From winemaker Justin Smith, Saxum Vineyards is focused on producing grenache, syrah, and mourvedre based blends from the Templeton Gap/Willow Creek area of Paso Robles. Total yearly production is limited to approximately 4,000 cases.

2012 Saxum Syrah Broken Stones:  97 points, Wine Advocate

The 2012 Syrah Broken Stones is a beauty. Made from 79% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah and the rest Grenache, Mourvedre and Roussanne, it offers up full-bodied, decadent, yet incredibly pure notes of creme de cassis, smoked earth, pepper and violets. Seamless and silky, yet with a great mid-palate and notable tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will have 15 years or more of overall longevity.

2011 Saxum Syrah Broken Stones:  96 points, Wine Advocate

The brilliant 2011 Syrah Broken Stones comes from a cooler block of the James Berry Vineyard and checks in as a blend of 78% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre and 4% Petit Sirah. Relatively forward (especially when compared to the locked up Bone Rock), with fabulous purity and freshness, it exudes notions of creme de cassis, blueberry, pepper, crushed flowers and sweet oak on the nose. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, yet with building richness and rock star length, it’s an elegant version of the cuvee to drink over the coming 15 years or more. 

Donors:  Linda Lee & Maxwell Meng