The Vicar
⏳ Drinking Window
2005 - 2012
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom tart
✨ Technical Specifications
Pax's 'The Vicar' is a compelling, cool-climate expression of California Grenache, crafted as an elegant alternative to the historically heavy and highly extracted styles of the state. Named with a touch of clerical whimsy, this cuvée pays homage to the traditional, food-friendly wines of the Southern Rhône Valley while remaining deeply expressive of Sonoma County's unique coastal terroirs. Sourced from meticulously farmed, wind-swept vineyards, the winemaking employs whole-cluster fermentation and native yeasts, followed by aging in neutral French oak and concrete vessels. This low-intervention philosophy coaxes out the grape's bright, aromatic potential, yielding a wine celebrated for its vibrant red fruit, savory cracked pepper, and wild herb characteristics.
🍾 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
Grenache