2019 Saxum "Somnus" Paso Robles Rhône Blend (1.5L)

The 2019 Somnus is a new wine from Saxum. It sports a medium to deep garnet-purple color, and—WOW—the nose is so perfumed! Rose oil, dark chocolate, black raspberries, and juicy blackberries all jump from the glass, leading to hints of black pepper, fragrant earth, and cardamom. The full-bodied palate delivers an electric line of freshness, supporting the rich, dense fruit in conjunction with substantial, grainy tannins, finishing very long and earthy. This is so dense and structured (yet also delicious) that it should be immortal! “Somnus is the Greek goddess of sleep,” said proprietor Justin Smith. “We wanted to call it E Pluribus Unum but couldn’t use that as the name because it was taken, so we put it on the back label. In 2019, we did a big co-ferment with the Petite Sirah, and we didn’t want to blend it away. The blend is 33% Petite Sirah, 33% Syrah, 17% Graciano, 13% Touriga Nacional, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Most of the fruit comes from James Berry Vineyard, with a little from Heartstone. It has about 16% stem inclusion and spent 44 months in barrel.” (LPB)

The 2019 Somnus is exotic and impossible to ignore with its beguiling spice-box bouquet. White pepper and clove come together with dried roses and blackberries. It smooths over the palate with ripe red and black fruit yet quickly builds in tension as a liquid floral concentration and a bitter tinge of cedary spice and cocoa saturate toward the close. It finishes impossibly long and tannic, but the tannins are sweet and round. Violet inner florals and a saturation of salted licorice linger for ages. The Somnus underwent an extra year of barrel-aging (44 months, 87% new). It’s a co-ferment of Syrah, Graciano, Touriga Nacional and Petite Sirah, with 16% whole clusters. This is not to be missed. (EG) 98+