Lyman Ranch Chenin Blanc
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 2–8 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Oysters on the half shell, roasted pork loin, goat cheese
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 2000 by Pax and Pamela Mahle, Pax is a pioneering Sonoma County winery celebrated for redefining California Syrah through a lens of elegance and restraint. Based in Sebastopol, California, the winery sources fruit from cool-climate, coastal-influenced vineyards across Sonoma and Mendocino counties, such as the acclaimed Alder Springs and Castelli Knight Ranch. Pax's winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention, employing whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and aging in concrete vats and neutral French oak to highlight pure terroir. The estate is highly renowned for its savory, structurally complex Syrahs, alongside vibrant, terroir-driven expressions of Gamay, Chenin Blanc, and Mondeuse.