Nellessen Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
2005 - 2012
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb chops, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom ragout
✨ Technical Specifications
The Nellessen Vineyard, nestled in the chilly Sebastopol Hills of the Russian River Valley, represents the outer limits of where Syrah can successfully ripen in Sonoma County. This extreme cool-climate site is defined by its Goldridge sandy loam soils and persistent maritime fog rolling in from the Pacific Ocean. Pax Mahle utilizes this terroir to craft a wine reminiscent of the Northern Rhône, employing whole-cluster fermentation and aging in neutral French oak to preserve the site's intensely savory character. The resulting Syrah is celebrated for its remarkable tension, vibrant acidity, and signature aromatic profile of cracked black pepper, cured olives, and wild mountain herbs.
🍾 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
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
12-13%