Pax Wines, Buddha's Dharma Chenin Blanc 2017

50% of the grapes are foot trodden and left overnight to give some skin contact. The grapes are then pressed as whole clusters and fermented in a mix of stainless steel, concrete and neutral French oak barrels. The wine is then aged for 11 months in neutral French oak.

2014 heralded the return of the Pax label, like the original launched in 2000, Pax 2.0 is Syrah-focused, with grapes sourced from cooler sites, mostly in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Pax and Pam Mahle believe great wines can only be made from great vineyards, and work with sites they believe have the location, soil, exposition, dedicated growers and plant material to fulfill that potential. They work in a balanced and sustainable way, promoting vineyard health and harmony with nature to produce grapes which fully express their origins. All of these practices lead to ripe, healthy fruit with balanced acid and sugars, which then requires minimal additions in the winery. Pax's winemaking is gently evolving but remains largely traditional. Grapes are sourced from organically farmed vineyards with low yields, crushed by foot, ferment is whole cluster using native yeasts, and wines are aged in mostly neutral French oak. Pax is an homage to classic Syrah, the wines have a purity of fruit and expression of place, impressively structured yet incredibly balanced.