Pax Mahle Wines
Griffin's Lair Sonoma Coast Syrah
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA
Nose has cedar-y blueberry-blackberry jam, crushed raspberry, newly paved highway, light metallic undertones with minor alcohol heat.
Palate has blackberry jam, white pepper, dried blueberry, blueberry sauce and big chalky tannins. Massive structure, no doubt, this wine needs another 10+ minimum. Yet, delicious tonight. 5h decant.
Nose has cedar-y blueberry-blackberry jam, crushed raspberry, newly paved highway, light metallic undertones with minor alcohol heat.
Palate has blackberry jam, white pepper, dried blueberry, blueberry sauce and big chalky tannins. Massive structure, no doubt, this wine needs another 10+ minimum. Yet, delicious tonight. 5h decant.
Right out of the bottle this was awesome. Beautiful smokey fruit integrated with structured tannin. After a few hours decant it seemed to shut down. Popped again the 3rd night and it finished savory. Great now... but guessing there is great reward with patience.
Right out of the bottle this was awesome. Beautiful smokey fruit integrated with structured tannin. After a few hours decant it seemed to shut down. Popped again the 3rd night and it finished savory. Great now... but guessing there is great reward with patience.
May 24th, 2019
Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits
No one in Colorado drinks more Pax than I do. From the "glou-glou" Wind Gap label to the 100 point Hillside Syrah, I love these wines. My favorite vineyard is Griffin's Lair and I think I've had every single vintage. The older bottles can be quite big, intense; while some of the newest have converged toward the leaner Wind Gap style, but either way the terroir has always shined through any stylistic trappings to reveal some of the best Syrah in California.
This 2012 is a perfect example of just how good it can get. More "Cornas" than "Cote Rotie", it's not as elegant as the most famous French Syrahs, but it doesn't have to be! Instead, the power is simply stunning. There's absolutely no fat. No extra ripeness. No over blown oak. No decadent opulence or gimmicky fruit. This is pure, unadulterated wine that gives everything great about Syrah in a sublime fashion. Unique to this vintage is amazing tannin structure, making me think this will be the longest lived vintage I've tasted.
I know that Pax recently got a 100 point score from Galloni on his Hillside Syrah - and Iove that wine too - but how did this only get 94 points? I understand the ideological importance of awarding a perfect score to a low alcohol, lighter extracted wine, but I'm afraid it's going to discourage this classic style. I love powerful syrah and I hope it never goes away. To me, this is basically perfect.
#PaxWine #NaturalWine #Sonoma #PetalumaGap
No one in Colorado drinks more Pax than I do. From the "glou-glou" Wind Gap label to the 100 point Hillside Syrah, I love these wines. My favorite vineyard is Griffin's Lair and I think I've had every single vintage. The older bottles can be quite big, intense; while some of the newest have converged toward the leaner Wind Gap style, but either way the terroir has always shined through any stylistic trappings to reveal some of the best Syrah in California.
This 2012 is a perfect example of just how good it can get. More "Cornas" than "Cote Rotie", it's not as elegant as the most famous French Syrahs, but it doesn't have to be! Instead, the power is simply stunning. There's absolutely no fat. No extra ripeness. No over blown oak. No decadent opulence or gimmicky fruit. This is pure, unadulterated wine that gives everything great about Syrah in a sublime fashion. Unique to this vintage is amazing tannin structure, making me think this will be the longest lived vintage I've tasted.
I know that Pax recently got a 100 point score from Galloni on his Hillside Syrah - and Iove that wine too - but how did this only get 94 points? I understand the ideological importance of awarding a perfect score to a low alcohol, lighter extracted wine, but I'm afraid it's going to discourage this classic style. I love powerful syrah and I hope it never goes away. To me, this is basically perfect.
#PaxWine #NaturalWine #Sonoma #PetalumaGap
Killer Syrah, not over ripe, beautiful fruit, rich meaty texture, with high tannins and high acid
Killer Syrah, not over ripe, beautiful fruit, rich meaty texture, with high tannins and high acid
Feb 10th, 2016
Just ripping tannin...after a 4 hour decant and a careful pour to oust sediment.
Just ripping tannin...after a 4 hour decant and a careful pour to oust sediment.
Nov 26th, 2020
Nose pops out of glass. Sensuous mouth feel with lively red fruit. Higher alcohol and medium acidity. Drinking very well in its prime. Pax making great juice.
Nose pops out of glass. Sensuous mouth feel with lively red fruit. Higher alcohol and medium acidity. Drinking very well in its prime. Pax making great juice.
Oct 17th, 2019
Owner/Winemaker Villa Creek Winery
Nice fruit w intriguing aromatics. I look forward to the next one.
Nice fruit w intriguing aromatics. I look forward to the next one.
Mar 27th, 2015
Smoke, wet leather, asphalt, game, and cool sensations of mint/eucalyptus. Decanted for roughly 2.5 Hours. Solid Syrah from a dynamite producer.
Smoke, wet leather, asphalt, game, and cool sensations of mint/eucalyptus. Decanted for roughly 2.5 Hours. Solid Syrah from a dynamite producer.
Apr 28th, 2018