2011 Pax Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch

(all whole clusters and 50% new oak): Dark purple. Smoke- and spice-accented aromas and flavors of cassis, blueberry and cured meat, with a sexy floral overtone. Lush and palate-staining, with excellent clarity and finishing power. Smooth tannins add grip but are quickly absorbed by the wine's deep fruit. (JR)

Pax’s 2011 Syrah Castelli Knight Ranch bursts from the glass with explosive fruit. Savory herbs, black olives, tobacco, smoke and licorice add complexity to the fruit in this layered, totally impeccable wine. There is so much to like and admire in the 2011, a wine that is literally bursting at the seams with varietal character. Simply put, the 2011 is superb. The 2011 is 100% Syrah, vinified with 100% whole clusters and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2019. These are the first new releases from Pax Mahle’s Pax Wine Cellars label following Mahle’s separation from Joe Donelan a few years back. Mahle describes 2010 and 2011 as both challenging, but the difference, he notes, is mostly that in 2011 growers were better prepared, as they had the experience of dealing with the cool, damp conditions from 2010. That keen observation may explain why the two 2011s I tasted were clearly more interesting than the 2010s. Tel. (707) 591-0782