2002 Pax Syrah Walker Vine Hill Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(from a south-facing site in a cool spot) Deep, saturated ruby. Subdued, brooding aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat and animal fur. Less obviously sweet than the Obsidian but tactile with extract and impressively deep. Fat, dense wine with a pronounced gamey syrah character. Finishes with a slightly salty character. Mahle describes this as "Blonde" in style, referring to the Cote Blonde of Cote-Rotie, adding that the yield here was significantly lower than that of the Obsidian.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
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The black/purple-colored 2002 Syrah Walker Vine Hill is serious stuff. Syrah’s telltale melted asphalt characteristic emerges along with blackberry, blueberry, licorice, and a hint of cappuccino. Full-bodied, with massive fruit, an unctuous texture, and a blockbuster, 40+ second finish, it will provide immense pleasure over the next 6-8 years. This is a very exciting operation run by one of northern California’s new young turks, who is proving to have a formidable ability to translate cool climate vineyard sites into terrific wines ... all with no formal training. (Release date Winter 04) Tel. (707) 591-0782; Fax (707) 591-0784