Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.5

This producer never fails. Not a wine that shows a lot of ‘syrah’ character but Jeeze is it silky, well made and hedonistic. Lots of mocha and coffee on the nose with dark black fruits of the palate. Such a suave wine. Very young at present. Almost reminds me of saxum or sqn. If you are looking for a terroir wine, look elsewhere but if you’re looking for one damn good sexy, deep wine, look no further. — 4 years ago

with John

Matt Trader

9.5

This stuff was absolutely amazing. Like, a baby SQN, and not near the price. Certified organic, and owned by two Dallas natives!

A blend of 2 great vineyards: Paderewksi (which is used in some of the Saxum wines), and Catapult.

54% Syrah, 21% Mourvedre, 16% Grenache, 9% Petit Sirah. — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

On the nose, sweet & slightly baked; blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, raspberries & dark cherries. Raspberry cola, perfect intensity of baking spices, soft & savory grilled meats, touch of fresh herbs, just a whiff of pepper, lavender, lilacs and liquid violets. The palate is full bodied, round & lush. The M-M+ tannins are soft and round and about 60% resolved. Gorgeous in the mouth. The fruits are creamy in style. Ripe; blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, raspberries, dark cherries and ripe strawberries. Raspberry cola, vanilla, understated spice, pepper, savoy grilled meats, dry herbs, dry crushed rock powder, a little underbrush, iron pan, loamy dry top soil, some black moist earth, hint of mocha powder, milk chocolate, cigar ash, suede style leather, lavender, lilacs & liquid violets, perfect, round, mouthwatering acidity, great; balance, structure, tension and length. The very long finish is round, lush and has sex appeal. It's drinking really well with a hour/hour & half decant. Better in 1-2 years and has another 4-7 years of really good drinking ahead of it. Great pair with the grilled Kentucky Bourbon marinated chicken skewers and seasoned wild rice. Photos of; Eric Jensen (Owner/Winemaker), tasting room bar, Eric working harvest and the Booker vineyard. Producer notes and history...Booker gets it's name from the two orphan brothers, Claude and Dick Booker, who had purchased the land in the late 1920’s. By the turn of the century, the Booker brothers acquired over 1,200 acres on Paso's westside. The Booker brothers dedicated their lives to being great farmers and humanitarians. Aside from lending their farming knowledge and manual labor to neighbors, they were the area's biggest philanthropists, leaving 100% of their estate to charity when they passed, Dick in 1990 and Claude in 2000. Eric and Lisa Jensen purchased 100 acres of the property in 2001. After making wine with Justin Smith (Saxum) for five years and Stephan Asseo (L'Aventure Wines) for two years, the Jensen's started Booker Vineyard. The 2005 vintage was Eric Jensen first release. Booker produces about 4,500 cases a year depending on what Mother-nature gives them. Booker is located on the westside of Paso Robles, immediately joining the famous Stephan Vineyards that produce L'Aventure Wines. The high-density vineyard is mostly Rhone varieties planted on steep hillsides of calcareous shale. They farm organically, sustainable and biodynamic and treat the entire vineyard as a living organism. Booker uses animals (normally sheep) for weed control and solar panels are placed at the house and winery. The Jensen's are definitely doing things right. If you haven't tried Booker, it's worth your effort. — 7 years ago

with Ronald

Roman Sukley

9.9

2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah blend. 15.8% alcohol. Dark as midnight with a ruby rim. The nose positively leaps from the glass with anise, violets, creme de cassis, crushed berries and a hint of spearmint. On the palate, sweet, candied raspberry syrup with notes of cedar, cinnamon, baking spices, vanilla and a hint of black olives. Pure and intense with great concentration and wonderful structure. 2 minute finish and then some. The Mourvèdre component raises this wine to another level for me, and highlights the talent of @Justin Smith as a master blender. 99 points with the only impediment to perfection being that '06 SQN "A Shot In The Dark" from last week which still haunts my dreams. — 7 years ago

Eric Linderman

9.5

Turtle rock G2 Syrah, Saxum assistant wine maker. Unbelievably rich Syrah with a finish that lasts a minute — 7 years ago

Cameron Myhrvold

9.5

Janasse rocks! love this wine. it could hold its own with Alban or Saxum or the best Australians. not French in style at all. this is a massive fruit bomb even at age 10. I would love to taste this in another 10 years. today it is a little one dimensional. but I think as the fruit calms down it will add complexity. — 8 years ago

Paul T HB

9.7

I prefer this over the Saxum Bone Rock,
But it just could be that the hot sauce has fried my palate & brain, — 8 years ago

Jeff Lander

9.5

Served blind with Saxum 2005 and this won the round by a touch. Earthy and complex. Fruit had diminished since I last had it. But secondary characteristics are moving in that I really like. — 9 years ago

