Lyman Ranch Chenin Blanc
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2027
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Oysters on the half shell, roasted pork loin, goat cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic Lyman Ranch in Amador County, this exceptional white wine showcases some of California's oldest Chenin Blanc vines, originally planted in 1943. These dry-farmed, head-trained old vines dig deep into the region's granitic and sandy loam soils, yielding fruit of remarkable concentration and electric acidity. Winemaker Pax Mahle coaxes out the grape's natural texture and vibrant personality through minimal intervention, employing whole-cluster pressing and native yeast fermentation. The wine is typically aged in a combination of neutral French oak and concrete, preserving its bright orchard fruit flavors, wet-stone minerality, and savory undertones without the masking influence of new wood. It stands as a testament to the heritage and potential of historic California vineyards.
🍾 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
Chenin Blanc