2021 Saxum Cayucos Ridge Vineyard

Not yet bottled and coming from Smith’s new Cayucos Ridge Vineyard located west of Paso Robles, within sight of the Pacific Ocean and at 1650 feet in elevation, the 2021 Cayucos Ridge is all Syrah from vines planted in 2018, aged mostly (all?) in barrel. This deep purple-hued beauty has a Cornas-like vibe in its peppery red and black fruits, game, wild herbs, and iron-like nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's structured, has lots of tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's another singular wine in the lineup with tons of character.

A preview of Saxum’s newest plantings in a cooler location closer to the coast, the 2021 Cayucos Ridge is wickedly fresh, with white pepper, dried roses, split pine and mentholated currants forming its bouquet. This is cool-toned and racy in feel, with ripe red and black fruits accelerated by zesty acidity as hits of lavender pastille amass toward the close. The 2021 leaves a spice-drop resonance and edgy tannins, yet it maintains fantastic balance. This is a beautiful combination of New-World fruit and Old-World tension.

From a San Luis Obispo Coast site planted to own-rooted Syrah in 2017 just 4.5 miles from the Pacific, the 2021 Cayucos Ridge Vineyard is a trio of firsts: Saxum's first foray outside Paso Robles, the inaugural release from this vineyard and their first single-variety wine. Tasted as a finished blend just before bottling, the nose is exquisite, perfumed and alluring, with a level of poise and elegance altogether different from the rest of the Saxum roster. The texture is fresh and ethereal, with a wonderfully spry, lifted energy that carries through to the finish. The site's youth makes this stellar showing even more promising and offers a fascinating first look into a storied producer breaking ground in a region that is quickly gaining momentum.