Primarily Grenache with smaller portions of Mataro (13%) and Syrah (11%), the 2018 Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard is denser and firmer than the toned-down 2019 iteration, offering loads of plush fruit. Medium ruby-purple, it's scented of roasted plums and wild berries with notes of blood orange, fallen leaves, dried flowers and spices. The medium to full-bodied palate has an abundance of grainy tannins, generous floral fruits and a long, flavorful finish.

Medium to deep ruby, the 2017 Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard is a blend of 78% Grenache, 14% Mataro and 8% Syrah. The nose offers lovely tricolored berry fruits with notes of aniseed, lavender and potpourri. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with juicy, super spicy fruits, softly framed and finishing uplifted.

The 2016 Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, a blend of 59% Grenache, 28% Mataro, 10% Counoise and 3% Syrah, is an incredibly layered, nuanced wine. It was made with 17% whole cluster and aged 31 months in 100% new oak. Medium to deep ruby, the nose offers a laundry list of aromas: black cherry jam, cured meats, pink peppercorn, dried cranberries, pomegranate, red berry jam and nuances of blood orange, amaro, cinnamon stick and earth. The medium to full-bodied palate is just as layered, with a gently grainy frame and lip-smacking freshness to enliven the long, perfumed finish. 240 cases were made.

The 2015 Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard—which had been assembled in preparation for its bottling in two weeks' time—is superb, revealing complex aromas of cherry, raspberries and spice. On the palate, it's full-bodied, textural and bright, with an expansive core of juicy, succulent fruit framed by fine-grained structuring tannins. This rendition of Rocket Block—from a cooler, northeast-exposed parcel—is one of the most elegant, vibrant wines in the Saxum cellar, exemplifying not only Smith's evolution as a winemaker but also what's possible in Paso Robles. The final blend is 89% Grenache and 11% Mourvèdre, matured in concrete and neutral oak. It should enjoy two decades of longevity.

Tasted on two separate occasions, just before and then after bottling, the 2013 Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard comes from an east-facing, cooler parcel in the James Berry Vineyard that's harvested very late. It is an extraordinary wine (100% destemmed Grenache) that was fermented and aged in concrete for a year before being moved to used barrels. Only bottled in 2003 and 2005 previously, the 2013 sports a medium ruby, mostly opaque purple color to go with ethereal notes of black raspberries, kirsch, currants, ground herbs, flowers and incense. Like all of Justin's 2013s, it leans towards the elegant and finesse-driven side of the spectrum, yet it has insane levels of purity, fine tannin, no hard edges and a sensational finish. Forget bottles for 3-4 years and drink over the following decade.