2023 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard | Adelaida District AVA, Paso Robles California 750

51% Graciano 27% Syrah 12% Grenache 5% Petite Sirah 5% Touriga Nacional

The last vintage from this site as the team transitions to more estate fruit, the 2023 Heart Stone Vineyard was fermented with 10% stems in concrete fermenters and aged 21 months in 76% new French and Austrian oak. Deep purple-hued, it's a rich, powerful red with notes of red and black cherries, sappy flowers, juniper, licorice, and exotic spice. Full-bodied and layered, it has a deep mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's another brilliant wine from this team. 766 cases produced. | 98, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com

...Deep garnet-purple colored, it storms out with powerful notes of baked plums and black raspberries, followed by nuances of tar, black pepper, and licorice. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of anise-laced black fruit preserves flavors, supported by fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and spicy... | 96, Lisa Perrotti-Brown for The Wine Palate