2018 Saxum Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard | Willow Creek District, Paso Robles California 750ml

Rocket Block is a particular Grenache block of James Berry Vineyard. We planted it in 1995 with the California selection of Grenache that goes by the handle Grenache 01. A very steep, North East facing slope that rises 100 feet in a short amount of time. The soil is rich, but rocky and well drained, and the exposure being away from the hot summer sun lets this block hang forever. It is almost always the last block we pick out of all our vineyards which allows for maximum hang time, and perfect fruit maturity. It is a wine that defies categorizing. On the one hand, it is loaded with ripe rich flavors, mouth coating and decadent. On the other hand, it is ethereal and light. Our wines are never racked off their lees and are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Here's a wine that when we tasted it from barrel someone would inevitably say "dude, WTF is that?" It's Rocket Block. That's what the F that is. 400 cases produced. | Justin Smith for Saxum

...as good as any Chateauneuf du Pape or Grenache-based wine out there, it offers a brilliant array of sweet kirsch and blackberry fruits as well as white pepper, garrigue, and sandalwood. Full-bodied, ultra-pure, flawlessly balanced, and one of those wines that brings sensational richness and intensity while at the same time staying weightless and elegant, it should deliver the goods any time over the coming 15+ years. | 100 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com