Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.6

There’s a lot of wine being made in California and abroad that is, in theory, similar to this wine… Extremely old vines of obscure varietals, natural production and so on. However, in this case, winemakers Pax Mahle and Loren Grossman have delivered something that shines brighter than the rest - including their other labels. 

Titular “Pax” wines have a similar sense of spice, animal and force, but often lack the subtly found here. His other label “Wind Gap” capitalizing on the trend of hardly ripened fruit to give the wine telling minerality and that mouth-puckering tart freshness at the expense of body.  All of which is also evident in this wine, but much more balanced and slowly revealed. 

This wine is sexy and nimble, but has depth and a sense of place. Reminiscent of  Northern Rhone but less narrowly focused. It’s all you can ask for from California. They only made about 100 cases, and it retails for under 40 dollars. We have 9 bottles left at Joy Wine & Spirits, come in and get it. — 11 years ago

Ashleigh G

10

Served this at our wedding! — 11 years ago

Pierre-Yves Chauveau

9.4

rose, ginger natural joy sparkling in a bottle — 12 years ago

Gerald Montoya

9.3

A lovely blend of Frappato and Nero d'Avola. Deep, juicy, red, plumy fruit up front that should appeal to any palate, but great spice and minerality in the mid to rear palate with just a hint of Sicilian earth in the mix. Precise, focused and complete. A joy to drink, complex and interesting. Another great import from Jan D'Amore. — 11 years ago

TheSkip

9.0

Nice wine. Probably not the 94 that it has received in the press — 11 years ago

Melissa Kunkel

9.5

Vintage 2013 — 12 years ago

Kina Kreer

9.0

May 2016 be sweet and filled with joy — 11 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.1

Pinot that tastes like pinot. Like all of Jim's wines, it is its best self at the table with food. A joy. — 11 years ago

Kevin Walsh

Wine blogger doxologywine.com; Freelance Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) Doxology Wine Consulting

9.3

A joy to drink. Lush fruit with enough complexity to keep it interesting from start to finish. — 11 years ago

Martin Redmond

9.1

Full bodied American made Saké with apple, lychee ,plum and spice character — 13 years ago