2002 Pax Wine Cellars Syrah Lauterbach Hill Vineyard Russian River Valley

Pro Reviews

Vinous Media (VM)

Saturated ruby. Cooler, high-pitched aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, cassis and mint. Juicy and lively; less lush than the Vine Hill bottling as the wine is more dominated by its firm tannic spine (this was vinified with a high percentage of whole clusters.) Densely packed but tightly wound, with lively notes of licorice and minerals. Whereas most of the Pax 2002s offer considerable immediate appeal, this wine really needs two or three years of cellaring.

Wine Spectactor (WS)

Tight and concentrated, with a firm band of beefy wild berry, floral, earthy and minerally character. This is the most austere yet perhaps best-structured of the Pax offerings, yet it’s complex and offers lots of flavor and is more than worth following to see how it evolves in the next few years.