2022 Saxum Cayucos Ridge

The 2022 Cayucos Ridge Vineyard is the most distinct wine in the Saxum lineup, owing to its origins in the San Luis Obispo Coast and its position as the only single-variety wine in the roster. It opens with a quintessential, varietal nose of cracked pepper, beef jerky, olive tapenade and purple flowers. The palate is the clear product of the site's ultra-low yields, exuding a stunning density and concentration before releasing into a layered finish of firm tannins supported by a creamy core of new wood that impressively integrates into the overall savory profile. Made from 100% Syrah with 43% stem inclusion, the wine matured for 34 months in 68% new 225-liter barrels.

The second vintage from this cool site just beside the Pacific, the 2022 Cayucos Ridge Vineyard is 100% Syrah, fermented with 43% whole clusters and aged 34 months in 68% new French oak (225-liter and 300-liter barrels). Spicy red and black fruits, California bay, pepper, sandalwood, and sage all emerge from this incredibly complete and complex wine. Medium to full-bodied, it’s layered, pure, and seamless, with ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and flawless balance. It's an absolutely magical, singular wine that tops out my scale. I love it today, yet it should have 15-20 years of prime drinking. Drink 2025-2045. I’ve been raving about the wines from Justin Smith’s Saxum estate for close to two decades now, and at times I feel like a broken record. That said, the quality this family consistently delivers is jaw-dropping year after year. I don’t recommend many mailing lists, but this is certainly one to be on. Looking at the 2023s, the wines are brilliant across the board. They reflect the longer, cooler style of the vintage while staying true to form, with serious richness and depth. The 2022s are much more open and expressive, showing the sunny personality of the year. They still have plenty of structure, and I suspect they’ll age beautifully. It’s also worth noting that as Cayucos Ridge continues to come online, Justin is moving more and more toward estate-only fruit. As a result, 2023 will be the final vintage for both Heart Stone and Paderewski. He’s still holding onto a bit of G2 fruit, but we’ll see how long that lasts. At the same time, a new cuvée called The Old Blocks will replace the former Hexe release, although it will no longer include any G2 fruit.