Utter perfection and one of the most profound Rhone Ranger wines I have ever tasted is the 2007 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red a blend of 41% Grenache 31% Mourvedre and 28% Syrah (15.8% alcohol). It would be an amazing wine to insert in a tasting of the most profound 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes. As with many prodigious wines the extraordinary freshness purity equilibrium and singularity of this effort is breathtaking. Its dense purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary incredibly pure all enveloping intense sweet nose of black raspberries kirsch spring flowers spice box and pepper. Full-bodied with not a hard edge to be found it is stunningly concentrated with unreal purity a voluptuous texture and remarkable freshness for a wine of such power depth and concentration. This 2007 will be approachable young although I would not be surprised to see it close down given the relatively elevated proportion of Mourvedre and it should drink well for 12-15 years.

Showing every bit as good as a bottle last year, the 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard is nothing short of spectacular and a benchmark wine. Raspberry and blackberry fruits (more dark fruited compared to the red fruits in the ’08), licorice, earth, flowers, and roasted meat notes just come jumping out of the glass, showing huge intensity as well as solid freshness and delineation. Full bodied and amazingly concentrated and structured, this remains light on the palate, showing perfect balance, gorgeous fruit, and a very long, structured finish. This should evolve over the next 3 to 5 years and most likely drink well for two decades.

An amazing wine dense rich and layered offering a mix of power and finesse with concentrated dark berry fruit mineral sage herb and cedar notes that are pure intense focused and persistent. Grenache Mourvèdre and Syrah. Drink now through 2018. 950 cases made. -JL