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Pax Mahle Wines Sonoma-Hillsides Syrah 2018
The 2018 Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides is gorgeous. Inky dark fruit, spice, licorice and dried herbs all flesh out with a bit of coaxing... there is tremendous intensity and richness waiting to emerge more fully... it is a superb, vivid wine that Pax fans will want to own. The Sonoma-Hillsides is a blend of fruit from Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffins Lair and Nellessen. The grapes are crushed by foot, using 100% whole clusters, and undergo carbonic maceration, an approach that works so well with this fruit. Aging is done in concrete. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
Ratings on Delectable
Josh Morgenthau 
Pure syrah pleasure here. Just-ripe blackberry juice floats on the palate with violets and a polite touch of bramble and sap. Very lifted, bright and elegant, with an old-world freshness if not a whole lot of terroir or minerality. Wouldn’t have thought new world syrah, other than the overall polish and really gentle tannins. So clean. A hint of smoke but this is more or less vegetarian syrah (in a nice way). Maybe missing some tension, but will be interesting to see how it develops in bottle.
Pure syrah pleasure here. Just-ripe blackberry juice floats on the palate with violets and a polite touch of bramble and sap. Very lifted, bright and elegant, with an old-world freshness if not a whole lot of terroir or minerality. Wouldn’t have thought new world syrah, other than the overall polish and really gentle tannins. So clean. A hint of smoke but this is more or less vegetarian syrah (in a nice way). Maybe missing some tension, but will be interesting to see how it develops in bottle.
9.4Jake Hajer
(Previous vintage I rated of this wine was 2016). Plum, rose water, violet/ violet in color. Hint of wet spice. Give this 5-8yr to be beautiful. Had this with Prime Rib.
(Previous vintage I rated of this wine was 2016). Plum, rose water, violet/ violet in color. Hint of wet spice. Give this 5-8yr to be beautiful. Had this with Prime Rib.
9.2
Vino Kaela
Yum
Yum
9.3
Eric Guido
White pepper, grilled herbs, smoky minerals, raspberries and hints of sweet spice define the bouquet of the 2018 PAX Sonoma Hillsides Syrah. It's soft on the palate yet full of energy, displaying zesty red fruits with a citrus twang, as vibrant acids add a mouthwatering yet cheek-puckering sensation, and sweet minerals saturate the senses. The finish is clean and focused on tart fruits, tapering off with spicy florals.
White pepper, grilled herbs, smoky minerals, raspberries and hints of sweet spice define the bouquet of the 2018 PAX Sonoma Hillsides Syrah. It's soft on the palate yet full of energy, displaying zesty red fruits with a citrus twang, as vibrant acids add a mouthwatering yet cheek-puckering sensation, and sweet minerals saturate the senses. The finish is clean and focused on tart fruits, tapering off with spicy florals.
9.4
Nate Axline
Gets better the longer it's open
Gets better the longer it's open
9.2
Matt Sterr
Olive tapenade.
Olive tapenade.
9.2
Matt Lasater
So delicious, begs for another glass, juicy, spiced, filled with wild syrah character and CA sunshine. Honestly hard to takes notes, really doesn’t require any contemplation other than how much more you want.
So delicious, begs for another glass, juicy, spiced, filled with wild syrah character and CA sunshine. Honestly hard to takes notes, really doesn’t require any contemplation other than how much more you want.
9.2
John Howard
Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries
One of the best domestic syrahs’.
One of the best domestic syrahs’.
9.6
Megan
This wine is tasting very young. I’m gonna wait til 2022 at least before I approach it again. Over the top strawberry jam on the nose upon opening the bottle. Juvenile effervescence on the palate. It did temper quite a bit after a few hours of decanting. Less fruit and more mouth feel. Definitely needs more time.
This wine is tasting very young. I’m gonna wait til 2022 at least before I approach it again. Over the top strawberry jam on the nose upon opening the bottle. Juvenile effervescence on the palate. It did temper quite a bit after a few hours of decanting. Less fruit and more mouth feel. Definitely needs more time.
8.8
Aaron Rankin
CellarTracker users are head over heels already, yet for my tastes it’s an undrinkable acid bath. Needs years or an aggressive decant. ... As a follow up from later in the evening, this did settle somewhat in time. Shortly after opening, I had effectively double decanted and vacuvin’d the full bottle. Returning two hours later, this guy started to awaken. The nose became the boisterous, fun, fruity, herbal pleasure bomb. The acid settled enough to reveal ripe dark berries and a glimpse of something more. It was also richly structured with an energizer bunny finish. Mouth-coating with Szechuan peppercorn, like Chinese boiled fish stew. I’m holding firm that you should wait at least a couple years, or give this at least 4 hours in the decanter.
CellarTracker users are head over heels already, yet for my tastes it’s an undrinkable acid bath. Needs years or an aggressive decant. ... As a follow up from later in the evening, this did settle somewhat in time. Shortly after opening, I had effectively double decanted and vacuvin’d the full bottle. Returning two hours later, this guy started to awaken. The nose became the boisterous, fun, fruity, herbal pleasure bomb. The acid settled enough to reveal ripe dark berries and a glimpse of something more. It was also richly structured with an energizer bunny finish. Mouth-coating with Szechuan peppercorn, like Chinese boiled fish stew. I’m holding firm that you should wait at least a couple years, or give this at least 4 hours in the decanter.
9.1
See all reviews and ratings on Delectable WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.