Wind Gap 2013 fox Hill Vineyard Mendocino County Red Wine
Tardy Rat here, with a bit of a story…
Received this last Friday, should be plenty of time for a decent, thoughtful rat one would think,;
but it didn’t work out quite as planned.
Arriving home latish, 21:00 or so, I did the unimaginable; pulled a cork on a just received red to pour a small taste. After all, it can settle for a couple days, and the air just may be beneficial.
Lovely natural, intact cork extracted nicely, but what’s that sludge in my glass?
Ahh, must be unfiltered and stored properly, inverted. Some tartrate crystals as well; good start.
Wipe neck, repour, sniff, taste.
Pour: it’s turbid, a rather pale to medium garnet.
Not much on the nose, some distant fruits, something sharp, no alcohol
Sip; what is this? Seems, kinda, off…
Expecting a Pinot, or perhaps a Syrah, this is not that, not even close.
Room temp, ~24 or so, doesn’t seem friendly. I hope this isn’t a bum bottle.
What do I have?
Will have to wait, it’s late.
Saturday evening, after the wine and food thing here in San Diego.
No way I’ll be objective, but, I can…
Scour web, site down. Of course, sold. Internet archive for the site over the years; no mention of a ‘red wine’. Blind tasting can be humbling, even when you have the bottle right there to look at.
Sunday.
Pull it out of the fridge, pour a decent sample, let it and the bottle sit.
Too cold, nothing there.
More than a handful of hours later it’s too warm again; a hot day here, quick chill.
I have no idea what I’m drinking.
It’s quite restrained regarding fruit, nothing bright, dark; definitely has an acidic kick, a bit of tannic structure and a tinge of bitter.
About 7 or 8 hours in, this became more interesting.
I can’t really describe the fruits. Not any of the common tree fruits, not tropical or citrus. Berry, that’s about all that’s left, but not a bright berry. Spice, clove perhaps some pepper. Earth too. Not forest and mushrooms, just, dirt/dust. All this while still being restraned, but not timid or flabby; seems this could last for some time, given how long it took to sort itself out.
I still have no idea what I’m drinking, but it’s growing on me, I think I could like this.
Monday.
Read the notes.
What a strange, to me, brew; two grapes I’ve never heard of, and an old friend Dolcetto.
Would not have guessed.
But given the blend it all begins to make sense.
Pulled it out and poured a glass from the final 1/3.
Some leftover Flannery, Brussels sprouts, korokke and kabucha; yeah a strange mix, but a nice pairing.
Rather surprised how the Wind Gap held up to the stronger flavors, but it did. I think the spice and somewhat drying tannins helped a lot, and the crisp acidity cleaned up the steak.
But when it comes to fruit, this is still a restrained blend from all the Dolcetto. The other two really lift this and add dimension to make it work.
So I went from ‘is this a spoiled bottle’ to ‘I think I’ll get some of this’
I’d never have thunk.
Thanks WD and Ariana,
with apologies for being a day late.
@rjquillin Not easy being a Rat is it? Ok, so I’m familiar with Nero d’Avola and Negroamaro however didn’t know there was any in California. I did have to google korokke and kabucha though
Nice write-up, thanks!
Carbonic maceration can soften a wine some, but you mention crisp acidity. Seems this still has the legs to go some. But I’m not smart enough to know the ins and outs of the effects of the process.
@kaolis Can a bottle be both crisp and soft at the same time? This is the closest I’ve been to thinking it’s possible.
Not sure how long this may go. Some of the Pavi Dolcetto bottles have made it way past what most sites suggest is the norm for Dolcetto. Adding in the two additional blends complicated it for me.
This does not taste fresh and vibrant, at all, it’s six years after vintage but does appear to have been well stored. I like bottles with some age on them and this drinks that way, but lacks the leather, tobacco and other hints we’re used to finding.
Reading a bit on carbonic maceration, and how it is suggested that process keeps the fruit fresh, and how wine produced this way may lack the structure for long-term aging, makes me think this really is a drink-sooner bottle.
