Nellessen Syrah
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted lamb chops, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom ragout
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 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.