My last bottle. Not over the hill but certainly fully mature. Fruit still present, acid balanced, tannins resolved. Finish clean. Can’t complain about this 15 year old wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little damaged (heat?) I think. Stewy boysenberry BBQ sauce on the nose. Very mild tannins. Without the damage this may have been an excellent bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
pushing up towards 94 imho. puzzled by the drink before 2017 here on CT. still going strong as far as I am concerned and fortunately still have some left in the cellar
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The velvety tannins and voluptuous middle palate will draw you in, along with the roasted cherry capote, mahogany, dried mango peeling, leather and lilac. A finish that rides on and is in perfect stride. Drink now - 2022.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Shocking how big this wine still is after 10 years. Probably should have decanted as the last glass was really delicious; big fruit and and still strong tannin backbone. Give it air.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blackberry liqueur and cherry Jolly Rancher candy with animal and spice undertones. A definite mesquite quality. Poor structure; weak acidity and soft tannins. Past its prime perhaps. Still tastes good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Although the tannins and acidity are less dominant than they were four years ago in my first tasting note, the aromatics and palate are largely the same. It's approachable now, but if I had another bottle, I'd still let it be for another 2-3 years before trying again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Mark & Rochelle's): Deep inky color. Aromas of violets, black fruit and black olives. Adds aromas of dill and spice. Flavors of meat, dark fruit, briny black olives and a hint of pepper. Loads of fruit, good structure; long finish. A big wine, but enjoyable in this style. Guessed Syrah.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Considerable maturity with some surmaturité in nose and palate. A disappointment compared to previous bottles which were full bodied, but balanced with a cool juicy fruit reserve and some complexity. This bottle was too much vanilla, too hot with too dominant notes of black marmalade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a great place. Still packed with fruit but well integrated with strong tannic and acidic backbone. Perhaps my cellar is colder than others - I see lots of time to enjoy this baby
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I don't see this going anywhere but downhill from here so if you have it I think it would be wise to drink up. There was some acid as the previous note suggest and plenty of fruit. Virtually no tannin remaining. Darker fruits, bordering on prune notes. Probably would have been more enjoyable a year or two ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Much better than a prior bottle. This was better on Day 2 and I really need to learn to let these things rest. Still young and mostly primary. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, some licorice and a hint of camphor. Complex although tightly layered. Quite balanced and smooth. Long finish. Over two nights it unwound a bitter and the last glass was the best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank from a 3 liter bottle won at a charity auction. The wine was a hit with the entire dinner party. Well structured and very approachable with o strong tannins. Dark fruit and ripe plum. Great expression of Syrah
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking beautifully right now. Wonderful integration of fruit and tannins. Did not decat but did open about an hour prior to dinner and the wine continued to open even more over the next few hours. Paired beautifully with pulled pork shanks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 3 hours.
Dark garnet to perhaps purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lilac, roasted meat, pepper and plum. Flavors of berries, plums and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next 2-3 years some air time to start.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Complex floral nose of black berries, forest, pepper and smoked meat. Cool and meaty palate with black berries, pepper, american styled garrigue, salami and minerals. Good structure, great acidity, good tannins and a long and complex finish. More fleshy than Northern Rhône, but wonderful and in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Friday Night Brown Bagger (Rich & Dana's): Dark color. Grapey; a touch hot, but notes of black fruit and incense too. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of dark black fruit and incense with a slightly sweet edge. Nice finish. Would love a ribeye with this. Guessed Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A whole bunch of Wines (mostly Sonoma) with friends (Chris and Renee's): Purple in color. Perhaps this needed more time, but it wasn't showing a lot. I have one bottle left, that I will wait on. The nose shows some dust and a touch of black raspberry. On the palate, this is ripe, sweet fruit. Mostly black raspberries, but some black pepper. Much better on the palate. Juicy texture. Everyone seemed agreed on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I very much enjoyed this syrah! Didn't make any formal notes other than it was excellent compliment to the smoked baby backed ribs. Really well put together wine with plenty of time left!