The Knob Alder Springs Vineyard Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
2005 - 2015
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb chops, grilled venison, wild mushroom stew
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the rugged, remote northern reaches of Mendocino County, 'The Knob' is a prized, high-altitude block within the legendary Alder Springs Vineyard. Planted on steep, windswept slopes of fractured sandstone and decomposed granite at nearly 2,700 feet elevation, this extreme terroir forces the vines to struggle, yielding tiny, intensely concentrated berries. Winemaker Pax Mahle utilizes traditional, low-intervention methods, including whole-cluster fermentation and aging in neutral French oak, to preserve the site's unique signature. The resulting Syrah is a masterclass in cool-climate complexity, echoing the classic profiles of the Northern Rhone with its signature cracked black pepper, smoked meats, wild lavender, and deep, dark fruit, all framed by a vibrant, mineral-driven acidity.
🍾 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)
13.0-13.5%