For me it was additional continuing education, and no, it’s not easy, at all. @tercerowines@winesmith Larry, Clark, your thoughts as winemakers?
@kaolis@rjquillin@winesmith very interesting write up indeed. Carbonic maceration wines generally are made to be consumed sooner rather than later, though this is not always the case. Pax currently makes other wines that have carbonic qualities that probably will stand the test of time, but I believe that has as much to do with variety chosen (syrah, for instance) as well as where the fruit is coming from. I’d be curious to hear Clark’s take on this as well - but my guess is that this is a wine to drink sooner rather than later . . .
@chipgreen I agree! Blend sounds unique and something that I never had. Shoutout thanks to the 'Mates that posted links. CT shows a community price of $17.67 with 14 btls listed (10 consumed, 4 in inventory and no tasting notes). Based on the info in the links, my thinking is that this might be a sell off of Pax’s wine by the new owners. I only saw one state on the map lit up. Looks like RJ stated that we may see something tonight!
On a side note, there were interesting links in the Casemate links that talked about EU and US tariffs on wine and booze along with US excise tax relief expiring at the end of the year. Not sure if that was Fiscal or Calendar Year. I’ve been noticing wine prices going up this past year and thought it was because of the dry weather and fires in CA, now I’m thinking tariffs may be playing a part. The US and EU tariffs were for wines under 14% or 14.5%. Wondering if the wineries in all the countries will try to produce their wines on the non-taxing side of the tariffs?
Sure glad I have a basement full of cases bought before the above scenario! Now my SIWBM may even take a greater effort on my part!
Pax has always made interesting wines, with a pretty major style shift after the original ‘Pax’ had name change to Donelan Family and Pax started Wind Gap. These wines tend to be leaner in style. As others have pointed out, he is no longer involved with the Wind Gap label and the wines have been being sold off in lots of places. The original Pax label has been relaunched by him and he’s continuing to do some interesting things. I’m curious why there is no rattage on this wine - it seems that some wines on Casemates have multiple lab rats and some have none or very few - interesting . . .
@tercerowines Yeah, I don’t know why that happens. I suspect it’s because some of these are being sold off by people who are just dumping inventory and so don’t care how well they do or if they form relationships with new customers.
I know you’d agree that’s a mistake, even if it is dumping inventory.
@klezman this was a pretty specific situation. Terroir needed to divest in all of their wine related operations since their CEO was indicted for some ‘questionable’ investment advice and you cannot own any liquor related business if you are convicted of a felony. He also had to sell off his share of Mayacamas. I have no idea who ‘owns’ the label anymore but I do not think they are still making any wines . . . but perhaps @winedavid49 can jump in here and provide more info?
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2013 Wind Gap Wines Fox Hill Vineyard Red Blend - $35 = 21.20%
Wind Gap Wines Fox Hill Vineyard Red Blend
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Although technically I guess the Wind Gap label exists, they are no longer making wines and Pax sold all of his interest in the winery including inventory last year. A little more info here:
@kaolis Yeah, I’ve gotten a bunch of Syrah, Pinot, and Nebbiolo (Luna Matta Vineyard) from Garagiste, and a few bottles from K&L. All at quite nice pricing, especially given I like the leaner style of this label.
@tercerowines I’d not expect, based on history here, any participation on close-out bottles. At times, it’s all we can do to get participation from the larger houses where they represent multiple labels.
It’s the small producers that make this site work.
You got to rat, and said you were in the for the case. Now looking for splits?
I know that is the entire point of the site, “mates” to split, but it seems like you liked the case price but not enough for a case. So does everyone else.
That is completely fair, but I don’t have enough 'mates in CMH to negotiate a case with splits. It is always “I am buying this case, but could part with x amount”
If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t it doesn’t. But, you kind of made it seem like it was worth the entire case in your rat, so why offering to split now? Buyers remorse?
@KNmeh7 Really annoyed when an entire reply hits the bit bucket and requires an (abbreviated) do-over…
Fair comment, but…
I don’t think either of my comments implied a case purchase to keep, and I’ve not yet made a purchase. If others show interest, it will be the case, otherwise the 4-bottle offer. I’m really curious to see where this goes in the next few+ years, and the cost to do so is quite reasonable.