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 1.5 hours before serving with grilled pork tenderolin. Black raspberry, black olives, meat & violets on nose - very Northern Rhone in Style. On palate, black cherry, blackberry and iron. Bright fruit profile given high acids, medium body & long finish. Very enjoyable if you like this style 92-93 range.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took this one out to dinner..first mistake, as its so wound up it never really got to the sweet spot for drinking..even after a couple of hours in the bottle/glass. But you can tell its was starting to give up subtleties to the open air towards the end..that said, it was a medium bodied wine with all the usual Syrah suspects on the nose, not a over powering wine, very northern Rhone in style. I'm sure this will get better with age climbing the point scale as well. I would hold off drinking until 2013, and then pop another!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting this wine blind, my friend drew parallels to the wines from Sine Qua Non, which IMO was a fair comparison if we think of Pax as a sort of second wine to the big ones from SQN. The palate was cool and meaty with black berries, pepper, american styled garrigue. Good structure, great acidity, good tannins and a long and complex finish. More fleshy than Northern Rhône, but wonderful and in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was incredibly complex on the nose with both floral and earthy notes - lavender, plums, smoked meats, and pepper. On the palate, it was less spectacular but excellent none the less. Initially, the palate had bitter apple skin (not a bad thing), plums, lavender, salami, pepper, minerals, and a wisp of blueberry on occasion. There was great acidity with some grippy tannins. The finish was long and complex. Overall, this was an excellent wine with a stunning nose, complex flavors, and plenty of structure that stood up well to lasagna with italian sausage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An opaque color of red violet which was dark ruby to the edge. It was a little tight and needed some air. The nose was dark fruits and tar with some spice. This wine tasted of blueberry, blackberry, light peppery spice. I wrote down stout structure and ripe tannin with nice body and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted non blind at a wine tasting. Opened and served immediately.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of currants, talc, white pepper, plums and smoke. Flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It is youthful but with air is it drinking AWESOME!
The color is inky black in the glass. The nose is dark brooding blackberry, cedar smoke and hint of diesel. The fruit is vibrant and ripe blackberry wrapped in bacon with some sour cherry cola notes followed by white pepper and cedar tannins leading to a long and loverly finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple to the rim. Floral nose, meats, smoke, graphite, all faint. Warming up in the glass, opening up. Fruit just builds, still young strong tannins even after being popped overnite & vacuumed. Well made wine, good qpr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Taste is a funny thing. I shared this wine with a friend, who likes wine, and studied briefly to be a som, although she gave it up. I found this borderline undrinkable. Heavy, bitter, showing no joy, no fruit, no tension, no interest. She loved it - went on and on. Maybe she was just being polite, but I think she actually liked it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for one hour before service. In the glass, impenetrable indigo-purplish-red. On the nose, a mix of crushed dark fruit and coffee beans. On the palate, blackberries and hints of minerality, quickly overtaken by a wall of tannins and strong acid. I think I would just let this sit for another 3-5 years before trying again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Young and highly acidic Syrah! The nose was full of meat and black tea leaves. This was so great! In the mouth it was pretty damn hard - in a nice way. Drinkable now for sure but it really needs time to smooth out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Two hour decant. Wonderful, expressive nose of raspberry and spice. To me this is a more fruit-driven syrah in the mouth. Moderately big, not overpowering.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop & pour, opaque dark purple/ruby in the glass fading towards the edges. Nose is initially closed; some vigorous swirling first reveals a touch of French oak. Decide to decant through an aeration device, and let the wine sit about a half hour. Now rasberries and blackberries are showing on the nose, and following intensely through the palate, along with some green olive, coriander, smoke, and asian spice on the finish. The oak is there but well integrated. It's in a good place for a fruit-driven syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of florals, roasted meat, smoke, talc and camphor. Flavors of plums, berries and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air through the next 5 years plus or minus.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needs air. From the bottle, harshly tannic. Feral. After sitting in the glass for an hour or so while I chased my kids, it had opened up a bit. Still an awkward wine, for me, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Came across as disjointed at best. Ripe yet bitterly tannic. While that tension succeeds in some Pax/Donelans, for me it did not with this wine on this night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big but very approachable syrah. We didn't decant, but should have - while the wine was very good out of the bottle, with air it blossomed into a much silkier wine. Medium tannins and so well balanced that it was hard to believe that the stated alcohol content was 14.9%.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
