Syrah Castelli Knight Ranch
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rosemary lamb, grilled ribeye steak, wild mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
The Castelli Knight Ranch, nestled in the cool Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, is legendary among California Syrah enthusiasts. Planted on a steep, north-facing slope of dramatic, light-colored volcanic ash and clay soils, this unique vineyard forces the vines to struggle, resulting in low yields of intensely concentrated fruit. Pax Mahle's expression of this site is a masterclass in cool-climate Syrah, celebrated for its Northern Rhone-like sensibilities. Utilizing traditional, low-intervention winemaking techniques such as whole-cluster fermentation and aging in neutral French oak, the wine beautifully preserves the vineyard's signature wild, savory character. It is renowned for its striking aromatic profile of cracked black pepper, smoked meats, lavender, and dark mountain berries, backed by a vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins that reflect this singular terroir.
🍾 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)
12.5-13.5%