Pax "Cuvee Keltie" Syrah, North Coast 2003

Slightly dull, saturated, purple/red.

Vinturi - deep, saucy nose - black and green olive/fig/pepper/licorice/5 spice powder/grilled meat/shoe polish/grilled herbs/pepper steak (slightly redundant) ... This is absolutely FK.

Low-toned, packed and grainy in the mouth, without the complexity shown on the nose. Still there's plenty to like here, with a fragrant sawn wood note that is not from oak, licorice and grilled herb flavors too. Stem inclusion very much in evidence, as the stiff, chewy, tannin takes over the mouth from the mid-palate on. Nowhere near maturity. I gave a bottle of this as a gift to somebody. Want it back, whoever you are. Mind-blowing, individual, Syrah from CA.


$70. 14.8% listed alcohol. 100% whole cluster fermented Syrah from several vineyards. Aged in essentially neutral 500 liter barrels (I think all of this is correct...)