San Antonio Wine Geeks - Chardonnay night (mostly) (The Monterey): 2hrs in the decanter prior to trying. The least expensive of the syrahs tonight and the most accessible. Lovely berry mocha nose. Deep pure berry flavor on the palate, with fine tannins and nice acidity. Medium length fruit finish with a little mocha. Quite good, though noticeably less complex than the other syrahs, but was more enjoyable to drink tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lip smacking acidity, bright red fruited wine with old world feel. Spice, mineral. This wine needs to age for a few years at least. Nicely made. My first pax/donelan.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted through an aeration device. Initial taste showed intense red fruits but some slight sulphuric flavors similar to an '07 Walker Vine Hill tasted earlier this year. Returned to the cellar to breathe for a couple hours. Color is inky purple fading to dark translucent ruby near the edges. Nose of red fruits and spicecake. Palate is sour cherries, red raspberry, menthol, blood, iron and pepper. Still very tannic - will give my remaining bottles a year more at least. Paired nicely with a homemade pizza of butternut squash sauce, walnuts, and blue cheese.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is inky purple with very little color gradation to the meniscus Aroma's of jammy blackberries, sour cherries, and camphor are present. Blackberry and dark fruit are evident with subtle pepper and briary, spicy flavors. This is a hedonistic wine with a powerful backbone. It may be too early to drink this, but damn this is good right now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Northern Italian Whites and then Syrahs - Controversy in the tasting Group: Another Wine that was consumed too young. The nose is difficult, partly due to the cold serving temperature. Great texture though. On the palate, boysenberries and black pepper. Lots of tannins especially on the finish. This needs time (3 to 5 years) to unwind and develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, dark ruby in color, the nose is quite closed making it difficult to pick up much. With a little air, a dense, almost liqueur nose seeps out, with anise and earth hiding any black fruit. Hints of tar also are there. Thick and dense on the palette with blackberries and forest floor notes. Amazingly, the finish is cleaner than expected
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not one of the best Pax noses I have smelled. It was a lot more fruity than the others. There was black currant and cherry, small amounts of tar and pepper, and a rush of vanilla at the end. The palate was a bit thin, but it did have more of the smoke and tar I like so much. There was also cherry and black currant, and it had a nice pepper finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dull crimson in color. Lavender, lilac, and spring flowers on the nose. A little plum, spice box and licorice on the palate, with earthiness that is comforting. Round tannins for the age that will further soften over the next few years. Really enjoyable; I think some of the nuance of the flavors might have been lost when accompanied with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/2/2022 - texaswinelover wrote:
My last bottle. Not over the hill but certainly fully mature. Fruit still present, acid balanced, tannins resolved. Finish clean. Can’t complain about this 15 year old wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2022 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 84 Points
A little damaged (heat?) I think. Stewy boysenberry BBQ sauce on the nose. Very mild tannins. Without the damage this may have been an excellent bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2021 - murand Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened 6 hours ahead. Beautiful ruby so tart cherry peppery. Would be amazing to find more of this, alas no more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2021 - redz wrote: 90 Points
Needed 4 hrs to open up, then some peppery berry flavors. I enjoyed the 2004 more...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2020 - murand Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still drinking well . Big syrah
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2020 - wino121 wrote: 91 Points
Still in the window, no sign of age.
Text book Syrah from that AVA/Pax.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2018 - exphilip wrote: 93 Points
pushing up towards 94 imho. puzzled by the drink before 2017 here on CT. still going strong as far as I am concerned and fortunately still have some left in the cellar
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2017 - wino121 wrote: 93 Points
Simply a hedonistic Syrah at this point...no signs of age only getting better.
