Pax Sonoma-Hillsides Syrah 2021
£59.95
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“The 2021 Syrah Sonoma Hillsides is towering and statuesque in bearing from the very first taste. I don’t think I have ever tasted a Sonoma Hillsides with this much finesse, this much purity. A wine of vertical energy, the Sonoma Hillsides possesses tremendous depth from start to finish. In many vintages the Hillsides leans towards a darker expression of Syrah. The 2021, on the other hand, is marked by more of a red/purplish fruit profile, with bright floral and citrus overtones that confer freshness. Once again, Pax Mahle made one of the truly epic wines of the year. His Sonoma Hillsides has been one of the very finest wines in Northern California for a number of years now. Drinking window: 2024-2036. 98 points
Pax Mahle presented a stellar set of new releases in our most recent tasting. The 2021s might be the most impressive set of wines I have ever tasted here. The Gamay Noirs show just how expressive this variety can be. But Syrah once again steals the show in a collection of wines that hit all the right notes. The wines are done with 100% stems, with fermentation in concrete or steel. Aging takes place in neutral 500-liter barrels for about ten months. The exception is the Sonoma Hillsides blend, which is aged in concrete. In my view, the Sonoma Hillsides is the most compelling wine in this range and one of Syrah’s great expressions in the United States. The 2021 is more than a worthy follow-up to previous vintages. Pax fans will also want to check out the new Halcon Estate, which Mahle purchased with Baron Ziegler of Marine Layer in 2021.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (08/23)
