{"title":"Pax","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"pax-wines-north-coast-syrah-2021","title":"Pax Wines North Coast Syrah 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe exact combination of this blend changes each year depending on the conditions, yet several key vineyards that form the base of Pax’s Hillside Syrah always appear. The key difference between this bolting and the Sonoma Coast wines is that the vineyard components may be sourced from anywhere within Sonoma County and all the way up to the rolling hills of northern Mendocino County. So, a true north-coast Californian expression of Syrah that is greater than the sum of its parts. Fermented with 100% whole bunches, the wine is aged for 10 months in a mixture of neutral French oak puncheons and concrete and bottled unfiltered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike all of this producer’s Syrah, it is intensely perfumed and bursts with focussed fruit and black olive salinity, paired with classic varietal notes of violet and pepper alongside refreshing acidity. This a compelling argument for just how singular and delicious Northern Californian Syrah can be.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pax Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44089937035502,"sku":"21349-750","price":63.87,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/7468\/3630\/products\/fc51aa81-8cc4-ed11-ab3d-024d026f405e_21349-750.png?v=1679047702"},{"product_id":"pax-wines-sonoma-coast-syrah-2020","title":"Pax Wines Sonoma Coast Syrah 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003ePax Mahle did not make his top Syrah in 2020, instead declassifying those barrels into a new label called Sonoma Coast—so, you could call this a ‘baby Hillsides’, with all that entails. Initially thought to be a one-off vintage, Pax loved the wine’s spicy vibrancy so much that the Sonoma Coast Syrah will now be a permanent fixture in the range – provided he can source sufficient fruit. The blend sees contributions from several coastal vineyards in the Sonoma Coast AVA: the organically farmed, sandy Nellessen Vineyard was planted in 2000 and located west of Sebastopol (where the Pax Wines Cellar Door is located) in the Russian River Valley; the coastal Armagh Vineyard, planted in 1997, which is farmed organically and situated in the cool centre of the Petaluma Gap; and the Griffins Lair Vineyard, also located in the cool Petaluma Gap, planted in 1990 and farmed organically.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe winemaking is similar to the North Coast Syrah.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eClocking in at a cool 12.5%, Pax describes this as a true “coastal Syrah”, with nervy freshness and slightly lighter body. Given the recent series of solar vintages in France, one could wager our friends in the Northern Rhône would love to be making something as vibrant and drinkable as this each year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pax Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44089937297646,"sku":"21350-750","price":70.87,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/7468\/3630\/products\/71032598-8cc4-ed11-ab3d-0ac90280dbea_21350-750.png?v=1679047706"},{"product_id":"pax-wines-alta-monte-sonoma-gamay-2021","title":"Pax Wines Sonoma Alta Monte Gamay 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eNow California is getting its act together with Gamay (most of the state’s original plantings turned out to be a grape called Valdiguié and a Pinot Noir cultivar) this grape will be playing an increasing role in the Pax story. This particular bottling is a blend of fruit from two vineyards. The first is the Black-Knight Vineyard located on Alta Monte Road, above the intersection of the Bennett Valley and Sonoma Coast AVAs. Situated on a ranch that dates back to 1880, the soils are volcanic with cobbly clay loams, and the vines are dry-farmed where possible. The second source is the Rancho Coda Vineyard, a very steep, high vineyard (just over 300 metres) above the Russian River Valley. The soils are sandstone with quartz and schist and a layer of sandy clay loam.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFermented in the style of Beaujolais, this saw 100% whole bunches and was then aged in neutral French puncheons for 10 months. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt’s a delightful and lip-smacking rendition of the grape, with spicy red fruit, impressive focus and fine length.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pax Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44089937395950,"sku":"21351-750","price":74.37,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/7468\/3630\/products\/cb97609e-8cc4-ed11-ab3d-0ac90280dbea_21351-750.png?v=1679047710"},{"product_id":"pax-wines-sonoma-hillsides-syrah-2021","title":"Pax Wines Sonoma Hillsides Syrah 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eInspired by his visits to the cellars of Jean Gonon and Raymond Trollat, 2016 was the first release of Pax Mahle’s Hillsides Syrah. The wine received a rare 100-point score from Vinous, and Antonio Galloni also recently wrote that Hillsides represents “one of the very finest wines in Northern California”. Hillsides is a culmination of the most compelling Syrah Pax can find in any given year. The wines are identified post-fermentation, taken from wood, and blended into a single concrete tank. Pax explains, “concrete gives a very dense core of fruit. Concrete breathes but not as much as wood; it brings the wine to a really nice reductive state, which allows us to minimise our use of sulphur.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sites used in the Sonoma Hillsides Syrah can vary each year. However, each is chosen to showcase the freshness and vibrancy that Syrah can only achieve in these cool-climate hillside slopes. In particular, the Walker Vine Hill Vineyard in the Russian River Valley invariably forms the base of this prestigious wine. Situated in a unique micro-climate that traps cool coastal influences to allow the fruit to ripen slowly, the vines are rooted in iconic Goldridge soil (a touchstone for cool-climate Syrah in California). The remaining sites include the Castelli-Knight Ranch, bringing high-tone spice and power; the Nellessen Vineyard, which provides nerve and acidity; and the cool and fog-blanketed Griffin’s Lair Vineyard in Petaluma Gap.