United States · California

Pax

Pax Mahle founded his eponymous label after leaving Wind Gap, the project he had created with Pam Mahle focusing on cool-climate California varieties. Pax focuses exclusively on Syrah sourced from Sonoma County's most distinctive cool-climate sites — Kobler Family Vineyard in Bennett Valley, Keltie in Knights Valley, Christine (a Sonoma Valley mountain site), and Moriah. All wines are made in a minimalist style: native yeast fermentation, little to no new oak, unfined and unfiltered, with varying percentages of whole-cluster fermentation. At auction, 135 lots have traded at an average of $53, ranging from $25 to $277. Kobler Family leads at 19 lots averaging $60; Cuvee Christine averages $54 across 18 lots; Cuvee Keltie follows. The estate produces approximately 1,500-2,000 cases annually. Pax Syrahs receive consistent critical attention in the 91-95 range from writers covering the California Syrah renaissance.

Kobler Family Vineyard Syrah from Bennett Valley's volcanic basalt soils leads the portfolio at 19 lots averaging $60, with whole-cluster fermentation and native yeasts producing wines of notable savory complexity.

Pax Mahle produces approximately 1,500-2,000 cases annually across all bottlings — allocation-only distribution makes auction a key secondary channel for each vineyard-designate.

The minimalist winemaking approach — no fining, no filtration, little new oak, native yeasts — produces wines with natural vineyard variation and some bottle-to-bottle character differences.

135 lots average $53, competitive with other small-production Sonoma Syrah specialists; the $277 ceiling reflects magnums or top-scored vintages from Keltie or Christine vineyard sites.

Auction Lots

135

Avg Price / Bottle

$53

Top Vintage

2005

Price Range

$25 – $277

In the Glass

Cool-climate Sonoma Syrah in a minimalist, terroir-driven style: Kobler Family (Bennett Valley volcanic soils) shows smoked meat, cracked pepper, black olive, and dark berry with iron-mineral depth; Keltie (Knights Valley) adds more concentrated dark fruit; Christine (Sonoma Valley mountain) brings herbal lift and structural tension. Whole-cluster adds spice and rusticity. The style is savory and austere — Northern Rhone-inspired rather than California hedonistic.

Portfolio

Wine	Colour	Avg Price	Lots Sold	Top Vintage
Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard	Red	$60	19	2021
Syrah Cuvee Christine	Red	$54	18	2005
Syrah	Red	$56	12	2005
Cuvee Moriah	Red	$69	11	2005
Syrah Cuvee Keltie	Red	$50	9	2007
Syrah Alder Springs The Terraces	Red	$40	6	2005

Pax is based in the California wine region.

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