2002 Pax Syrah Griffin's Lair
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
(from a south-facing vineyard in a cool, breezy spot, planted on coarse sand and gravel) Good full, saturated ruby. Liqueur-like aroma dominated by candied blackberry. At once cool and superconcentrated, with penetrating black fruit flavors complicated by mint, pepper and licorice, as well as wilder smoke and bacon notes. Here the tannins come across as a bit rough and in need of a couple years of bottle aging. Along with the Obsidian bottling, this has the lowest pH among these 2002 syrahs, at 3.76.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From a cool site on the Sonoma Coast comes the deep ruby/purple-colored 2002 Syrah Griffin’s Lair. Wild blueberry and floral aromas give it a distinctive style. More acidity is noticeable, and the wine is less massive and more restrained than several of its siblings. An earthy terroir character permeates its blue and black fruit flavors. The finish reveals moderate tannin as well as crisp acidity, resulting in vigor and liveliness on the palate. Give this 2002 1-2 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 10-12. 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