5+ more years to enjoy?!?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2017 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 94 Points
An end of an era! Delicious
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2017 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 94 Points
I regret the fact that I don't have a lot of bottles of Pax left!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/1/2017 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 94 Points
The velvety tannins and voluptuous middle palate will draw you in, along with the roasted cherry capote, mahogany, dried mango peeling, leather and lilac. A finish that rides on and is in perfect stride. Drink now - 2022.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2016 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
Shocking how big this wine still is after 10 years. Probably should have decanted as the last glass was really delicious; big fruit and and still strong tannin backbone. Give it air.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2016 - rmalloy wrote:
Blackberry liqueur and cherry Jolly Rancher candy with animal and spice undertones. A definite mesquite quality. Poor structure; weak acidity and soft tannins. Past its prime perhaps. Still tastes good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2016 - Angle Gold Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark fruit, dark wine. Oaky. Tremendous length. Fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2016 - MattB72 wrote: 94 Points
Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2016 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Great wine; well balanced, complexity and long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Although the tannins and acidity are less dominant than they were four years ago in my first tasting note, the aromatics and palate are largely the same. It's approachable now, but if I had another bottle, I'd still let it be for another 2-3 years before trying again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2015 - michaelnliang wrote: 94 Points
Just s great Syrah. Fantastic boquet and still wonderful. Probably worth drink now and over the next year or two
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2015 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Mark & Rochelle's): Deep inky color. Aromas of violets, black fruit and black olives. Adds aromas of dill and spice. Flavors of meat, dark fruit, briny black olives and a hint of pepper. Loads of fruit, good structure; long finish. A big wine, but enjoyable in this style. Guessed Syrah.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2015 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
Still getting better,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2015 - AccaDacca Likes this wine: 93 Points
Age has treated this well. Dark fruits, with a smooth, round mouthfeel, long finish. Expressive, and possibly still gets better with some bottle age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2015 - psi wrote: 90 Points
Consistent note
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2015 - psi wrote: 90 Points
Quite mature with some surmaturité in nose and palate. Consider to drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2014 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Performing nicely last night. Ripe, soft Cali-syrah at it's peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark fruit, vanilla, a whiff of camphor, decent acid, noticeable tannin, and 14.9% alcohol. Drinking nicely now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2014 - psi wrote: 91 Points
Dark and compact without being heavy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2014 - texaswinelover wrote: 92 Points
Had to open another bottle since my last bottle seemed more developed than I'd expected.
This bottle is more consistent with others. Tannins still significant, red fruited profile, with exotic five spice. Quite nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2014 - psi wrote: 88 Points
Considerable maturity with some surmaturité in nose and palate. A disappointment compared to previous bottles which were full bodied, but balanced with a cool juicy fruit reserve and some complexity. This bottle was too much vanilla, too hot with too dominant notes of black marmalade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2014 - texaswinelover wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed again. Tannins much smoother. Considerable maturity vs last bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2014 - lolo66 wrote:
gave to Nate as thank you for john stewart
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2014 - redz wrote: 89 Points
Nice full-bodied purple, plenty of tannins, a little heavy on the vanilla. try again in a year
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2014 - SineQuaNon wrote: 89 Points
Lovely wine falling just short of outstanding although it shows very good cali-syrah character with some aeration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
In a great place. Still packed with fruit but well integrated with strong tannic and acidic backbone. Perhaps my cellar is colder than others - I see lots of time to enjoy this baby
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2014 - purpleteeeth wrote: 88 Points
I don't see this going anywhere but downhill from here so if you have it I think it would be wise to drink up. There was some acid as the previous note suggest and plenty of fruit. Virtually no tannin remaining. Darker fruits, bordering on prune notes. Probably would have been more enjoyable a year or two ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2014 - texaswinelover wrote: 91 Points
Very similar note as previous. Red fruit, acidity to spare, tannins present but not distracting, gamy, fairly plush. Enjoyed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2014 - Jump29 wrote: 90 Points
Opened an hour before drinking and was as good as I remembered from before.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Much better than a prior bottle. This was better on Day 2 and I really need to learn to let these things rest. Still young and mostly primary. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, some licorice and a hint of camphor. Complex although tightly layered. Quite balanced and smooth. Long finish. Over two nights it unwound a bitter and the last glass was the best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2013 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 89 Points
From memory - Rich, easy drinking syrah. Hoping to focus more on our last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2013 - Sovinator Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank from a 3 liter bottle won at a charity auction. The wine was a hit with the entire dinner party. Well structured and very approachable with o strong tannins. Dark fruit and ripe plum. Great expression of Syrah
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2013 - NEwino wrote: 92 Points
This is a perfect smoked/grilled meat wine. This had a nice smooth feel with touches of char and graphite. A great wine with BBQ. Drink now to 2017
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2013 - rharl wrote:
I agree with the 'not in a good place' assessment -- hopefully a dumb phase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2013 - Growler69 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Wonderful integration of fruit and tannins. Did not decat but did open about an hour prior to dinner and the wine continued to open even more over the next few hours. Paired beautifully with pulled pork shanks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2013 - Chrisinroch Does not like this wine:
Not in a good place right now. Tried over 3 days and it never hit a sweet spot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2013 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 3 hours.
