Grant Burge

Filsell Old Vine Barossa Shiraz 2015

Sooo smooth, compare against the 2023. — 7 months ago

James Cole

Napa Valley Malbec 2012

Somm David T
9.4

Merry Christmas 2025! 🎅🎄🎁 🍷 ❄️ ⛄️

As I have said, Charles Hendricks is my favorite new world winemaker for Malbec. This 12 is perfect with chocolate truffles.

Many would not get this blind. They would call Napa Cabernet or Napa Bordeaux blend.

It is around its precipice. Ripe, juicy, lush fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, strawberries, blueberries, mocha powder, dark chocolate to chocolate mousse, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, dry top soil, moist to dry clays, tumbleweed, some light dry herbs, chard barrel shavings, dark spices, black tea, black licorice, dark cola, dry, crushed limestone/rocks, leather, dry tobacco, dark, withering flowers, liquid violets-lavender, grand, round, acidity, well; balanced, structured, tensioned with a polished/elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on spice & dry earthiness.
— 8 months ago

Julie, Severn and 7 others liked this

Tobin James

Reserve James Gang Paso Robles Cabernet Franc 2017

Inky black. Moderate fruity aroma. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry and blueberry. Nice — 4 years ago

Jean-Marc Burgaud

James Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2017

Exceptional. Top 5 across all Bojo and tops of a great lineup from Burgaud. — 5 years ago

Kinero

Rustler James Berry Vineyard Roussanne 2017

Very interesting Roussanne. Saline notes, good minerals, sweet finish. Pretty complex. — 7 years ago