Would have liked to see/read others opinions as well, but it seems I may have been the only recipient; a loss for us all.
“So I went from ‘is this a spoiled bottle’ to ‘I think I’ll get some of this’”
I probably read more into it than I should have, but it did sound like an endorsement. Considering a few ounces of Flannery costs the entire amount of the case, I made an ass out of you and me. (Well, mostly me.)
I don’t know your preferences or tastes, but I was almost swayed by your rattage, but you haven’t even purchased yet? I think it would be best saying it is what it is. Not worth you buying.
@KNmeh7@rjquillin
Nah, that’s not how I read it. I almost never would want a whole case of a wine, and almost never(er) of the same wine. It would always be to split a case with locals, given the incentive to buy the case vs smaller lot.
@klezman@rjquillin No need to whisper. Take all the offense you want. I am not accusing you of being a shill or having special relationships or anything of the sort.
Hell, look at my posts. Nearly every single offer that I have purchased a case and would like to lessen the cost, I post it on the forums. I BEGGED, with the help of Larry, for a CMH 'mate to help me out with the tercero offering.
I don’t get PMs, texts, calls, or anything from people coordinating splits. Despite having split with many different people, and even starting a thread asking what is the proper ettiquite on costs/sharing/etc.!! Seriously. I’ve tried.
I am simply jealous of the areas where all these people seem to agree on splitting cases and getting singular bottles for the case price.
It is a jealousy thing of that, but I–incorrectly!–read that you were in for it. Which, to those people without an awesome sharing network, assume is a case.
I don’t get PMs, texts, calls, or anything from people coordinating splits. Despite having split with many different people, and even starting a thread asking what is the proper ettiquite on costs/sharing/etc.!! Seriously. I’ve tried.
I am simply jealous of the areas where all these people seem to agree on splitting cases and getting singular bottles for the case price.
Fortunately, now I/we, are, at the case price. But the $3/btl wouldn’t have stopped me from the 4-pack.
It is a jealousy thing of that, but I–incorrectly!–read that you were in for it. Which, to those people without an awesome sharing network, assume is a case.
With the help of @cortot and @klezman, we managed a case split, with a bottle or two still available if any are interested.
@KNmeh7@rjquillin It truly sucks that you don’t have a good crew of wine drinkers up there.
By CMH you mean Columbus, OH, right? Do you know @chipgreen? If not, you should - he’s an excellent guy. Further afield, @bahwm and @ddeuddeg are in Buffalo, if you ever get out in that direction.
You may also want to check in on the NE OH gathering thread: https://casemates.com/forum/topics/cle-ne-oh-casemates
Looks like a nice sized group of people, including some names who’ve been around since the earlier days of wine woot. Let the case-splits roll!
@bahwm@chipgreen@ddeuddeg@klezman@rjquillin I have had the pleasure of meeting most, if not all, of the wonderful people you mentioned. I met them at the Scott Harvey dinner in NEO.
If there were ever a crazy black-tie offer, maybe I would ask them if I could get one next time we meet, but it doesn’t really make sense to “share” with people 2+ hours away, with no foreseeable meet up.
@KNmeh7
FWIW, I make it to the Columbus area a couple times a year. Thanksgiving in Hocking Hills (Logan) at my BIL’s place, the occasional multi-day conference in downtown C-Bus for work and just last month we spent a night at the Doghouse in Canal Winchester.
So, splitting is not out of the question although I have been spoiled with half a dozen or so very reliable NE OH peeps that are usually willing to jump in on anything interesting. So you might have to shout at me and/or twist my arm a little… and then wait awhile for an actual exchange.
Also, I do some occasional swaps with @msten who is in Ashland, a possible halfway meeting point for you and I and another possible 'mate for you as well.