Dark garnet to perhaps purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lilac, roasted meat, pepper and plum. Flavors of berries, plums and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next 2-3 years some air time to start.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - psi wrote: 93 Points
Complex floral nose of black berries, forest, pepper and smoked meat. Cool and meaty palate with black berries, pepper, american styled garrigue, salami and minerals. Good structure, great acidity, good tannins and a long and complex finish. More fleshy than Northern Rhône, but wonderful and in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2012 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Friday Night Brown Bagger (Rich & Dana's): Dark color. Grapey; a touch hot, but notes of black fruit and incense too. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of dark black fruit and incense with a slightly sweet edge. Nice finish. Would love a ribeye with this. Guessed Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2012 - chrwhite wrote: 91 Points
Great wine! Blueberry pie flavor profile. Maybe lacking a little complexity, but no complaints otherwise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2012 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 89 Points
A whole bunch of Wines (mostly Sonoma) with friends (Chris and Renee's): Purple in color. Perhaps this needed more time, but it wasn't showing a lot. I have one bottle left, that I will wait on. The nose shows some dust and a touch of black raspberry. On the palate, this is ripe, sweet fruit. Mostly black raspberries, but some black pepper. Much better on the palate. Juicy texture. Everyone seemed agreed on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2012 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
This is the second one in the last 6 months, this bottle was more together than the last and came on strong as it opened up.
Terrific syrah!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2012 - NEwino wrote: 92 Points
I very much enjoyed this syrah! Didn't make any formal notes other than it was excellent compliment to the smoked baby backed ribs. Really well put together wine with plenty of time left!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2012 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours before serving with grilled pork tenderolin. Black raspberry, black olives, meat & violets on nose - very Northern Rhone in Style. On palate, black cherry, blackberry and iron. Bright fruit profile given high acids, medium body & long finish. Very enjoyable if you like this style 92-93 range.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2012 - tp096255 wrote: 88 Points
Very Gigondas-like and austere from nose to finish. Lots of iron and mesquite, stuff I don't care for. Probably has many years to go.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2012 - wino121 wrote: 90 Points
Took this one out to dinner..first mistake, as its so wound up it never really got to the sweet spot for drinking..even after a couple of hours in the bottle/glass. But you can tell its was starting to give up subtleties to the open air towards the end..that said, it was a medium bodied wine with all the usual Syrah suspects on the nose, not a over powering wine, very northern Rhone in style.
I'm sure this will get better with age climbing the point scale as well.
I would hold off drinking until 2013, and then pop another!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2012 - psi wrote: 93 Points
Tasting this wine blind, my friend drew parallels to the wines from Sine Qua Non, which IMO was a fair comparison if we think of Pax as a sort of second wine to the big ones from SQN. The palate was cool and meaty with black berries, pepper, american styled garrigue. Good structure, great acidity, good tannins and a long and complex finish. More fleshy than Northern Rhône, but wonderful and in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2012 - Meerlust wrote: 91 Points
This wine was incredibly complex on the nose with both floral and earthy notes - lavender, plums, smoked meats, and pepper. On the palate, it was less spectacular but excellent none the less. Initially, the palate had bitter apple skin (not a bad thing), plums, lavender, salami, pepper, minerals, and a wisp of blueberry on occasion. There was great acidity with some grippy tannins. The finish was long and complex. Overall, this was an excellent wine with a stunning nose, complex flavors, and plenty of structure that stood up well to lasagna with italian sausage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2012 - tplskylrk wrote: 91 Points
Good stuff. Dark in the glass, really rich on second day, lots flint/metal/graphite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2012 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 92 Points
An opaque color of red violet which was dark ruby to the edge. It was a little tight and needed some air. The nose was dark fruits and tar with some spice. This wine tasted of blueberry, blackberry, light peppery spice. I wrote down stout structure and ripe tannin with nice body and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2012 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 91 Points
Saturdays at One - Volume 63 (Glenn's house in Southlake, TX): WIML91
Tasted non blind at a wine tasting. Opened and served immediately.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of currants, talc, white pepper, plums and smoke. Flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2012 - Wino Joe wrote: 93 Points
It is youthful but with air is it drinking AWESOME!
