2021 Paderewski Vineyard

The 2021 Paderewski Vineyard is a blend of 48% Syrah, 19% Mataro, 17% Zinfandel, 9% Tempranillo and 7% Graciano aged for 22 months in 32% new 300-liter barrique and 68% neutral foudre. The nose displays opulent, opaque fruits with great poise and clarity, lifted with dark spice accents and flanked by integrated new-oak aromas. The palate is full-bodied and plush, with a pleasingly suave, sumptuous texture. The finish is long and impressively refined, driven by succulent, dark fruit flavors and a gentle but persistent tannic grip enlivened by refreshing acidity. The combination of ripeness and elegance should carry this wine beautifully through the next decade.

The 2021 Paderewski checks in as 48% Syrah, 19% Mataro, 17% Zinfandel, and the rest Graciano. It’s a brilliant bottle of wine, offering loads of ripe purple fruit, flowers, Jolly Rancher candy, and pepper. It’s full-bodied, has a rounded, sexy, opulent mouthfeel, and one heck of a finish. As satisfying as they come, its up-front, hedonistic style is balanced beautifully by the cooler, elegant style of the 2021 vintage. It’s up there with the finest vintages of this cuvée and will put a smile on your face any time over the coming 10-15 years or so. The 2020s from Saxum are solid wines, although there are subtle signs of smoke in a few of the wines, and in general, the wines are narrower and more focused than normal, yet still nicely concentrated. At a high level, I think these are good to outstanding wines that will offer pleasure. Clearly the 2021s are a step up, and this is another brilliant vintage for winemaker Justin Smith.