@KNmeh7 Casemates admin put that up there in the header, not @rjquillin. It’s called marketing…
No way I see his comments as finding a gem, just a wine interesting enough and off the beaten path enough to pique his curiosity. And further discussion with other mates seemed to shed a bit more light on how this was made and perhaps a guess at where it is now and longevity. I was pretty sure I was in, and I’m a case buyer by choice, seldom split, but rattage and discussion and a little homework convinced me to take a pass.
I don’t know your preferences or tastes, but I was almost swayed by your rattage, but you haven’t even purchased yet? I think it would be best saying it is what it is. Not worth you buying.
My preferences?
If I could ~just~ drink old cabs and burgs, well, I wouldn’t, but I sure would enjoy them. I do like older, more classically styled wine. I don’t at all care for the higher AbV and extraction that is so common of late. If it’s a well structured cab, 10~15 years after vintage is a good starting point. I’ve got Pedroncelli (and other) cabs (some purchased here) from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s that are doing just fine.
Those Ardente offers here were outstanding.
At a tour supper in '13, Ty Caton poured a 2001 Merlot that was terrific. He had a case left, I got half. Well structured, low AbV, unlike many of his more current offers.
Wellington Syrah? Absolutely, but others as well.
Chard, IH, unoaked and estate, quite different from one another, both have their place.
Pinot; forest floor, mushrooms are great, but some bright cherry will do as well.
Recent vintages? Yes, they absolutely have their place as well. I don’t drink all the wine I buy, and others visiting wouldn’t touch some bottles I open.
I need cellar savers and crowd pleasers too…
I like to try different things, and this offer really rang that bell.
Is it a stellar bottle I’ll keep for another 10 years?
Highly unlikely. As I said before, at first I didn’t know what to think of it. It was that different and had varietals I was unfamiliar with. Not my thing, but interesting. After reading the posted notes from the Vintner I got interested. This is something different I can learn from. This won’t be a bottle for everybody, and not one, I think, for long term holding. Not only in the grapes but how it was produced.
Not worth [you] buying?
Absolutely not, as in untrue.
But do I want a case? Nope, no personal interest in that many.
Do I want a few bottles to follow along with for a few years? Absolutely.
With two other 'mates chiming in we all benefit.
I appreciate these ‘offbeat’ offers @winedavid49 sometimes provides. There have been some real gems, and a few misses. It’s a shame we didn’t have Vintner participation with this one; we all would have benefited. Thanks to Larry for his comments, and I wish Clark wasn’t so busy and could have given us his perspective as well.
We visited winery and liked their wines nothing fabulous, compared to others and price in area. When Wind Gap changed owners we received an email offer. Bought a case mixed Pinot Noir, liked it ok. The case of Syrah, 8 of the 12 got dumped. We tried 4 times per all friends undrinkable. Could’ve been a one off just wanted to share.
@ChiWineOne Thanks for the feedback. What do you mean by ‘undrinkable’? I’m always interested to get a bit more ‘objective’ info as to why a wine may be not good to someone. Cheers
@tercerowines very bad taste, seemed as if every bottle opened was corked. This was across a good size of individuals sampling. From discerning palates to not so discerning, all concluded the same. We recycle so I sampled each bottle before dumping all the same. Our lose $.
@ChiWineOne if every bottle is corked, you should have returned them. It’s one thing if you don’t like the taste of a wine. If it is truly corked, though, you should be able to get your money back.
Crushed red cherries, spiced plums and exotic dark spices including clove and cardamom highlight this deeply aromatic wine. The palate follows the aromas with fresh tart cherries, plums and cinnamon laced fruit. Soft tannins give the wine structure and length while the NegroAmaro fruit stands out for its distinctive bite. This is a dead ringer for a rustic southern Italian Red. A perfect compliment to a classic red sauce pasta or roasted fatty meats.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
Fox Hill Vineyard is a special place. Located just outside of Hopland in Mendocino County, this vineyard is an oasis of unique and distinct Italian grape varieties. Our 2013 Fox Hill Vineyard Red Wine utilizes just three of those Italian grape varieties. The NegroAmaro, Nero d’ Avola & Dolcetto were all harvested and fermented separately as well as a single tank fermented as a blend of all three. These three grape varieties all grow in different parts of Italy, so a blend of all three is a
uniquely California experience. The earthy and rustic NegroAmaro blends perfectly with “the little sweet one” Dolcetto, while the plumy and peppery Nero d’ Avola fleshes the blend out completely.
