Saxum Vineyards

Heart Stone Vineyard Syrah Blend

9.336 ratings
9.45 pro ratings
Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, USA
Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre
Lamb, Chocolate & Caramel, Herbs, Soft Cheese, Salami & Prosciutto, Turkey, Pasta, Mushrooms, Veal, Tomato-Based, Chicken, Exotic Spices, Potato, White Rice, Duck, Nuts & Seeds, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Asian Cuisine, Salads & Greens, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, Quinoa, Beef, Chili & Hot Spicy, Hard Cheese, Pork, Pungent Cheese, Venison
Top Notes For
Lee Lightfoot

Best on day 3, but boy o boy it was great every time I checked in.

Best on day 3, but boy o boy it was great every time I checked in.

Dec 23rd, 2021
V M
9.1

Nice cold weather wine. Big and bold. I can chew this wine. Lots of raspberry notes.

Nice cold weather wine. Big and bold. I can chew this wine. Lots of raspberry notes.

1 person found it helpfulNov 2nd, 2014
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.

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.

Apr 29th, 2017
Levi Glenn

One of the more restrained offerings I've tried from this producer, likely due to the vintage. Was ripe, but not massive. Decent acid which was also a nice surprise. Could I say a balanced Rhone blend from Paso?

One of the more restrained offerings I've tried from this producer, likely due to the vintage. Was ripe, but not massive. Decent acid which was also a nice surprise. Could I say a balanced Rhone blend from Paso?

May 11th, 2016
Neil Shah

Really balanced out with age

Really balanced out with age

Jul 18th, 2020
Joseph Barsky

2010 Vintage. 15.7% Alcohol. 51% Syrah, 49% Grenache. Corked

2010 Vintage. 15.7% Alcohol. 51% Syrah, 49% Grenache. Corked

Sep 1st, 2019
Joseph Barsky

Tar, licorice, and blueberry. Yum. Thanks Rob!

Tar, licorice, and blueberry. Yum. Thanks Rob!

Jan 14th, 2018
V M
9.5

Warm and inviting aroma of strawberries and bramble. This is dark and brooding Syrah/Grenache blend with notes or meat drippings, dark cherry and a limestone finish

Warm and inviting aroma of strawberries and bramble. This is dark and brooding Syrah/Grenache blend with notes or meat drippings, dark cherry and a limestone finish

Sep 21st, 2017
Eric

Don't drink enough of this stuff. Awesome nose of bacon, and sweetened cinnamon. Red fruit is very subdued with a high and tight tannic finish. This needed a loooong time to open. 4 hours in the bottle without a decant and still getting better with each glass.

Don't drink enough of this stuff. Awesome nose of bacon, and sweetened cinnamon. Red fruit is very subdued with a high and tight tannic finish. This needed a loooong time to open. 4 hours in the bottle without a decant and still getting better with each glass.

Dec 26th, 2016
Daniel Taub

Big fruit. Plenty of fruit. In a very good spot

Big fruit. Plenty of fruit. In a very good spot

Mar 21st, 2016