Pax, Syrah Castelli Knight Ranch, Russian River Valley

As delicious as the last bottle!

2016 vintage

Delicious blackberry, black cherry and hint of lavender on the nose and savory palate with refreshing acidity and tannins on the moderate long finish.

2016 vintage

Same as last note and my last bottle. Still dry and I’d really prefer more fruit. Pretty average Syrah really. Griffin Lair was much better. It’s really a food wine and would be rough drinking by itself.

2016 vintage

Decanted 30 minutes. Not as dry and tannic now. More soft but still a bit one dimensional. Nice quaffing Syrah but nothing amazing.

2016 vintage

I've had enough Pax by now to know this would be good, and it most certainly was. Tremendously concentrated: a black hole of succulent cassis, liquorice, violet and sage, and totally delicious with that, although as each sip was the same it was too one-dimensional to be truly great. Nicely ready, even if more time will surely bring out some savoury notes.

2016 vintage

Agree with some other posts about dryness but think it is just a style. Maybe holding another year or two will bring out some depth. I've got one more...

2016 vintage

L'avoir payé 25$ j'aurais été déçu... C'est la moins bonne cuvée de Pax Mahle que j'ai goûté.

2016 vintage

Decanted 90 minutes and drank over another hour. This thing is drier than West Texas. Probably the driest CA Syrah I’ve ever had. Not a hint of sweetness. The dryness seems to cover up everything else. There isn’t a ton of flavor layers. There is extraction but more one dimensional. Not sure if more age helps but I think so. Good luck on this one. May the force be with you

2016 vintage

Absolutely superb... Generous sweet black fruit, soft integated tannins, plenty of pop. But really it's all about the garrigue! This bottle brought that Old World magic that's oh so hard to find domestically. Cracked pepper and olive, sticky mix of fresh herbs. Lovely.

2011 vintage

So subtle... There's a brioche /fresh yeast thing and smokiness and fruit there as well. Such freshness. Very enjoyable. I wouldn't say fabulous - just very pleasurable and lively. A touch of mint as well. Very good.

2016 vintage

No rating since we took camping and just PNP. Can’t say I loved it.thought it was thin, tart, green and not really extracted. Next bottle will be decanted to see if it changes. At this point 89-90 at most.

2016 vintage

This has really relaxed into itself. Chilled way down, juicy, smokey, plumy, minerally, olivy deliciousness. Man did I love this. delivers if you can't wait.

2016 vintage

Deep purple. Tobacco, earth, wood smoke. Higher in alcohol than other Pax Syrahs.

2016 vintage

Too old. Flat and a little sour.

2011 vintage

气味很好，whole cluster特征。口中和气味一致，刚开始有点重，热回味很快散掉了。相当好，感觉被一个元素dorminate,略欠丰富。但是九年的酒，一点都没有age的迹象。第三天，气味还是很好，口中，变和谐均匀了，非常好。

2011 vintage

Really enjoyed, but obviously young. For me, the prominent theme was whole clusters, with the green bell pepper and herbs, that is likely going to mellow with age. It cut the lively acidity that will allow this to cellar for years. Added a nice complexity to the pepper and big black berries. Glad I have more!

2016 vintage

The nose is deep and plush with well balanced tones of olives, some briny notes, black cherries, raspberries, cranberries, black and white pepper, licorice, violets, and some leather. There is a gorgeous and succulent quality to the tones that show off a lot of class and elegance. The Medium bodied feel is deft and elegant with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This is really sexy and balanced with the structure being extremely accessible as well.

2016 vintage

Tasted at their tasting room in Sebastapol This is an excellent syrah, that is full of energy and ready for some time in the cellar. Noticeable tannins, but an acidic structure that should give it a long life after initial 5-7 years of cellar time. I would say its drinking like a 94 currently, but rated as a 95 for the potential with some age on it. We very much enjoyed our tasting at Pax and the QPR of some …

2016 vintage

A light bodied purpley Syrah. Blueberries. Stones and metal. Delicious. I hope to try it again in a few years... ”The old that is strong does not wither”

2016 vintage

Wow, this was a real thinker... this expression of Syrah found the four tasters struggling for descriptors, but what a tasty struggle! On the nose we found tapenade, thyme, white pepper, blueberries and sage. On the palate we found all of the above, plus earthy flavors like mushroom and escargot. The finish went on forever and as all the savory flavors fell away, the fruit just lingered. I've never tasted any wine quite so spicy and was thrilled pairing this …

2011 vintage

lots of pepper and plum; more savory mediterranean notes

2011 vintage

Opened and let breathe for two hours. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums and spice. The finish long and smooth. Just a really nice bottle of syrah.

2011 vintage

I’ve yet to be, but this is how I imagine the scent of a cool morning breeze in Provence. Gave this a double decant and then immediately enjoyed it.

2011 vintage

Delicious blackberry and olive notes on the nose and palate with pepper and mineral notes. Tasty acidity and tannins on the moderate finish.

2011 vintage

Three hour decant, the nose began with the deep, rich dark cherry/blackberry that I expected but quickly faded, perhaps less decant time should have happened. The palate was disappointing, with no tannins and minimal acidity, this was flabby. The flavors ran closer to wine that had toppled over or had a touch too much temperature at some point, it lacked the syrah characteristics I was looking for. All in all I would say this was not representative of the maker …

2011 vintage

Gotta love Pax Syrah's. An old world expression of the Syrah grape wrapped with new world fruit. Classic Syrah flavor profile with blueish fruit and pen ink with a touch of iodine and definitely cracked pepper on the finish. This wine needs food, so don't drink it by itself. YUM!

2011 vintage

Well balanced, apple and pear taste. Good lasting and scent.

2011 vintage

Took to 2015 customer trip in Jackson hole to pair with elk stake. Group was not overly impressed. Had bit of citrus / grapefruit flavor.

2011 vintage

Steve and his son in law off of East Side Road farm this. Much warmer, north facing vineyard, all organically farmed. Haire Clay soil type. So the color of the wax on the capslue is the color of the soil. Not screen anywhere else in the Russian River apparently. So ultra spicy on the nose, and then big on the palate yes but also very refined. It has structure, but in a hermitage like way. Mean density, not overdone.

2011 vintage

The Castelli-Knight Ranch showed a wild bouquet of spiced red berry, olives, smoked meats and hints of pepper. On the palate, it was rich, showing terrific grip with intense dark fruits, minerals and savory herbs. The finish was long yet tense, showing its youth, yet so enjoyable today.

2011 vintage

Drank beside a reynvaan in the rocks and Pax was the clear winner, little more of a cocktail wine, hints of cracked pepper on the finish, just a pleasure to drink.

2011 vintage

Are you sure?

Pax, Syrah Castelli Knight Ranch, Russian River Valley

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews