James Berry Vineyard Red Wine
⏳ Drinking Window
2005 - 2015
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted lamb chops, slow-braised beef short ribs, grilled wild game
✨ Technical Specifications
Sourced from the legendary James Berry Vineyard in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, this wine represents a historic collaboration between pioneer Pax Mahle and the Smith family. Known for its fossil-rich, calcareous limestone soils and cooling marine breezes drawing through the Templeton Gap, the vineyard provides a dramatic terroir. Pax's approach brings a northern Rhône-inspired sensibility to this iconic Central Coast site, utilizing whole-cluster fermentation and neutral oak aging. This creates a fascinating dialogue between the naturally opulent, intense fruit of Paso Robles and Pax's signature focus on savory complexity, structure, and vibrant acidity.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 2000 by Pax and Pam Mahle, Pax Wines is an acclaimed artisanal producer based in Sebastopol within Sonoma County, California. Recognized as a pioneer of the New California wine movement, the winery focuses on cool-climate coastal terroirs across Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Pax champions a minimalist, old-world approach to vinification, utilizing whole-cluster fermentation, indigenous yeasts, and aging in neutral French oak and concrete tanks to preserve purity and freshness. The estate is widely celebrated for its benchmark, savory Syrah bottlings—such as the Sonoma-Hillsides and Alder Springs Vineyard designations—as well as dynamic, terroir-driven expressions of Gamay, Chenin Blanc, and heritage varieties.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Syrah