V M

9.4

This a big boy no holds bard Syrah dominated blend from JS. What blows me away about this very talented young super star winemaker is he truly adapts his wine making style to the vintage. Each year is unique with its own optimized signature. This wine is a big brooding effort in which dark cherry, black plum and sweet tobacco dominate. There are cloves and cinnamon on the long drawn out finish. The tannins are formidable and this will benefit from another couple years in the bottle. Give it at least an hour in the decanter if u drink it now. This wine continues to evolve in my glass. Such a talented wine maker, I'm sorry I just discovered this producer only recently. His 2007 James berry vineyard is the only wine I have ever tasted that I consider perfection. — 10 years ago

Josh Weinstein

9.2

Time exposed to some O2 helps quite a bit. Tons of fruit left. — 4 years ago

with Kristen

Joshua Mellen

9.5

Big berries to match some excellent Seder meal — 5 years ago

with Elizabeth

Cameron Myhrvold

9.6

2011 Jamet Cote Rotie
Stunning wine with crazy flavors yet totally different from almost any other syrah I have had. Lean and austere yet very full flavored. A unique wine. The opposite end of the spectrum from a Saxum or Alban or Barossa Valley Syrah. — 6 years ago

Michael Park

9.2

Awesome as usual. This is the next Saxum — 7 years ago

Paul T HB

9.2

$40.00 at the winery, picked up case for $12.00 a bottle on Last Bottle last week. Can't compare it to a GSM from Booker or Saxum, but at that price I really didn't expect it to.
Pleasantly surprised by this one — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

This classic Rhône wine was tasted in a flight alongside a 2010 by Saxum. I preferred this. 1-0 Old World. A red fruit driven, slightly spicy Syrah that was just delicious today. — 7 years ago

Eric Linderman

9.3

Dark, rich, brooding red fruits, plumy but not pruney. Mouth filling with a long finish. Saxum type style — 7 years ago

Eric Linderman

9.0

Assistant wine maker for Saxum. Lighter acidic and balanced in style, impressive given the source of the grapes - Paso. Tasted blind with 3 other Paso wines came in 4th. — 7 years ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.4

Big, ripe, dense, concentrated, complex and Saxum-like (2011 vintage be damned), which makes sense since it is probably the only Paso wine that is more expensive (on release) than Saxum. Balanced for what it is and very enjoyable from a pure hedonism standpoint. Not sure that age will do it any favors. — 8 years ago

Chris Johnson

9.7

Big and bright. Plummy, berry goodness. This Paso Rhone will be long lasting but it is great now. Couldn't wait to try it. — 8 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.2

James Berry Vineyard Syrah. Made famous by Saxum, but Toft does a wonderful job with this blend. — 9 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.7

New release ! First time for me!! From winemaker who makes Saxum. Huge, full bodied showing amazing layers of black fruits . Great texture. Well done here. Thanks Bryce — 9 years ago

Corkhoarder

9.1

1999 Linne Calodo - James Berry. A young Justin Smith, not bad but saxum awaits. — 11 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.4

Photo from file. 2004 Vintage. The cork just disintegrated but somehow the wax top saved the wine. Poured it trough a stained into decanter and then was wine of the night at poker. Drink up but have a strainer and decanter ready. Perhaps an ah-so twin blade cork puller would have done better and will try that on future bottles of this. It trumped a 2012 Saxum Broken Stones. — 5 years ago

Bryan Kesting

9.3

Enjoyed this wine. Much more subtle than the wines he was helping make at Saxum. — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

