March 23, 2024 - Pnp; initially quite boozy on the nose but it settled down with some air. Still quite ripe, quite red-fruited, more fresh and lifted than I expect from Pax and Lauterbach Hill. Definitely more on the fruity side of Syrah, maybe a hint of white pepper but nothing very savory. Palate is no surprise based on the nose; strawberries, raspberries, candied cherries, lifted and fresh with amazing acidity and great balance. It’s big and it’s bold but somehow it’s not heavy. Great stuff.
February 16, 2022 - It started out quite tart but with air became much more full and round on the palate. The finish is still nicely balanced with acidity and tannin. Fully mature with some dark fruits remaining. Drink now to 5 years.
February 12, 2022 - Vinturied into decant and consumed over several hours.
The fruit is still working here, compelling in the middle with a plush finish.
Surprised at the youthfulness after 17years, perfect color, no bricking.
Drink now with decant thru 2024-7 latest
October 11, 2020 - Filtered decant a must. Still awesome. Deep dark savory brambly black fruit loved by all.
June 2, 2019 - After nearly a decade and a half in the bottle, this wine has come together. Dark purple with slight bricking, ripe berry and candied currant flavors. Acidity is a touch high, but overalll, the wine is showing well.
February 27, 2017 - This is balanced drinking at its best. 2.26.17.
May 14, 2016 - Not my style of Pax -- more mellow flavors and a dominant flavor of green/palmetto olive.
Me - 87, Wife - 90
April 4, 2016 - Dinner with a visitor from overseas that wanted to drink California wine. While I neither prefer nor purchase this genre of wine anymore, I have to say this was quite good. Big and powerful, but complex and by no means over extracted or over oaked. A nice wine that is aging well and I think will continue to improve.
April 11, 2015 - This really, really needed air to show itself, and it is fantastic. Fruit-forward with appealing lushness, but there's so much balance and counterweight too. Rises into smokey, flinty notes with bright acidity and chewy soft tannins. It doesn't dazzle with mulifaceted depth, but there's plenty to contemplate and enjoy. Can't emphasize enough what a few hours of air did for this. In a great spot now, but no rush to drink.
November 27, 2014 - Popped and poured from mag for Thanksgiving. The evolved fruit in this individual wine offers jagged edges of citrus-noted coffee, blackberries, and roasted spices, with the slightest spritzy impression. Drink in the next 12 months.