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike the rest of the Pax Syrah range, the Sonoma Hillsides is 100% whole cluster fermented and foot crushed. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a 12.5% wine that sees no new wood, it’s an intense wine but not about power. Instead, it’s driven by finesse and transparency; a penetrating but floral Californian Syrah binding sinewy freshness to textural affluence. And it is the stuff dinner table dreams are made of.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pax Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44089937461486,"sku":"21352-750","price":104.12,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/7468\/3630\/products\/8bbacab2-8cc4-ed11-ab3d-0ac90280dbea_21352-750.png?v=1679047713"},{"product_id":"pax-wines-sonoma-hillsides-syrah-2022","title":"Pax Wines Sonoma Hillsides Syrah 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eInspired by his visits to the cellars of Jean Gonon and Raymond Trollat, 2016 was the first release of Pax Mahle’s Hillsides Syrah. The wine received a rare 100-point score from Vinous, and Antonio Galloni also recently wrote that Hillsides represents “one of the very finest wines in Northern California”. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHillsides is a culmination of the most compelling Syrah Pax can find in a given year. The wines are identified post-fermentation, taken from wood and blended into a single concrete tank. Pax explains: “Concrete gives a very dense core of fruit. Concrete breathes but not as much as wood; it brings the wine to a really nice reductive state, which allows us to minimise our use of sulphur.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sites used in the Sonoma Hillsides Syrah vary each year. However, each is chosen to showcase the freshness and vibrancy that Syrah can only achieve in these cool-climate hillside slopes. The common thread across the sites is high elevation, steep rocky slopes and old vines embedded in sandy soils. In particular, the Walker Vine Hill Vineyard in the Russian River Valley invariably forms the base of this prestigious wine. Situated in a unique mesoclimate that traps cool coastal influences to allow the fruit to ripen slowly, the vines are rooted in iconic Goldridge soil (a touchstone for cool-climate Syrah in California). The remaining sites include: Castelli-Knight Ranch, bringing high-tone spice and power; the Nellessen vineyard, which provides nerve and acidity; and the Morris Ranch and Russell Ranch sites, lending depth and vibrancy to the final blend. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe product of a great season, the calibre of the fruit in ’22 was such that Pax didn’t make a Sonoma Coast Syrah despite having purchased labels. All the fruit made the cut for inclusion in Hillsides, so thankfully, there’s more to go around this year. Compared to the 2021, Pax notes this release is “pure-fruited, higher-toned and brighter”. He continues: “It’s still a dense and weighty wine but with a more European feel than the California classic 2021. All told, the 2022 Sonoma Hillsides is as umami-packed as 2016 with the plushness of 2021 and the aromas of 2018.” Like the rest of the Pax Syrah range, the Sonoma Hillsides is fermented with 100% whole clusters and foot crushed. It matures in old wood, then concrete, for 10 months.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pax Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44707716956398,"sku":"24239-750","price":118.69,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/7468\/3630\/files\/6afac9dc-8ecb-ee11-ac40-02c0c1c8e708_24239-750.png?v=1707963128"},{"product_id":"pax-wines-north-coast-syrah-2022","title":"Pax Wines North Coast Syrah 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pax Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44707733799150,"sku":"24237-750","price":69.75,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/7468\/3630\/files\/70628b9d-8fcb-ee11-ac40-0aa7bbf44e76_24237-750.png?v=1707963120"},{"product_id":"pax-wines-sonoma-coast-syrah-2021","title":"Pax Wines Sonoma Coast Syrah 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the second release of the Sonoma Coast Syrah. Pax Mahle first made this wine in 2020, when he decided not to bottle his top wine, Hillsides, after a challenging growing season. Instead, he bottled all his Sonoma Coast fruit as one new wine: a baby Hillsides. Now almost a permanent fixture in the range, the 2021 blend sees contributions from several coastal vineyards in the Sonoma Coast AVA. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe organically farmed, sandy Nellessen Vineyard, planted in 2000 and located west of Sebastopol (where the Pax Wines Cellar Door is located) in the Russian River Valley, gives fruit with profound aromatic intensity. The coastal Armagh Vineyard in the cool centre of the Petaluma Gap, planted in 1997, is farmed organically and gives fruit with a distinct savoury character. The Majik Vineyard, adjacent to Nellessen but with a northerly aspect, lends pepper spice and umami tones. And the Griffins Lair Vineyard, also located in the cool Petaluma Gap, planted in 1990 and farmed organically, rounds things out with a marine, salty tang. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe winemaking is similar to the North Coast Syrah. Clocking in at a cool 12.5%, Pax describes this as a true “coastal Syrah” with nervy freshness and slightly lighter body. As for Mahle’s note below, many in the Rhône would love to claim this wine’s spicy vibrancy for themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pax Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44707733831918,"sku":"24238-750","price":77.23,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/7468\/3630\/files\/3b76875d-8fcb-ee11-ac40-02c0c1c8e708_24238-750.png?v=1707963124"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.bibendum.com.au\/collections\/pax.oembed","provider":"Bibendum Wine Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}