Blind Syrah’s from around the world with Pax Mahle
Compline Wine Store, Napa CA
Tasted Thursday, March 20, 2025 by KeithAkers with 111 views
Introduction
Oh the benefits of being near Compline and having someone like Pax be the big time geek he is. He reached out to Matt and they put this tasting on where we'd go through a bunch of top Syrahs from around the world to really celebrate the grape. This was a real blast and further confirmed my love for what is happening in South Africa right now!
2021 Piedrasassi Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
This was part of a blind tasting. Looking back on my notes from January, this is exactly the same (though a bit more tough in the lineup). It’s still really good and shows great interplay between the black fruits and savory notes.
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2019 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Lagniappe Red Willow Vineyard 91 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
This was part of a blind lineup. The nose shows some flesh to the fruited tones of dark red cherries, raspberries, blueberry compote, mint leaves, leather notes, licorice, a touch of liqueur, and roses. The Full bodied feel is plush and forward with integrated, medium acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This is really good and felt firmly in the new world. The structure is pretty integrated and doesn’t overpower the palate.
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2022 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 93 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
This was poured blind. The wine is heady and perfumed with flowing tones of dark red cherries, raspberries, peppercorns, licorice, crushed rocks, some blue fruits, liqueur notes, fresh herbs, and a good bit of rose petals. While there is some flesh to the nose, it’s so balanced and heady. The Full bodied feel is silky and plush with medium acidity and refined, medium+ tannins. This was killer. I can recall the last time I had a Clonakilla, so this is a wonderful re-introduction!!
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2020 Clusel-Roch Côte-Rôtie Les Schistes 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Another wine I had recently! Ha!! This bottle showed even better as it was expressive and savory with all sorts of Cote-Rotie goodness that you come for. It was blind and my WOTN
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2021 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
This was part of a blind lineup. It showed that classic Clape rawness that you come to expect. Even with the raw side of it, there is a youthful verve to the tones of red cherries, olive brine, red fruits, raspberries, black olives, licorice, crushed rocks, black pepper, and violets. The Medium/full bodied feel is deft and balanced with tart, medium+ acidity and grippy, medium+ tannins. The structure shows the youth of the wine as this can certainly develop for years to come.
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2020 Porseleinberg Swartland 92 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
This was part of a blind lineup. The nose is rich, yet expressive with brawny tones of dark red cherries, dark red fruits, some black raspberries, savory spices, licorice, violets, leather notes, and some sweet tobacco tones. The Full bodied feel has a broad-shouldered quality with medium acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins. This was a fun surprise when revealed. There is so much complexity going on and it is yet another bottle of South African wine that shows off how much good stuff is happening there right now!
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2021 Pax Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides 93 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
This was part of a blind lineup. The nose is perfumed, yet with some weight behind the tones of crushed violets, dark red fruits, dark red cherries, potpourri, red cherries, raspberries, potpourri, crushed berries, olive tapenade, crushed rocks, and violets. There is an elegance to this that is attractive and inviting whilst still possessing some brawn. The medium bodied feel is deft and balanced with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. I wasn’t surprised when this was revealed. It’s one of the finer American Syrahs and it fully came to play!
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2021 Brokenwood Shiraz Graveyard 91 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
This was part of a blind lineup. There is a distinct red-fruited quality that permeates on the nose. As it opens up, it shows off tones of red cherries, raspberries l, crushed berries, red fruits, licorice, black fruits, black cherry compote, and some violets. The fruit is forward and fresh, but it lacks some depth compared to the other wines on the night. The Full bodied feel is robust and balanced with medium acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins. This felt like it was an Aussie Shiraz when it was tasted. It had excellent expression, but lacked some depth across the nose and palate to really let it sing.
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2023 Pax Gamay Noir Alta Monte 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
The nose is fresh and lively with tones of red cherries, peppery notes, dark red berries, crushed rocks, savory herbs, potpourri, and violets. There is good balance here while the tokes have a crunchy and playful quality. The Medium bodied feel is lively and fresh with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium tannins. This was a fun post-blinds treat to drink. It’s not meant to be serious nor does it try to be.
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2023 Pax Grenache Mourvedre Syrah 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
The nose is vibrant and fresh with lovely tones of dark red berries, blackberries, pepper notes, raspberries, potpourri, savory herbs, crushed rocks, and roses. There is a lovely style to the tones that is attractive and works beautifully. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and fresh with crisp, medium acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This is excellent and shows off lovely balance to go with the fresh, red and black-fruited tones.
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