The color is inky black in the glass. The nose is dark brooding blackberry, cedar smoke and hint of diesel. The fruit is vibrant and ripe blackberry wrapped in bacon with some sour cherry cola notes followed by white pepper and cedar tannins leading to a long and loverly finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2012 - tplskylrk wrote:
Dark purple to the rim. Floral nose, meats, smoke, graphite, all faint. Warming up in the glass, opening up. Fruit just builds, still young strong tannins even after being popped overnite & vacuumed.
Well made wine, good qpr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - herberto wrote: 84 Points
Taste is a funny thing. I shared this wine with a friend, who likes wine, and studied briefly to be a som, although she gave it up. I found this borderline undrinkable. Heavy, bitter, showing no joy, no fruit, no tension, no interest. She loved it - went on and on. Maybe she was just being polite, but I think she actually liked it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2011 - InflationHedge wrote: 89 Points
Tasty syrah...still plenty of life ahead of it. Vibrant cherry, raspberry and vanilla, coats the mouth and good tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2011 - herberto wrote: 88 Points
Sweet and simple, but tasty, and good with tacos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2011 - jshufelt wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for one hour before service. In the glass, impenetrable indigo-purplish-red. On the nose, a mix of crushed dark fruit and coffee beans. On the palate, blackberries and hints of minerality, quickly overtaken by a wall of tannins and strong acid. I think I would just let this sit for another 3-5 years before trying again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2011 - Lord Rodney wrote: 92 Points
Young and highly acidic Syrah! The nose was full of meat and black tea leaves. This was so great! In the mouth it was pretty damn hard - in a nice way. Drinkable now for sure but it really needs time to smooth out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2011 - russdan60 wrote: 90 Points
Solid CA syrah. Nice progression through the palate. Enjoyed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2011 - stocksandbondage wrote: 92 Points
Big, creamy and velvety yet with enough acidity to be balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2011 - jgrapski wrote: 93 Points
Two hour decant. Wonderful, expressive nose of raspberry and spice. To me this is a more fruit-driven syrah in the mouth. Moderately big, not overpowering.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2011 - TAE wrote: 91 Points
Nice body a good nose.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2011 - MotoMannequin wrote:
Pop & pour, opaque dark purple/ruby in the glass fading towards the edges. Nose is initially closed; some vigorous swirling first reveals a touch of French oak. Decide to decant through an aeration device, and let the wine sit about a half hour. Now rasberries and blackberries are showing on the nose, and following intensely through the palate, along with some green olive, coriander, smoke, and asian spice on the finish. The oak is there but well integrated. It's in a good place for a fruit-driven syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2011 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
Violets, plum, and blueberry jam. Wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
Saturdays at One - Volume 49: WIML91-92
Tasted non blind at a retail tasting.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of florals, roasted meat, smoke, talc and camphor. Flavors of plums, berries and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air through the next 5 years plus or minus.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2011 - goldscalpel wrote: 91 Points
Well made syrah with black fruit and hint of cocoa.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2011 - Torsten Freund wrote: 93 Points
Fra flasken: 93
Næste dag, en halv flaske: Blødere smag, men kortere eftersmag, så samme point, 93. Måske om fem år?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2011 - dmalcolm wrote: 89 Points
Needs air - and a few more years. Ripe dark fruits, leather, smoke and well-integrated oak. Also some firm tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2011 - herberto wrote: 85 Points
Needs air. From the bottle, harshly tannic. Feral. After sitting in the glass for an hour or so while I chased my kids, it had opened up a bit. Still an awkward wine, for me, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2011 - herberto wrote: 85 Points
Came across as disjointed at best. Ripe yet bitterly tannic. While that tension succeeds in some Pax/Donelans, for me it did not with this wine on this night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2011 - greyhound93 wrote: 93 Points
