Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Checking in as a blend of 42% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre, 20% Tannat, and the balance Zinfandel, the 2016 G2 is one of the standouts in this truly stacked lineup. It sports a vivid ruby/purple color as well as a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, new saddle leather, sweet garrigue, white pepper, and blood orange. Deep, rich, and layered, yet also light on its feet, incredibly complex, and perfectly balanced, it's an incredible wine from this up and coming vineyard that readers should snatch up. It will be even better with 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise in cold cellars for 10-15 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2014 was Sauxm's first vintage of the G2 vineyard. The 2016 G2 Vineyard is a blend of 47% Grenache, 40% Mataro and 13% Tannat. It was made with 6% whole cluster and aged 19 months in several vessels, including 50% foudres and 30% new oak. Medium to deep ruby in the glass, the nose explodes with sour cherries, cranberries, dried black cherries, garrigue, scorched earth and tar aromas with dried flowers and citrus peel coming through with time. The palate is lovely, medium to full-bodied and intense with bright, lifted fruits, a grainy frame, mouthwatering freshness and a long, nuanced finish.
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Wine Spectator
Intense and muscular, with a potent brew of blackberry, crushed rock, bitter chocolate and licorice flavors that builds toward broad-shouldered tannins. Hands off for now. Grenache, Mataro, Tannat and Zinfandel. Best from 2021 through 2027.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.