Description
98 Wine Advocate
While I wasn’t able to taste the 2004, the 2005 James Berry Vineyard Bone Rock is a knockout. A blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Grenache that was aged in 500-liter French oak puncheons, it boasts a thrilling bouquet of cassis, lead pencil shavings, licorice and toasted spices. Seamless, pure and layered, with superb concentration and perfect balance, it has sweet tannin and an awesome finish. Give it a short decant if drinking anytime soon. Starting with the Bone Rock releases, these come from a west-facing, terraced section of James Berry Vineyard. It’s named after the incredible whale bones that were found while creating the terraces.
95 Int'l Wine Cellar
Glass-staining purple. Exotic boysenberry, kirsch and candied violet aromas are positively intoxicating, expanding with air and picking up a wild, head shop-like character. Deep, chewy and sweet, offering palate-coating dark berry liqueur flavors and urgent mineral lift. It's remarkable for a wine to possess such weight and sweetness while maintaining focus-even elegance. Finishes with outstanding breadth and cling, leaving flowers and boysenberry in its wake.
94 Wine Enthusiast
The wine comes from a particular portion of the estate vineyard, and is almost entirely Syrah, with a splash of Grenache. It is a brilliant wine, entirely New World, and impressive even by California and Australia standards. Massively rich in cherry, chocolate, cassis, licorice, vanilla and cinnamon spice flavors, the '05 Bone Rock is softly tannic and compulsively drinkable, although the alcohol, 16.1%, is considerable.
