Winemaker Notes
The Bone Rock blend comes from the Bone Rock block of James Berry Vineyard. We unearthed fossilized whale bones when we terraced it and then needed to use jack hammers to plant the vines.
Blend: 82% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2007 Bone Rock, which comes from the James Berry Vineyard (82% Syrah, 13% Mourvedre, and the rest Grenache, also aged 28 months in a combination of smaller barrels, demi-muids, and pungeons), is super as well. Like its late-released sibling, it has an inky/purple color to the rim and an extraordinary, soaring set of aromatics consisting of spring flowers, pepper, graphite, blackberry and blueberry fruit with hints of raspberry and licorice and jus de viande as well. The extraordinary freshness and elegance of this wine leads to a minerality that even eclipses the Heart Stone. The finish goes on for a good 45+ seconds, and the purity is awesome. This extraordinary wine completes the 2007 portfolio of unbelievable efforts from the Smiths.
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Wine Spectator
At points ultrarich, opulent and elegant, providing a broad range of dark berry, loamy earth, spice and cedar flavors, with touches of black licorice, sage and tobacco. Powerful yet restrained, gaining weight, depth and traction on the finish, where this ends with a peppery minerality that's fascinating. Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Drink now through 2022.
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.