Pax 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.
The 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. 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.