Pax Wines Syrah 'North Coast' 2022
Regular price $121.00
Unit price per
- TASTING NOTE: “Damp earth, crushed cherries, white pepper, spice-laden black fruits with a taunt finish of black liquorice, tar and pomegranate liqueur. Medium-bodied and juicy, this one punches well above its weight class. Nothing less than a classic Syrah, this shows a lovely balance of fruit, spice and earth. Drink now and stash a couple away to be rewarded with more weight and texture.” Pax Mahle, Winemaker
- ABOUT THE WINE: The composition of this blend changes each year depending on the conditions, yet several key vineyards (that form the base of Pax’s top-tier Hillside Syrah) always appear. This year’s blend includes fruit from, among others, Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffins Lair, Walker Vine Hill, Nellessen, Morris Ranch and Russell Ranch. The Castelli fruit brings high-tone spice and power; Nellessen provides nerve and acidity; the coastal Griffin’s Lair lends complexity and saline tang; Walker Vine Hill adds cool, slow-ripened detail; and the Morris Ranch and Russell Ranch sites round things out with deep fruit and vibrant acidity. The key difference between this bottling and the Sonoma Coast wines is that the vineyard components may be sourced from anywhere within Sonoma up to the rolling hills of northern Mendocino County. So, it’s a true north-coast Californian expression of Syrah that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Fermented with 100% whole bunches, the wine ages for 10 months in neutral French oak puncheons and is bottled unfiltered. According to its maker, the 2022 is “just gorgeous, and probably the best North Coast we’ve made”. Like all of this producer’s Syrah, it is a compelling argument for how singular and delicious northern Californian Syrah can be. Bibendum
- ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Sommelier and wine buyer Pax Mahle fell hard for the Syrah's of the north coast of California while working for prestigious epicurean purveyor Dean & DeLuca. UThese were wines that resembled his favourite wines from the northern Rhône from producers like Raymond Trollat and Pierre Gonon. Stunned by the region’s untapped potential, in 2000, Mahle realised he needed to be on the frontlines of winemaking rather than behind the scenes. Drawing on his many visits to the northern Rhône, he wanted to make wines his heroes would be proud of. To this end, Sonoma Coast's cool, foggy AVAs provided the perfect combination of terroir and grape. Initially, Pax leased nearly all his vineyards to ensure they were farmed to his high standards. Roll on 20 years, and the vineyards Pax sources from are independently owned by small, like-minded growers and are farmed organically, although certification is not deemed necessary. Pax spends a lot of time in these vineyards and is involved in every aspect of decision-making regarding his fruit. Although his rich, powerful expressions of Syrah put him on the map, by 2006, Pax had recalibrated his style towards fresher, lower-alcohol profiles and began working with new vineyard sources in cooler, coastal areas of Sonoma. Within a tiered classification approach, the cream of the crop is designated Hillsides. The single-vineyard wines follow, then the North Coast and Sonoma Coast blends. In the cellar, Pax plays Syrah with a straight bat: 100% whole clusters crushed by foot. Nothing that could change the natural environment of the winery is permitted, so no commercial yeasts are used. He adds more stems in cooler vintages to buttress the Syrah and provide textural richness. He never destems unless necessary (he has a very expensive destemmer in his winery that’s been used twice in 10 years!). Full of tone and sinew, these wines not only express a purity of fruit and expression of place you seldom encounter, but they are also impressively structured and balanced. Bibendum
- COUNTRY: USA
- REGION: California
- SUB-REGION: Sonoma
- VARIETAL: Shiraz
- WINE STYLE: Red Wine
- WINEMAKER: Pax Mahle
- CLASSIFICATION: Minimal Intervention, Unfined & Unfiltered, Sustainable Farming, Vegan
- CLOSURE: Cork
- ABV%: 13%
- SIZE: 750ml
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