The 'Pax & Pals' 6-pack
Over the last several vintages it’s become clear to me (and plenty others) that winemaker Pax Mahle is the best producer of Syrah in America. No one else touches his level of delicacy and pure expression of the grape’s noblest gifts. And this may sound like utter heresy, but I think his wines are now even eclipsing many greats of Syrah’s home turf, the Northern Rhone Valley.
Pax’s winery happens to also serve as a kind of incubator nurturing a ton of talent in the Barlow district of Sebastopol, CA. For a few years now, many of Sonoma’s coolest young winemakers have been honing their craft elbow-to-elbow in Pax’s space.
I visited the Barlow during harvest a couple of years ago and was totally amazed at the skill on display. Rising star winemakers like Scott Schultz (of Jolie-Laide), Carlo Mondavi (of Raen), and Martha Stoumen were zipping around on forklifts, scrambling atop barrels, stomping each other’s grapes—all working in tandem with the kind of silent, expert choreography of utter masters.
This 6-pack will introduce you to Pax and two members of that so-called ‘Barlow Bunch’, Martha Stoumen and Patrick Cappiello. Here’s what’s in the pack, 2 bottles of each:
Syrah, Pax, North Coast, CA, 2021
One of my very favorite American wines, Pax’s ‘North Coast’ Syrah has maybe hit a new pinnacle with this vintage. It is peppery and savory—as great Syrah should be—but it is also balanced with pitch-perfect satisfying fruit and succulence. Wow, if you didn’t believe me before, you will after you taste it. He’s simply the best. Get it while you can
‘Benchlands’, Martha Stoumen, Mendocino, CA, 2022
Martha worked at Sicilian natural-wine benchmark COS before returning to the USA and making her own wines in Pax’s winery. She became a star of natural wine in her own right, often highlighting Italian grape varieties. This wine feels like an elevated version of what Italian immigrants were making here 100 years ago, blending several grapes from old Mendocino vines into a gorgeous, bright-fruited, perfumey red of medium body and nice freshness.
Mission, Monte Rio, Lodi, CA, 2022
Mission was the first grape to land on California shores with Spanish missionaries 250 years ago and there are still many very old vines dotting its hills. Ex-sommelier Patrick Cappiello turns it into a vivacious, spicy bottling that’s not quite a red, not quite a rosé. It’s something in-between and it’s 100% perfect for drinking chilled on a patio.. —SG
Orders placed today for the ‘Pax & Pals’ 6-pack will be available for pickup at partner stores on Friday, Sept. 22nd.
Over the last several vintages it’s become clear to me (and plenty others) that winemaker Pax Mahle is the best producer of Syrah in America. No one else touches his level of delicacy and pure expression of the grape’s noblest gifts. And this may sound like utter heresy, but I think his wines are now even eclipsing many greats of Syrah’s home turf, the Northern Rhone Valley.
Pax’s winery happens to also serve as a kind of incubator nurturing a ton of talent in the Barlow district of Sebastopol, CA. For a few years now, many of Sonoma’s coolest young winemakers have been honing their craft elbow-to-elbow in Pax’s space.
I visited the Barlow during harvest a couple of years ago and was totally amazed at the skill on display. Rising star winemakers like Scott Schultz (of Jolie-Laide), Carlo Mondavi (of Raen), and Martha Stoumen were zipping around on forklifts, scrambling atop barrels, stomping each other’s grapes—all working in tandem with the kind of silent, expert choreography of utter masters.
This 6-pack will introduce you to Pax and two members of that so-called ‘Barlow Bunch’, Martha Stoumen and Patrick Cappiello. Here’s what’s in the pack, 2 bottles of each:
Syrah, Pax, North Coast, CA, 2021
One of my very favorite American wines, Pax’s ‘North Coast’ Syrah has maybe hit a new pinnacle with this vintage. It is peppery and savory—as great Syrah should be—but it is also balanced with pitch-perfect satisfying fruit and succulence. Wow, if you didn’t believe me before, you will after you taste it. He’s simply the best. Get it while you can
‘Benchlands’, Martha Stoumen, Mendocino, CA, 2022
Martha worked at Sicilian natural-wine benchmark COS before returning to the USA and making her own wines in Pax’s winery. She became a star of natural wine in her own right, often highlighting Italian grape varieties. This wine feels like an elevated version of what Italian immigrants were making here 100 years ago, blending several grapes from old Mendocino vines into a gorgeous, bright-fruited, perfumey red of medium body and nice freshness.
Mission, Monte Rio, Lodi, CA, 2022
Mission was the first grape to land on California shores with Spanish missionaries 250 years ago and there are still many very old vines dotting its hills. Ex-sommelier Patrick Cappiello turns it into a vivacious, spicy bottling that’s not quite a red, not quite a rosé. It’s something in-between and it’s 100% perfect for drinking chilled on a patio.. —SG
Orders placed today for the ‘Pax & Pals’ 6-pack will be available for pickup at partner stores on Friday, Sept. 22nd.
Over the last several vintages it’s become clear to me (and plenty others) that winemaker Pax Mahle is the best producer of Syrah in America. No one else touches his level of delicacy and pure expression of the grape’s noblest gifts. And this may sound like utter heresy, but I think his wines are now even eclipsing many greats of Syrah’s home turf, the Northern Rhone Valley.
Pax’s winery happens to also serve as a kind of incubator nurturing a ton of talent in the Barlow district of Sebastopol, CA. For a few years now, many of Sonoma’s coolest young winemakers have been honing their craft elbow-to-elbow in Pax’s space.
I visited the Barlow during harvest a couple of years ago and was totally amazed at the skill on display. Rising star winemakers like Scott Schultz (of Jolie-Laide), Carlo Mondavi (of Raen), and Martha Stoumen were zipping around on forklifts, scrambling atop barrels, stomping each other’s grapes—all working in tandem with the kind of silent, expert choreography of utter masters.
This 6-pack will introduce you to Pax and two members of that so-called ‘Barlow Bunch’, Martha Stoumen and Patrick Cappiello. Here’s what’s in the pack, 2 bottles of each:
Syrah, Pax, North Coast, CA, 2021
One of my very favorite American wines, Pax’s ‘North Coast’ Syrah has maybe hit a new pinnacle with this vintage. It is peppery and savory—as great Syrah should be—but it is also balanced with pitch-perfect satisfying fruit and succulence. Wow, if you didn’t believe me before, you will after you taste it. He’s simply the best. Get it while you can
‘Benchlands’, Martha Stoumen, Mendocino, CA, 2022
Martha worked at Sicilian natural-wine benchmark COS before returning to the USA and making her own wines in Pax’s winery. She became a star of natural wine in her own right, often highlighting Italian grape varieties. This wine feels like an elevated version of what Italian immigrants were making here 100 years ago, blending several grapes from old Mendocino vines into a gorgeous, bright-fruited, perfumey red of medium body and nice freshness.
Mission, Monte Rio, Lodi, CA, 2022
Mission was the first grape to land on California shores with Spanish missionaries 250 years ago and there are still many very old vines dotting its hills. Ex-sommelier Patrick Cappiello turns it into a vivacious, spicy bottling that’s not quite a red, not quite a rosé. It’s something in-between and it’s 100% perfect for drinking chilled on a patio.. —SG