Pax Mahle, Syrah, The Bench Vineyard, Clements Hills, San Joaquin County, California 2022

100% Syrah

Robust aromas of plums, tar and violets dominate the intoxicating aromas of this southern Rhône-styled Syrah. Gritty and laced with baked pomegranate and cherry skin, this peppery Syrah shows the warmer climate it was grown in with its warm embrace of luscious baked red summer fruits and firm, vibrant personality. The 2020 maintains a delicacy despite the strength of the fruit.

The Bench vineyard sits in The Clements Hills where it receives cooling winds from The Golden Gate Wind Gap. The low fertility sandy soils are derived from Granite and Tufa and form undulating “Hills” from the steady breezes from the west. These fine-grained soils grow fine grained wines. The Bench is managed with no-tillage and planted with permanent cover crops that include a grass blend of ryegrass, fescue and brome, and 2% wildflowers. Planted to Mediterranean varieties to match the warm and wet climate, this site is farmed using sustainable and biodynamic practices.

This Syrah is fermented with 100% whole clusters, and aged in neutral 500L French oak puncheons for 10 months before bottling. It is bottled without any fining or
filtration.