Gladys Xiques

9.0

A solid Pinot. Bright red fruit with low notes of earthiness. A versatile red. — 6 years ago

GaryWEdwards

9.0

Drinking very nice with charcoal , dark cherry sort of thing going on — 6 years ago

Megan LeMaster

9.1

Had at Madre’s 59th birthday celebration at Bern’s. Juicy, expressive, bramble, black pepper, blackberry, cinnamon, baking spice. Still lots of fruit and life — 7 years ago

Dario Scimeca

9.4

Really, really good - lots of sediment — 8 years ago

with Tom and Heather

Patrick Fishman

10

Peppery & yummy — 9 years ago

with Dana

Mark Wilson

9.1

Armas weekend. Very good Syrah. Liked Swanson petit syrah a little more. — 9 years ago

S.R.Alexander

9.2

Love Alexis. Cassis and layered tannin. — 9 years ago

Sarah Bove

9.5

Makes me instantly happy. Medium bodied, high acidity and earthy notes. — 10 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.1

What a surprise! Cork crumbled despite climate controlled cellar. Heady scents of raspberry and cocoa. The wine was showing very well for 20 years old. Fresh, vibrant raspberry, dark chocolate, and a bit of spice. Only had a small glass, but would live to see what this is like after being open for 12 hours. #swansonvineyard — 6 years ago

with Julie

Kay Davis

9.0

Really nice to drink. Super smooth — 7 years ago

Andy Richard

10

Excellent wine to pair with a steak — 8 years ago

with Michelle

Tina Sciulli

9.7

Awesome wine. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the the nose, grilled meats, soy, mint, menthol, black currants, dry blackberries, blue fruits, black plum, dark spice and decayed dark florals. The mouthfeel is full, rich, ripe that starts juicy and slowly dries across the palate. Fruits are the much like the nose. There's a good presence of tarriness, deep-dark Asian-Indian spices, dry stems, leather, pepper, wood shavings, menthol, mint & herbaceousness. Then, the fruits start to differentiate themselves on the longer plate set; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, mocha powder, caramel, crushed dry rocks, graphite, soy, grilled meats, dry decayed floral bouquet, violets & black cherry cola. The earth still outshines the fruits. The structure is still big. The elegant stingy finish swirls of everything above quite simultaneously on a long rich high acid finish. Still needs 5+ years. Photos of the the heart stone, vines of the "Heart Stone Vinyard" and those beautiful Paso Syrah grapes at harvest. The Heart Stone Vineyard is in the Paso Robles Adelaide AVA with a 30 acre oak forest on a hill and 8 acres planted to Rhone varietals. It was planted by John and Mary Swanson in 2000. They hired Justin Smith (Winemaker/Owner Saxum Winery) to select the property and plant the vineyard. He agreed on the condition he could take all the grapes. 2003 was the first vintage of Saxum Heart Stone. The high density blocks are planted on gentle South slopes of limestone and shale. It has 8 different clones of Syrah, 5 of Grenache and 2 Mourvedre. — 9 years ago

Gladys Xiques

9.0

While the 2017 vintage is still a bit young, it is fruit forward but balanced with a vegetal leaning. Long finish. Slight pepper but hint of bell pepper. — 6 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.3

Balsamic, walnut, apricot, ginger, persimmon, fino Sherry nose. Pale tawny. Chocolate and coffee on the palate. Low acidity from Mission grape. — 6 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.3

Earthy with some spice — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Here is my Thursday's Merlot fix. This time it's a nice one from Napa Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, blueberry pie, cedar, strong vanilla bean, leather, earth, graphite, chocolates, mocha, cigar box, caramel and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, sweet plums, sweet cherries, wood, earth, vanilla, licorice, leather, spices, dark coffee, peppercorn and dark chocolates.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Napa Merlot is drinking nicely now. Showing nice balance, good complexity and a great mouthfeel .

Needs an hour to open up properly and show some tannins, but good right out of the bottle.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with Beef sliders on a brioche bun and a fireplace.

A blend of 93% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.

14.6% alcohol by volume.



$22. — 8 years ago

Ralph Watson

9.7

I never should've doubted Ron Swanson. One of my favorites to date. Smooth as silk — 9 years ago

with Hanna

Mark Wilson

9.1

Smooth almost as smooth as Swanson. . Fruity. Armas weekend. Should be able to find locally — 9 years ago

Taft Morgan

9.0

OH HELL YA! This one is amazing. Swedish Berries on the nose that translates to a platter of candy on the palate. A sweet vine but nowhere near an ice wine. Would be great on its own or balanced with some salty cashews or plain chips. A bath in this would be heaven. — 10 years ago

with Ginette