Syrah Cuvee Christine
⏳ Drinking Window
2005 - 2012
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom ragout
✨ Technical Specifications
Pax Mahles Cuvee Christine is a flagship Syrah that represents a masterful selection of the finest cool-climate vineyards across Sonoma County. Named in honor of Paxs mother, Christine, this cuvee is crafted to showcase the elegant, savory, and Northern Rhone-inspired side of California winemaking. Sourced from premier, wind-swept sites influenced by the Pacific Ocean, the fruit undergoes traditional whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts, followed by aging in neutral French oak puncheons and concrete. This minimal-intervention approach coaxes out classic cool-climate Syrah signatures: cracked black pepper, smoked meats, dark olive, and vibrant blue fruit, backed by a spine of fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins.
🍾 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%