2021 Pax Wines Sonoma Hillsides Syrah

Pax Wines is the venture of husband and wife Pax and Pamela Mahle, who craft a range of "Rhone-influenced" Syrah from a selection of vineyards on the cooler, coastal areas of Sonoma. An ex-sommelier, Mahle swapped "the bowtie for some dirty boots" - in his own words - focusing on elegant and aromatic Rhone varieties strongly influenced by the time he spent visiting cellars in France; Raymond Trollat and Pierre Gonon are amongst his strongest reference points. All his Syrah are single varietal, 100% whole cluster and foot-crushed with no commercial yeast employed. The resulting wines are marked by a distinctive freshness, "much finesse" and "much purity", as noted by Antonio Galloni.

Other Reviews....
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. Drink: 2024-2036.
98 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Classic and peppery, the 2021 Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides is fresh with black plum, violets, and wet stone. It offers great freshness and lift within this full-bodied red, with ripe tannins and a clean finish. I’m always a fan of this wine for its versatility, and it’s outstanding in this vintage. Drink 2024-2034.
94 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

Engagingly fresh and floral, yet also brooding at the same time, showing a darker profile of fruit if you compare this with the North Coast and Sonoma Coast renditions. Dark cherries, dark bayberries, crushed violets, grilled thyme and a hint of mussels. Broad, yet very juicy and transparent on the palate, with fresh, fine tannins. Full of verve and freshness. Drink or hold.
94 points
jamessuckling.com