Wind Gap Wines with Winemaker Pax Mahle

Hello All:

I had a wonderful experience today joining Winemaker/Owner Pax Mahle for lunch today at Cafe Chardonnay here in Palm Beach Gardens. I followed his lead ordering the Grouper over Black Mushroom Risotto as he suggested the first wine we tasted would complement it perfectly and boy he was right.  The Wind Gap Windsor Oak Pinot Gris was terrific.

Now if you haven't heard of Pax Mahle and his Wind Gap Wines pay attention as he is an up and coming small winery focused on producing honest, authentic, and compelling wines from special vineyard sites.  Pax sources from vineyards throughout California:  from the limestone and granite soils of Chalone, to the shale and limestone blanked hills of western Paso Robles, to the windy, cold Sonoma Coast.  Many of their vineyards are planted along areas directly influenced by one wind gap or another.  These geological breaks in the coastal hills funnel wind inland and strongly influence the growing and ripening of their grapes.  Thus, it seems only fitting that their name should celebrate the forces of nature that shape their wine.

They harvest low-yields, ferment with natural yeasts and partially with stems on certain varieties.  Fermentation and aging occurs in a selected combination of concrete, stainless steel, and old neutral French oak to better retain the wine's natural essence.

I emplore you to try his wines as I am sure you will be as equally impressed as I was with the quality he produces.

2007 Syrah Griffin's Lair Sonoma Coast

Usually $53.00 a bottle Now $44.99 a bottle Minimum 6 bottle purchase

 Wild, pungent aromas of boysenberry,

sassafras, potpourri and smoky Indian spices, with a strong mineral undertone. Sappy, sharply focused red and dark berry preserve flavors are weighty but show no excess fat, with silky tannins adding structure. The finish is refreshingly nervy and packs a serious punch, echoing the sweet dark berry and smoke notes strongly. This could only be syrah.

93 Points Steven Tanzer

2007 Syrah Sonoma Coast

Usually $43.00 a bottle Now $36.99 a bottle Minimum 6 bottle purchase

Vivid ruby. Highpitched, seductively perfumed bouquet displays fresh dark berries, licorice, olive tapenade, incense and flowers. Fleshy dark berry and violet pastille flavors are given a firm edge by youthful tannins, which are slowly absorbed by the intense fruit with air. Gains power on the finish, with the spice and cola notes echoing. This textbook syrah is already delicious but is built to age.

93 Points Steven Tanzer

2009 Wind Gap Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Usually $27.00 a bottle Now $22.99 a bottle Minimum 6 bottle purchase

Bright red. More extroverted than the Woodruff bottling, displaying scents of red berry preserves, cherry

compote, spicecake and rose oil. Starts off broad and fleshy, then firms up in the mid-palate, offering

spicy strawberry and raspberry flavors and a touch of bitter cherry pit. Finishes with good tangy bite and

a lingering floral nuance. This wine is made of a blend of fruit from the Gap's Crown and Griffin's Lair

vineyards and was raised in 20% new French oak; it's alcohol is 12.6%.

92 Points Steven Tanzer

2009 Wind Gap Orra North Coast

Usually $34.00 a bottle Now $27.99 a bottle Minimum 6 bottle purchase

(69% grenache, 21% mourvedre and 10% counoise; no new oak): Medium red. Pungent, spice-accented

aromas of peppery red berries, cherry, blood orange and herbs are lifted by a floral topnote. Sappy and

focused, with a peppery quality giving lift to its bitter red fruit flavors. Possesses very good mid-palate

heft, with firm tannins adding shape and grip to the persistent finish.

91 Points Steven Tanzer

2009 Wind Gap Pinot Gris Windsor Oaks Vineyard Chalk Hill

Usually $38.00 a bottle Now $32.99 a bottle Minimum 6 bottle purchase

Bright orange. Enticing aromas of strawberry, pear and jasmine. Juicy, spicy and quite dry but also

expansive, with very good depth to its dusty mineral-accented orchard fruit and red berry flavors. The

tangy, persistent finish leaves notes of spices and pear skin behind. This was raised completely in

concrete eggs and was fermented entirely on its skins. It comes in at 12.6% alcohol.

92 Points Steven Tanzer

These wines and pricing are subject to availability and can be changed at anytime.

Please contact me with orders or any questions.

Cheers,

Drew Feinberg
The Wine Sage
(561) 252-8160
Drew@YourWineSage.com