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

403

Avg Price / Bottle

$57

Top Vintage

2016

Price Range

$21 – $385

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
Sonoma-Hillsides Syrah	Red	$72	111	2016
Griffins Lair Syrah	Red	$49	49	2005
Syrah Obsidian	Red	$59	45	2005
Syrah Cuvee Keltie	Red	$48	29	2005
Syrah Walker Vine Hill	Red	$54	28	2005
Syrah Cuvee Christine	Red	$51	25	2003
Syrah Alder Springs	Red	$39	22	2006
Syrah Alder Springs The Terraces	Red	$59	19	2005
Syrah Castelli Knight Ranch	Red	$48	17	2013
Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard	Red	$43	17	2006
Cuvee Moriah	Red	$38	15	2005
Syrah Majik Vineyard	Red	$39	11	2006
Pangea Syrah	Red	$131	9	2003
Nellessen Syrah	Red	$39	6	2006

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spectrum

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winebid

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Pax is based in the California wine region.

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