2010 was a very good vintage in Rhône. Rostaing is a well know producer with people that know and drink Northern Rhône wines, not so much with others that do not. The Ampodium is the entry level into Rene & Pierre Rostaing wines. It is a blend of 13 vineyards in Northern Rhône. They are simply one of the very best producers in the region. I spent an afternoon with Rene & his son Pierre tasting in the their cellar and in their La Landonne vineyard as shown in the photos. The 2010 is drinking beautifully with many good years ahead. On the nose; ripe & slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries, cherries, steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, iron pan, some white & black pepper, bacon fat, grilled savory meats, pork, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with violets. The body is round and medium full. The tannins round, still a little chewy & around 55% resolved. The length, texture, tension and balance are in near perfect harmony. The fruits are; round, ruby & ripe; slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries & cherries. Steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, chalky minerals, iron pan, coffee grounds, spice, some baking spices w/hints of vanilla, white & black pepper, drying blood, dry herbs/bay leaf, dry stems, moderate levels of bacon fat & pork, grilled savory meats, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets for days. The acidly is round and dripping. The long finish is plush, velvety delicious and lasts & lasts. In good vintages, I would put this in blind with the best of of the best new world wines from any vintage that many love; SQN, Booker, Saxum, Alban, Cayuse, Horsepower etc.. I’d bet most of you would pick it over these producers that cost much more $$$. It’s simply one of the best pound for pound wines/producers for this varietal. Especially, for the $$$. Wow, what a wine for the $. $55 upon release. Photos of; Winemaker Pierre Rostaing and our group in their La Landonne vineyard, the small sign that barely identifies their Estate, an example of the Quartz mineral that runs throughout their La Landonne vineyard and the view back onto the river from the top of the very steep La Landonne Vineyard. Producer notes and history...Rene Rostaing produced their first wine in 1971. However, it took almost three decades before wine became a full time occupation for Rene Rostaing. Domaine Rene Rostaing came about through marriage. The wife of Rene Rostaing was the daughter of the famed Cote Rotie grower, Albert Dervieux, and the niece of Marius Gentaz-Dervieux who gave Christine the vineyard land that became the Northern Rhone estate for Rene Rostaing. Through inheritance from Albert Dervieux Thaize (his father-in-law) who retired in 1990, and from Marius Gentaz Dervieux, his uncle, Rene Rostaing expanded his holdings, giving him some of the best terroir in Cote Rotie. The new vineyard land was basically 3 small parcels in the La Landonne, Cote Brune and Vialliere lieux-dits. This initial expansion from his initial tiny parcel, allowed Rene Rostaing to change careers and become a full time vigneron. Since 2007, the estate has managed by Pierre Rostaing, (son) of Rene Rostaing. Currently Rene Rostaing owns 7.5 hectares of vines that is spread out among 20 different parcels located in 14 locations. Perhaps the most celebrated vines of Rene Rostaing are the 1.6 hectares of vines they own in the La Landonne vineyard (photo). On La Landonne, the vines are more than 60 years old. Some vines are even close to 100 years of age! Those are his largest holdings. The smallest vineyards of Rene Rostaing are located on Cote Blonde. Rene Rostaing also has vines planted in; Fonjean, La Vialliere, Le Plomb, Bouchare, Leyat, La Roche and La Tupin. Their oldest vines are more than 70 years old and are used for Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde. The majority of those plantings are on the steep hillsides with mica, schist and rocky soils. 25% of those vines are closer to the bottom of the slopes and on the flats. Rene Rostaing remains a traditional Cote Rotie producer who is not among the last to harvest. His wines are aged using very little new, French oak barrels. On average, Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie are aged in about 10% new French oak barrels. Rene Rostaing produces 4 different Cote Rotie wines. Rene Rostaing Ampodium, which was previously known as Rostaing Cuvee Classique, is a blend of 13 sections of different vineyards, but it does not include their best holdings on La Landonne or Cote Blonde. The fruit for Rene Rostaing Ampodium has at least 40% or more of the stems removed and run between 12-13.5% abv. The wine is usually made from 100% Syrah and is aged in an average of 15% to 25% new, French oak barrels. The amount of new oak can be less, depending on the character of the vintage. About 1,750 cases are produced each year. The wine is no longer called Cuvee Classique, the name was changed to Rene Rostaing Ampodium with the 2009 vintage. Rene Rostaing La Landonne comes from a terroir consisting of sands with iron oxide and traces of quartz. This wine is always produced from 100% Syrah. The grapes are partially destemmed, with about 10% to 20% of the stems removed, depending on the vintage. There are vintages when no destemming takes place. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats. Rene Rostaing is not a believer of using too much new oak for the aging, which on average uses 10% new, French oak barrels and the remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids (600 liter) and French oak barrels. This wine is like most wines from La Landonne, masculine and meaty in character, requiring at least a decade to soften and develop. On average, Rene Rostaing La Landonne produces less than 600 cases depending on what the vintage delivers. Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde is perhaps his best. It’s produced from a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. The grapes are co-fermented. The vineyards is planted in the region call Arzel. Arzel is a poor, mineral laden soil with deposits of Silex and Mica on a steep hillside. The vines are more than 50 years of age. The grapes are partially destemmed…35% to 50% of the stems are removed. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats.
The remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids. This one is the hardest to find and most collectible of all their wines. In fact, they only produce close to an average of 350 cases of Cote Rotie in most vintages. Rene Rostaing Cote Brune made its debut with the 2013 vintage. The vines were once part of the holdings of Marius Gentaz, which eventually passed to Rene Rostaing. Rostaing replanted those vines in 2000. Made from 100% Syrah. — 6 years ago

Paul T HB

9.5

Going through my booker allocation, at least the ones they say are ready to go. This one is, telling you these guys are up there with Saxum if not better. Get on board — 7 years ago

Curtis Osborn

9.5

Curtis had this 8 years ago

Nitin Khanna

10

Best wine ever with grilled and charred food — 8 years ago

with Karan

Cameron Wilson

9.4

Super GSM blend, drinking wonderfully now. — 9 years ago

George Rickus

9.7

My favorite PR winery and one of my overall favorites, at least since I am still on the waiting list for Saxum.. — 11 years ago