The Bench Vineyard Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
2005 - 2012
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rosemary lamb chops, grilled venison, wild mushroom stew
✨ Technical Specifications
Pax Mahle has long been a visionary in the California wine landscape, championing a restrained, cool-climate style of Syrah that stands in stark contrast to the jammy, high-alcohol blockbusters of the past. Drawing inspiration from the Northern Rhône, Pax utilizes traditional, low-intervention winemaking techniques to craft Syrahs of immense soul and structural integrity. This expression highlights the unique 'bench' topography found in select coastal valleys of Northern California, where well-drained gravelly soils on elevated terraces or 'benches' force the vines to dig deep for nutrients. In the cellar, the fruit typically undergoes whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts, followed by aging in concrete vats and neutral French oak. The resulting wine is celebrated for its savory complexity, showcasing signature notes of cracked black pepper, olive tapenade, smoked meats, and wild dark berries, supported by vibrant 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