Ratings & Tasting Notes:
100 points Jeb Dunnuck
Review Date: 08/2025
Still inky purple-hued to the rim, the 2021 Somnus reveals absolutely sensational aromatics of cassis, darker currants, pepper herbs, cured meats, and graphite. It’s deep and powerful, with full-bodied richness, massive mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, and blockbuster length. Brought up in French oak (86% new, 14% neutral) for 44 months, it’s going to have two to three decades of longevity. It’s Saxum’s answer to Guigal’s famed La Las, and it delivers the goods!
97 points Vinous
Review Date: 06/2025
The 2021 Somnus is impossible to ignore, offering a spice box bouquet of black tea leaves, cedar and pine, dried blackberries, cardamom and clove. More lifted and energetic than anticipated, it presents saturating depths of red and black fruits, complicated by savory herbal tones and a bitter cocoa tinge as edgy tannins saturate toward the close. Long and structured yet remarkably fresh, the 2021 finishes with impressive length and a subtle balsamic nuance as graphite mineral tones fade slowly. (EG)
96 points Wine Advocate
Review Date: 10/2025
The second iteration of this release and one of the more extreme bottlings produced at Saxum, the 2021 Somnus combines the most tannic lots from Cayucos Ridge Vineyard with a co-fermentation of Syrah, Petite Sirah and Graciano from James Berry Vineyard. It matures for an additional year beyond the already lengthy élevage of the block designates, making for a full 44-month élevage in 86% new 225-liter barriques. The bouquet is a kaleidoscope of spice, anise and black fruit aromas, introducing a fittingly dense, fleshy, enveloping palate padded with savory nuance and a creamy core of oak that works impressively well despite its prominent presence. It closes with a refined, three-dimensional finish, lingering with endless richness, chalky tannins and succulent energy. This wine occupies a rare nexus of being overtly treated while retaining an unmistakable expression of place, and I look forward to seeing the layers it develops with time in the cellar. (ML) 96+
Cult Wines International Notes:
The 2021 Saxum Somnus is a rare and formidable addition to the portfolio, named after the Roman god of sleep due to its extended 44-month “slumber” in French oak. This vintage represents the second release of the label and is one of Justin Smith’s most ambitious and structured creations, often compared to the iconic “La La” Syrahs of Guigal. The blend is dominated by Syrah (approximately 33%), primarily sourced from the cool-climate Cayucos Ridge Vineyard, and co-fermented with 33% Petite Sirah, 17% Graciano, 13% Touriga Nacional, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. This long aging process—nearly a year longer than most other Saxum bottlings—is used to tame the wine’s massive tannins, resulting in what Smith describes as a “velvet glove in an iron gauntlet.”
In the glass, the 2021 Somnus is inky and opaque, offering an explosive and “kaleidoscopic” bouquet of cassis, blackberry pie, kirsch, and violets, layered with savory notes of cured meats, graphite, and anise. On the palate, it is deep and powerful, characterized by a massive mid-palate richness and “blockbuster” length. While the 2019 debut was known for its sheer power, the 2021 is noted for being brighter, more lifted, and more sophisticated, with a core of dark fruit balanced by fresh acidity and mineral tension. With a perfect 100-point rating from Jeb Dunnuck, this is a true collector’s piece built for the long haul, with a drinking window that easily extends through 2055.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Perfect
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
