2014 Saxum Broken Stones
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Tasting notes
Brilliant violet color. Heady, mineral-accented aromas of raspberry liqueur, cherry-cola and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone that gains strength as the wine opens up. Offers juicy, densely packed red fruit preserve spicecake and floral pastille flavors that unfurl slowly. Shows a suave interplay of power and elegance, displaying velvety texture and firming mineral cut. An extremely long, sappy finish is shaped by smooth, sneaky tannins and features a lingering, exotic suggestion of Asian spices.
Critic scores
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Blended of 41% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 19% Grenache, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Tempranillo and 3% Roussanne, the 2014 Broken Stones has a deep garnet-purple color and exuberant black and blue fruit notes with suggestions of raspberry pie, potpourri, spice cake and fallen leaves, plus a waft of chocolate box. Full-bodied and full-on gorgeous, it fills the palate with soft, sexy fruit and plush tannins, finishing on a spicy note.
The 2014 Broken Stones is heavenly stuff! Made from a blend of 41% Syrah, 19% Grenache, 16% Petite Sirah, 13% Mourvèdre and the balance Tempranillo and Roussanne, this inky colored beauty offers terrific notes of mostly blue fruits (blackberries, blueberries), crushed violets, Asian spices and forest floor. Full-bodied, concentrated, elegant and seamless on the palate, it has a ripe tannin and a gorgeous finish. This is a fabulous wine to enjoy anytime over the coming decade. I’ve raved so much about the wines from Saxum’s Justin Smith, I feel like a broken record every new vintage. Nevertheless, these latest vintages are all stellar, and certainly the move to the new cellar hasn’t affect or changed the quality here. The 2014s show the richer, more fleshy style of the vintage, yet still carry the slightly more streamlined/elegant style that Smith has chosen over the past few years. The 2015s play even more in that realm, which is very much the vintage, and are lively and elegant, with pretty, perfumed characters – and plenty of fruit. The 2015s share a lot of similarities to the 2011s (which shined for their aromatics), yet have more fruit and power. It’s worth noting that the majority had just been recently bottled, which makes these showings even more impressive. A vintage that really excites me is the 2016s, which appear to be a return to a more bombastic style, with beautiful fruit and texture.
Blended of 41% Syrah, 13% Mourvedre, 19% Grenache, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Tempranillo and 3% Roussanne, the 2014 Broken Stones has a deep garnet-purple color and exuberant black and blue fruit notes with suggestions of raspberry pie, potpourri, spice cake and fallen leaves, plus a waft of chocolate box. Full-bodied and full-on gorgeous, it fills the palate with soft, sexy fruit and plush tannins, finishing on a spicy note. Sep 2017, www.robertparker.com
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.