“Pax Mahle is best known for his award-winning, 90+ rated wines from Sonoma under his own Pax label. He has also made the Agartha and Wind Gap labels. Formerly a sommelier and a wine buyer at Dean & DeLuca, he started making wine in 2002. His specialty is Syrah and Pinot Noir. This medium bodied and refreshing red blend should be served lightly chilled. It was bottled unfiltered.” Greg Martellotto, One Vine Wines
Appellation: Mendocino County
100% Whole-Cluster
50% Carbonic Fermentation
Aged in Neutral French Oak barrels
pH: 3.55
Alcohol: 12.5%
Included in the Box
4-bottles:
4x 2013 Wind Gap Wines Red Blend, Fox Hill Vineyard, Mendocino County
Case:
12x 2013 Wind Gap Wines Red Blend, Fox Hill Vineyard, Mendocino County
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $420/MSRP
About The Winery
Winery: Wind Gap Wines
Founded: 2006
Wind Gap Wines was founded in 2006. Grapes are sourced from vineyards throughout California, most of which are planted along or are 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 wine grapes. The name, Wind Gap, celebrates this force of nature that shapes the wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
I’ve quite enjoyed all the Wind Gap wines I’ve had, except one Chardonnay that was merely “fine”. The interesting blend and Mendocino origin make me want in.
Anybody in socal for splitting?
Let’s get the Santa Cruz Pinot next time!
These Wind Gap wines have been showing up all over. The Syrahs and Pinots I have had were well made but certainly very lean. I suspect that is a hallmark of Pax Mahle.
Very unique blend however. Would love to see some rats.
@kaolis@rlmanzo Really nice WS article and Pax’s wines sound very intriguing. Maybe @winedavid49 could scratch us up 6 or 12 bottle case of Pax’s current wines. Something that would break everyone’s SIWBM’s!!
@kaolis@rlmanzo@Winedavid49 Just visited Pax’s website. Seems like most of his wines are allocated or sold out, with only 2 syrahs available. I doubt if we’ll every see his PAX wines here. If it happened, it would be an ULTRA FRIDAY offer!
I’ve been enjoying mixed reds lately so I’m tempted, but I’d really like for someone (somerat) to provide feedback. Very few purchases as of this comment.
If you like lighter, more acid driven red wines, you will probably be happy with this one. My guess is that this is a relatively high acid red that will be a perfect accompaniment to pizza, pasta or burgers . . . and the price seems right.
@rjquillin probably a buyer as long as this is still showing life which I suspect it is. I’ve enjoyed Pax’s wines all along, still hanging on to some older Keltie/Griffin’s Lair/Lauterbach/Kristine etc. Of course those are different animal from this wine
@tercerowines Before pairing with dinner tonight, I would have thought not. This is not a forceful bottle and I think could be easily overwhelmed, despite the acid/tannins.
Wind Gap 2013 fox Hill Vineyard Mendocino County Red Wine
Tardy Rat here, with a bit of a story…
Received this last Friday, should be plenty of time for a decent, thoughtful rat one would think,;
but it didn’t work out quite as planned.
Arriving home latish, 21:00 or so, I did the unimaginable; pulled a cork on a just received red to pour a small taste. After all, it can settle for a couple days, and the air just may be beneficial.
Lovely natural, intact cork extracted nicely, but what’s that sludge in my glass?
Ahh, must be unfiltered and stored properly, inverted. Some tartrate crystals as well; good start.
Wipe neck, repour, sniff, taste.
Pour: it’s turbid, a rather pale to medium garnet.
Not much on the nose, some distant fruits, something sharp, no alcohol
Sip; what is this? Seems, kinda, off…
Expecting a Pinot, or perhaps a Syrah, this is not that, not even close.