Big but very approachable syrah. We didn't decant, but should have - while the wine was very good out of the bottle, with air it blossomed into a much silkier wine. Medium tannins and so well balanced that it was hard to believe that the stated alcohol content was 14.9%.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 92 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks - Chardonnay night (mostly) (The Monterey): 2hrs in the decanter prior to trying. The least expensive of the syrahs tonight and the most accessible. Lovely berry mocha nose. Deep pure berry flavor on the palate, with fine tannins and nice acidity. Medium length fruit finish with a little mocha. Quite good, though noticeably less complex than the other syrahs, but was more enjoyable to drink tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2010 - HRT wrote:
Deep dark purple. Lovely floral scents. Sweet berries with smooth tannins in a full bodied luch wine. Drinking beautifully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2010 - texaswinelover wrote: 92 Points
Lip smacking acidity, bright red fruited wine with old world feel. Spice, mineral. This wine needs to age for a few years at least. Nicely made. My first pax/donelan.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2010 - MotoMannequin wrote: 90 Points
Decanted through an aeration device. Initial taste showed intense red fruits but some slight sulphuric flavors similar to an '07 Walker Vine Hill tasted earlier this year. Returned to the cellar to breathe for a couple hours. Color is inky purple fading to dark translucent ruby near the edges. Nose of red fruits and spicecake. Palate is sour cherries, red raspberry, menthol, blood, iron and pepper. Still very tannic - will give my remaining bottles a year more at least. Paired nicely with a homemade pizza of butternut squash sauce, walnuts, and blue cheese.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
West Coast Tasting (Binny's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Lots of mint, petroleum jelly. Almost a clammy anise component. Quite nice. Unique for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2010 - hackey37 wrote: 93 Points
This wine is inky purple with very little color gradation to the meniscus Aroma's of jammy blackberries, sour cherries, and camphor are present. Blackberry and dark fruit are evident with subtle pepper and briary, spicy flavors. This is a hedonistic wine with a powerful backbone. It may be too early to drink this, but damn this is good right now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 89 Points
Northern Italian Whites and then Syrahs - Controversy in the tasting Group: Another Wine that was consumed too young. The nose is difficult, partly due to the cold serving temperature. Great texture though. On the palate, boysenberries and black pepper. Lots of tannins especially on the finish. This needs time (3 to 5 years) to unwind and develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2010 - herberto wrote: 86 Points
Superripe, a little bitter. The Donelan 2008 is much better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2010 - mmurmac wrote: 93 Points
Great young wine. Super value. Concentrated dark raspberry. A bit dry on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2010 - Abighouse wrote: 89 Points
Needed to open up. Once it did (after 2 hours) it was delicious, robust, jammy and strong. Great with our meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2010 - xtian wrote: 92 Points
Delightful! Full and rich -- will benefit from age but scrumptious now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2010 - Tom_B wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dark ruby in color, the nose is quite closed making it difficult to pick up much. With a little air, a dense, almost liqueur nose seeps out, with anise and earth hiding any black fruit. Hints of tar also are there. Thick and dense on the palette with blackberries and forest floor notes. Amazingly, the finish is cleaner than expected
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2010 - stocksandbondage wrote: 93 Points
Dense, rich blackberry flavors. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2010 - mmurry wrote: 90 Points
Not one of the best Pax noses I have smelled. It was a lot more fruity than the others. There was black currant and cherry, small amounts of tar and pepper, and a rush of vanilla at the end. The palate was a bit thin, but it did have more of the smoke and tar I like so much. There was also cherry and black currant, and it had a nice pepper finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2009 - hutch wrote: 91 Points
Newport Wine and Food Festival (Marble House): Very full and rich. Delicious, but I prefer what seemed like a little more complexity to the Walker Hill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2009 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
Dull crimson in color. Lavender, lilac, and spring flowers on the nose. A little plum, spice box and licorice on the palate, with earthiness that is comforting. Round tannins for the age that will further soften over the next few years. Really enjoyable; I think some of the nuance of the flavors might have been lost when accompanied with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
Pax Wine Cellars Tasting (Lee Allison Company - Chicago, IL): Rich and extracted showing plums and dark roast coffee.
Young with a lot of potential.
A little hot on the back end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment