2022 Saxum Vineyards Cayucos Ridge Vineyard Syrah

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.

Deep garnet-purple colored, it struts out of the glass with an impressive perfume of lavender, rose oil, dark chocolate, and juicy blackberries, leading to a core of plum preserves, peppered salami, mossy tree bark, and fragrant soil. Full- bodied, the palate delivers a rock-solid structure of firm grainy tannins and seamless freshness to match the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long and perfumed. Stunning!