We are excited to welcome Pax Mahle, winemaker/founder of Pax Wines from Sonoma, California to the shop on Thursday August 16th. Joining him will be our friend & NYC Sommelier/founder of Renegat Wines, Patrick Cappiello.

Pax will be bringing the new release of the 2017 Pax Syrah Sonoma Hillsides. The 2016 vintage received a perfect score from Antonio Galloni, and this event will provide you a chance to taste this year’s version and pre-buy one of California’s hottest wines before its release! Pax has been crafting Rhône-inspired Syrah since the early 2000s, and his cooler-climate vineyard sites coupled with minimal cellar intervention and precise farming have resulted in compelling expressions of this noble grape variety.

Syrah is going through an exciting renaissance in California. A very recent piece in Drink Insider dives deeper into the ‘Rise of California Syrah’ and the producers to keep an eye on. While we will never lose sight of the original Syrah legends of the Rhône Valley in France, these producers make a great case not to ignore Cali Syrah.

Please join us to taste the 2017 Sonoma Hillsides alongside additional wines from the Pax stable with the man who made them.

We will taste:

2017 Pax Syrah Sonoma Hillsides
This wine is an homage to Rhône legend Raymond Trollat in Saint Joseph. The Syrah was sourced from Castelli-Knight Ranch and Walker Vine Hill vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Griffins Lair vineyard in Sonoma Coast. Everyone went bonkers for the ’16 vintage, so we are duly excited to taste this new release. 100% whole-cluster fermented.

2014 Pax Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch Russian River Valley
Pax has been farming this vineyard since 2001. The slope’s north/northeast exposure gives a pleasant respite from the warm weather. 100% whole-cluster fermented. The wines from this vineyard site have proven to be more powerful and concentrated.

2016 Pax Gamay Noir Sonoma Coast
Gamay Noir fermented 100% whole-cluster and aged in neutral French oak barrels for 10 months. Gamay is always a go-to variety for us and Pax’s version has everything we love about the best iterations - juicy, inviting bright fruit and an appealing freshness.