Room temp, ~24 or so, doesn’t seem friendly. I hope this isn’t a bum bottle.
What do I have?
Will have to wait, it’s late.
Saturday evening, after the wine and food thing here in San Diego.
No way I’ll be objective, but, I can…
Scour web, site down. Of course, sold. Internet archive for the site over the years; no mention of a ‘red wine’. Blind tasting can be humbling, even when you have the bottle right there to look at.
Sunday.
Pull it out of the fridge, pour a decent sample, let it and the bottle sit.
Too cold, nothing there.
More than a handful of hours later it’s too warm again; a hot day here, quick chill.
I have no idea what I’m drinking.
It’s quite restrained regarding fruit, nothing bright, dark; definitely has an acidic kick, a bit of tannic structure and a tinge of bitter.
About 7 or 8 hours in, this became more interesting.
I can’t really describe the fruits. Not any of the common tree fruits, not tropical or citrus. Berry, that’s about all that’s left, but not a bright berry. Spice, clove perhaps some pepper. Earth too. Not forest and mushrooms, just, dirt/dust. All this while still being restraned, but not timid or flabby; seems this could last for some time, given how long it took to sort itself out.
I still have no idea what I’m drinking, but it’s growing on me, I think I could like this.
Monday.
Read the notes.
What a strange, to me, brew; two grapes I’ve never heard of, and an old friend Dolcetto.
Would not have guessed.
But given the blend it all begins to make sense.
Pulled it out and poured a glass from the final 1/3.
Some leftover Flannery, Brussels sprouts, korokke and kabucha; yeah a strange mix, but a nice pairing.
Rather surprised how the Wind Gap held up to the stronger flavors, but it did. I think the spice and somewhat drying tannins helped a lot, and the crisp acidity cleaned up the steak.
But when it comes to fruit, this is still a restrained blend from all the Dolcetto. The other two really lift this and add dimension to make it work.
So I went from ‘is this a spoiled bottle’ to ‘I think I’ll get some of this’
I’d never have thunk.
Thanks WD and Ariana,
with apologies for being a day late.
@rjquillin Not easy being a Rat is it? Ok, so I’m familiar with Nero d’Avola and Negroamaro however didn’t know there was any in California. I did have to google korokke and kabucha though
Nice write-up, thanks!
Carbonic maceration can soften a wine some, but you mention crisp acidity. Seems this still has the legs to go some. But I’m not smart enough to know the ins and outs of the effects of the process.
@kaolis Can a bottle be both crisp and soft at the same time? This is the closest I’ve been to thinking it’s possible.
Not sure how long this may go. Some of the Pavi Dolcetto bottles have made it way past what most sites suggest is the norm for Dolcetto. Adding in the two additional blends complicated it for me.
This does not taste fresh and vibrant, at all, it’s six years after vintage but does appear to have been well stored. I like bottles with some age on them and this drinks that way, but lacks the leather, tobacco and other hints we’re used to finding.
Reading a bit on carbonic maceration, and how it is suggested that process keeps the fruit fresh, and how wine produced this way may lack the structure for long-term aging, makes me think this really is a drink-sooner bottle.
For me it was additional continuing education, and no, it’s not easy, at all.
@tercerowines @winesmith Larry, Clark, your thoughts as winemakers?
@kaolis @rjquillin @winesmith very interesting write up indeed. Carbonic maceration wines generally are made to be consumed sooner rather than later, though this is not always the case. Pax currently makes other wines that have carbonic qualities that probably will stand the test of time, but I believe that has as much to do with variety chosen (syrah, for instance) as well as where the fruit is coming from. I’d be curious to hear Clark’s take on this as well - but my guess is that this is a wine to drink sooner rather than later . . .
Sounds interesting. Hoping for some
@chipgreen Yes, this evening.
@chipgreen I agree! Blend sounds unique and something that I never had. Shoutout thanks to the 'Mates that posted links. CT shows a community price of $17.67 with 14 btls listed (10 consumed, 4 in inventory and no tasting notes). Based on the info in the links, my thinking is that this might be a sell off of Pax’s wine by the new owners. I only saw one state on the map lit up. Looks like RJ stated that we may see something tonight!
