2016 Saxum Booker Vineyard Syrah

The 2016 Booker Vineyard is made up of 73% Syrah and 27% Mataro. It was made with 13% whole cluster and aged 22 months in 60% new oak and 40% amphorae. Medium to deep ruby, it has inviting aromas of cassis, marionberry jam, baked blackberries and red cherry preserves with notions of dusty earth, Earl Grey tea leaves, earth and amaro. Medium to full-bodied, intense, layered and very pretty in the mouth, it has a firm, very finely grained frame and seamlessly woven freshness, finishing long and flavorful. 356 cases produced.

Flirting with perfection, the 2016 Booker Vineyard is a classic bruiser from this vineyard that has overflowing notes of blackberries, blackcurrants, smoked earth, and violets. Checking in as 73% Syrah and 27% Mourvèdre (13% stems) brought up new barrels, it hits the balance with full-bodied richness, incredible purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. If you’re lucky enough to have a few bottles, do you best to hide them in the cellar for 2-3 years. Saxum’s Justin Smith has hit a home run with these recent vintages, and his 2015s, 2016s, 2017s, and 2018s all have singular styles, with the quality remaining sky-high. The 2018s show the slightly more pure, fresh, yet concentrated style of the vintage nicely. While not yet bottled, these will offer pleasure in their youth as well as benefit from short term cellaring. The 2017s are more pretty, perfumed wines that don’t quite have the density of the 2016s yet certainly don’t lack for fruit. Most are already drinking nicely today, yet as with all great wines, they’re going to evolve gracefully. Lastly, the 2016s are some of the greatest wines I’ve tasted from this estate, and they offer massive, layered, yet impeccably balanced profiles that are a joy to drink today; they’ll also be a joy to drink in 10-15 years as well. As I’ve written more than once, there are few mailing lists worth being one, but without a doubt, this is one of them.

Dark purple. Powerful black and blue fruit preserve aromas are complicated by hints of smoky minerals, incense and succulent herbs, and a subtle hint of white pepper develops in the glass. Juicy and concentrated yet surprisingly energetic as well, offering sappy, sharply delineated blackberry, cherry compote and floral pastille flavors and a touch of five-spice powder. The impressively long, chewy finish features resonating floral and dark berry notes and dusty tannins that emerge slowly and steadily.