SAXUM G2 Vineyard

WA: 94+

A blend of 53% Grenache, 21% Mataro, 19% Graciano, 4% Carignan and 3% Syrah, the 2019 G2 Vineyard has a medium ruby-purple color and scents of cherries and blueberries with touches of garrigue and mint chocolate. Although it's a touch aromatically shy, the medium-bodied palate's generous fruits are on full display, supported by fresh acidity and silty tannins, and its boldly flavored finish suggests it will offer more nuance after a few years' maturation in bottle.

VM: 96

Saturated ruby. Powerful, spice-accented aromas of Chambord, blueberry, licorice and pungent flowers; a white pepper element adds energetic lift. Seamless and deeply concentrated, offering an array of alluringly sweet red and blue fruit, Moroccan spice, mocha and floral pastille flavors braced by a core of juicy acidity. Finishes impressively long, precise and sappy, with intensely spicy thrust and steadily building tannins.

WS: 95

A dynamic red that's rich, deeply structured and plump with personality, offering accents of blackberry, licorice, rose petal and herbes de Provence that finish with plush tannins. Grenache, Mataro, Graciano and Carignan. Drink now through 2031. 1,230 cases made.

WA: 91

The 2020 G2 Vineyard displays less aromatic intensity than typical, although G2's burly, broad presence peers through the otherwise herbal, dark, spice-driven nose. The palate successfully exudes this site's signature, immense richness and svelte, elegant precision. The finish, however, is notably absent of its typically luscious fruit-driven core, instead driven by more rustic, attenuated flavors.

WS: 94

Potent and packed with tension at the core, yet layered on top are rich, dramatic flavors of huckleberry, dark mocha espresso and savory herbes de Provence, which build intensity toward broad-shouldered tannins. Grenache, Mataro, Graciano, Syrah and Carignan. Drink now through 2032. 867 cases made.