Saxum Vineyards G2 Vineyard, Paso Robles, USA 2023

Beginning with the 2014 vintage, we brought a new vineyard into the fold.  The G2 vineyard is only half a mile from our estate, directly to the South West.  Our friend Bill Gibbs (of Heart Stone fame) purchased the property with 40 acres already planted to Grenache, Mataro, Syrah, Tannat, and Zinfandel.  We locked down our favorite blocks, an amazing 5 acre South slope planted to Mataro and Grenache.  These blocks are extremely rocky and steep, a twin of our Syrah block at Booker Vineyard, with a vertical rise of 200 feet in a single row!  Our hunches were right and the fruit off these blocks are mind blowing.  Since 2014 we have planted 8 more blocks; 2 North facing Grenache blocks, 2 big south slopes with head trained Graciano, a North face Syrah block, and some blocks of Carignane and Cinsault.  We plan to keep the blend Grenache and Mataro dominant but want to bring in these supporting characters for a little extra complexity. 

It’s not often Grenache makes up such a large component of G2, but with this vintage it just worked best that way. Juicy, red and black fruits dominate the nose and the palate. It’s sexy and complex at the same time, with some sweet oak tones framing things up quite nicely. I could drink this wine tonight or hold on to it for 20 plus years. It’s a classic.

"Based on 72% Grenache, 13% Syrah, 6% Mataro, 5% Graciano, and 4% Carignan, aged 22 months in a mix of amphora and French oak, the 2023 G2 Vineyard boasts a sensational perfume of dark berries, black cherries, scorched earth, graphite, and peppery, floral nuances. It's full-bodied, with a seamless, textured mouthfeel, ripe yet polished tannins, and that rare mix of richness with elegance. This shows the warmer style of the vintage while staying light on its feet and, oh, so drinkable. I love it today, yet it has at least 15 years of prime drinking ahead of it." Jeb Dunnuck 98