Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard Adelaida District 2017

97 points Jeb Dunnuck: "There was a single foudre of the 2017 Heart Stone Vineyard, which checks in as a blend of 50% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 14% Graciano, and the rest Petite Sirah and Touriga Nacional that was mostly destemmed. Showing even better from bottle than barrel, it offers a stunning nose of ripe blueberries, black raspberries, ground pepper, and violets. Full-bodied, rounded, and seamless on the palate, it has a beautiful sense of complexity and purity paired with serious depth of fruit and opulence on the palate. Drink: 2021-2036. (10/31/19)"

96 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "Vivid purple. Powerful dark berry, cherry pie, incense, potpourri, musky herb and spicecake aromas show outstanding clarity and pick up a smoky mineral flourish with aeration. Sweet and chewy on the palate, offering deeply concentrated but energetic blackberry, cherry preserve, five-spice powder and floral pastille flavors that are given lift and spine by a core of juicy acidity. Blends richness and finesse smoothly and finishes incredibly long and spicy, with youthfully firm tannins adding shape and final grip. Drink: 2027-2037. (Feb 2020)"

93 points Erin Brooks (Wine Advocate): "The 2017 Heart Stone Vineyard is made up of 50% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 14% Graciano, 8% Petite Sirah and 6% Touriga Nacional. Medium to deep ruby, it's scented of dried sour cherries, black cherries and currants with nuances of violet, orange peel, black tea leaves, underbrush and warm earth. Medium to full-bodied, it has a good balance of earth and fruit, with a grainy frame and long, layered finish. Drink: 2020-2030. (Feb 2020)"

93 points Wine Spectator: "Potent yet polished, with deeply layered black raspberry, dried cherry, orange zest and smoky pepper flavors that build tension toward fine-grained tannins. Syrah, Petite Sirah, Touriga Nacional, Grenache and Graciano. Drink now through 2029. 420 cases made. (3/31/20)"

Producer notes: "50% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 14% Graciano, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Touriga Nacional. The 2017 vintage was all aged in 1 used 3200L foudre. The absence of new oak really lets the fruit shine through, and the large vessel really kept the aromatics on the pure vineyard driven side of things… I’d say camphor, cherries, and a damp pine forest. The purity of fruit flavors that come through in the mouth are remarkably intriguing. Of all the 2017 wines, this is the one I’m drinking right now (besides the Gratias). In spite of all the big bruiser varieties in this blend, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Petite Sirah, Graciano, it is a surprisingly very open, elegant wine. 423 cases produced. Alcohol 15.6%."