2020 The Hexe

The 2020 The Hexe is a blend of 51% Grenache, 17% Petite Sirah, 11% Graciano, 10% Mataro, 7% Syrah and 4% Carignan aged 32 months in 75% new 300-liter barrels and 20% amphora. The nose is poised yet intense, combining savory, decadent aromas of black plums, blackberry compote, black pepper and olive framed by pleasing hints of new French oak that should integrate into further complexity with time in the bottle. The palate is gigantic yet impressively balanced, with a sappy, concentrated, decadent texture slingshotting into a refined, pleasant, expansive finish that grows continuously layered with time—a fantastic success within an immensely challenging vintage.

A step up over the Rocket Block and one of the finest 2020s out there, the 2020 Hexe is 51% Grenache, 17% Petite Sirah, and the rest Graciano and Mourvèdre, all from a single parcel of old vines in the James Berry Vineyard. Darker red and black fruits, smoked herbs, graphite, and spicy notes all dominate the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, has terrific concentration, and ripe, polished tannins. It's a gorgeous bottle of wine. 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.