Saxum Vineyards

Justin Smith, Photo by Lawrence K. Ho for LATimes

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Country of Origin: USA
Location: Willow Creek District, Paso Robles
People: Justin & Heather Smith, Owner | Justin Smith, Winemaker
Viticulture: Practicing Organic

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Justin Smith is one of Paso Robles’ superstars. His Saxum wines have achieved great fame and amassed a cult following.

Saxum Vineyards is focused on producing Rhone inspired red blends from the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. Production is kept to 4,000-5,000 cases a year divided between seven different cuvees: Broken Stones, James Berry Vineyard, Bone Rock, Booker Vineyards, Paderewski Vineyard, Heart Stone Vineyard and Terry Hoage Vineyard. Most of the cuvees are sourced from Justin’s estate James Berry Vineyard. The James Berry Vineyard is an exceptional hillside site planted in pure white limestone and fossilized shells; it is a site that provides extraordinary richness, minerality, precision, and individuality. It is located 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean with an average elevation of 1,200 feet. The cooling ocean breezes help the grapes maintain acidity. Rocket Block, Bone Rock, Broken Stones and James Berry Vineyard wines all come from this site. The Heart Stone Vineyard is a separate vineyard within the estate.

Justin Smith farms all of his vineyards with organic principles. He does not use chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Irrigation is rarely needed as his vines’ roots penetrate deeply through the soil. Everything is done by hand, and yields are kept naturally low from the rock soils and extensive thinning. In the cellar, Justin takes a minimalist approach. Saxum’s wines are never racked off their lees and are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Media Links
The Orange County Register: Paso Robles' Saxum Digs Deep in Quest for Quality
Wine Spectator: Featured Winemaker: Justin Smith of Saxum
Wine Business.com: Justin Smith to be Honored as the 2013 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year
Stolpman Vineyard Wine Journal: Research Trip: Justin Smith of Saxum
Wine-Searcher: Saxum's Justin Smith Keeps Paso Robles Cool
Alister & Paine: 2010 James Berry from Saxum Vineyards
A Long Pour: The Princes of West Paso {Matt Trevisan & Justin Smith}
A Long Pour: Saxum {Deeper Roots}

Reviews

  • Saxum 2021 4hearts Vineyard, Paso Robles
    Jeb Dunnuck
    Rating: 98 (8/30/2023)

    The 2021 Four Hearts Vineyard is another flat-out awesome 2021 that readers will love. Based on 46% Petite Sirah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Zinfandel, it sports a saturated purple hue to go with exotic notes of cassis, green tobacco, sandalwood, baking spices, and incense. It’s clearly the finest vintage of this cuvée to date, and this full-bodied, incredibly pure, layered, flawlessly balanced red can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for upwards of 10-15 years, depending on your preferences. The tannin quality here is off the charts.
  • Saxum 2021 G2 Vineyard, Paso Robles
    Jeb Dunnuck
    Rating: 97-99 (8/30/2023)

    Not yet bottled but already incredibly impressive, the 2021 G2 will be Grenache-dominated but includes smaller amounts of Syrah and Graciano. It’s loaded with red and black raspberry-like fruits as well as tons of floral, pepper, and spicy nuances, which carry to a full-bodied, pure, elegant red. It’s remarkably complex for such a young wine and has incredible tannins and a gorgeous finish. Don’t miss it.