The 2016 Pax Sonoma-Hillsides Syrah earned the first ever 100-point score for Pax Winery. Galloni said:
The 2016 Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides has been nothing less than stunning on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. A wine of extraordinary purity and depth, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. The richness and power are simply breathtaking. Bacon fat, smoke, grilled herb and lavender are woven into a graceful, seamless core of inky blue/purplish fruit. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 remains remarkably light on its feet. The Sonoma-Hillsides is a blend of fruit from Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffin's Lair and Walker Vine Hill, done with 100% whole clusters and aged in a combination of concrete and neutral oak, with no SO2. I am not sure how the 2016 will age, but I am also not sure it will matter, as most bottles will be long gone before that is an issue. Quite simply, the Sonoma-Hillsides is a total pleasure bomb and a modern-day benchmark for Syrah in California. Don't miss it!
But Pax also made a slightly different cuvee of Sonoma Hillsides Syrah with sommelier Patrick Cappielo for their Monte Rio label. The wines are quite similar (only 12.8% alcohol for the Pax, 12.7% for the Monte Rio) – though the Monte Rio does have a touch of French oak.
And because the Monte Rio hasn’t yet been reviewed, we can offer it for only $29.99…versus the $350 the Pax now sells for on Wine.com.
