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Saxum Vineyards

With regards to 2022 vintage, Justin Smith offered, “Thank God for Mataro”. Mataro (also known as Mourvèdre) excelled through the intense September 2022 heatwave. As a result, many wineries upped the quantities of Mataro in their blends to bring more balance—a technique often employed in regions like Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The team at Saxum harvested their whites before the heatwave, but then went through three separate harvests—before, during and after the heat—for the reds. Smith added, “We had to do a lot of triage.” Selection in the vineyards and at the sorting table was severe, and Smith decided to increase the proportion of co-ferments in his Grenache-heavy blends. In the end, all of this work and sacrifice paid off. The 2022s at Saxum, while a step behind the 2021s, are very successful. Readers should expect lower quantities across the board. Also of note is the impressive inaugural release of the Syrah Cayucos Ridge Vineyard, Smith’s newest vineyards on York Mountain. This wine is unmistakably a Saxum creation, but it’s completely distinct from anything I’ve ever tasted here. To finish our tasting, we delved into some of the just-bottled 2023s, where the vintage imparted a savory edginess to the wines that beautifully offsets their inherent richness. The 2023 vintage will be the last release of the FourHearts and Heart Stone wines, as Saxum has moved to using only 100% estate fruit. It’s a good time to be a Saxum fan.

From Paso Robles 2022 and 2023: Polar Opposites (Jun 2025) by Eric Guido

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2022 Broken Stones

Color: Red

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