Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard 2007

Professional Ratings

• 98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The late-released 2007 Heart Stone, which spent 28 months in a combination of barrels, demi-muids, and pungeons, turned out to be a final blend of 65% Syrah, 21% Grenache, and 14% Mourvedre. Like all of Justin Smith’s 2007s, it is a riveting, sensational wine that carries its heavy weight, profound richness, and intensity very gracefully. That is no doubt an effect of the limestone soils of this region. Blackberry and smoked meats as well as some garrigue and floral notes are followed by a dense, rich, pure, multi-layered wine that just screams for grilled poultry or meats! Bottled unfined and unfiltered (and as I recall, 25-35% stems/whole clusters were used during fermentation), this is a fabulous wine that combines power and elegance. It should drink well for at least a decade or more.
• 98 Jeb Dunnuck
  Back when it was still Syrah-dominated, the 2007 Heartstone Vineyard checks in as 65% Syrah, 21% Grenache, and 14% Mourvèdre that was fermented with plenty of whole clusters and aged in barrel. It's still deep purple color is followed by a gorgeously complex, nuanced bouquet of spiced plums, incense, pepper, thyme and assorted herbs. Huge, full-bodied, still structured, big, and youthful, it's unquestionably the top vintage of this cuvée.
• 97 Wine Spectator
  There's amazing harmony and range of flavor in this red, which offers richness, elegance and finesse, with blackberry, wild berry, plum and cherry fruit that's full-bodied, smooth-textured and layered, opening doors of flavor on an amazingly long, intricate finish. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2022.