On a side note, there were interesting links in the Casemate links that talked about EU and US tariffs on wine and booze along with US excise tax relief expiring at the end of the year. Not sure if that was Fiscal or Calendar Year. I’ve been noticing wine prices going up this past year and thought it was because of the dry weather and fires in CA, now I’m thinking tariffs may be playing a part. The US and EU tariffs were for wines under 14% or 14.5%. Wondering if the wineries in all the countries will try to produce their wines on the non-taxing side of the tariffs?
Sure glad I have a basement full of cases bought before the above scenario! Now my SIWBM may even take a greater effort on my part!
Pax has always made interesting wines, with a pretty major style shift after the original ‘Pax’ had name change to Donelan Family and Pax started Wind Gap. These wines tend to be leaner in style. As others have pointed out, he is no longer involved with the Wind Gap label and the wines have been being sold off in lots of places. The original Pax label has been relaunched by him and he’s continuing to do some interesting things. I’m curious why there is no rattage on this wine - it seems that some wines on Casemates have multiple lab rats and some have none or very few - interesting . . .
@tercerowines Yeah, I don’t know why that happens. I suspect it’s because some of these are being sold off by people who are just dumping inventory and so don’t care how well they do or if they form relationships with new customers.
I know you’d agree that’s a mistake, even if it is dumping inventory.
@klezman this was a pretty specific situation. Terroir needed to divest in all of their wine related operations since their CEO was indicted for some ‘questionable’ investment advice and you cannot own any liquor related business if you are convicted of a felony. He also had to sell off his share of Mayacamas. I have no idea who ‘owns’ the label anymore but I do not think they are still making any wines . . . but perhaps @winedavid49 can jump in here and provide more info?
So quiet - and where is the winery???
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2013 Wind Gap Wines Fox Hill Vineyard Red Blend - $35 = 21.20%
Wind Gap Wines Fox Hill Vineyard Red Blend
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2013 Wind Gap Wines Fox Hill Vineyard Red Blend
Although technically I guess the Wind Gap label exists, they are no longer making wines and Pax sold all of his interest in the winery including inventory last year. A little more info here:
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/wind-gap-wines-sold-to-charles-banks-former-wine-company
@kaolis Yeah, I’ve gotten a bunch of Syrah, Pinot, and Nebbiolo (Luna Matta Vineyard) from Garagiste, and a few bottles from K&L. All at quite nice pricing, especially given I like the leaner style of this label.
So quiet - and where is the winery???
@tercerowines What winery?
@rjquillin these were purchased by someone, right???
@tercerowines I’d not expect, based on history here, any participation on close-out bottles. At times, it’s all we can do to get participation from the larger houses where they represent multiple labels.
It’s the small producers that make this site work.
@rjquillin then it’s probably best to choose someone to represent. @winedavid49, I’m free!!!
SoCal splitz?
@rjquillin Little devil’s advocate here:
You got to rat, and said you were in the for the case. Now looking for splits?
I know that is the entire point of the site, “mates” to split, but it seems like you liked the case price but not enough for a case. So does everyone else.
That is completely fair, but I don’t have enough 'mates in CMH to negotiate a case with splits. It is always “I am buying this case, but could part with x amount”
If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t it doesn’t. But, you kind of made it seem like it was worth the entire case in your rat, so why offering to split now? Buyers remorse?
@KNmeh7 Really annoyed when an entire reply hits the bit bucket and requires an (abbreviated) do-over…
Fair comment, but…
I don’t think either of my comments implied a case purchase to keep, and I’ve not yet made a purchase. If others show interest, it will be the case, otherwise the 4-bottle offer. I’m really curious to see where this goes in the next few+ years, and the cost to do so is quite reasonable.
Would have liked to see/read others opinions as well, but it seems I may have been the only recipient; a loss for us all.
@rjquillin
“So I went from ‘is this a spoiled bottle’ to ‘I think I’ll get some of this’”
I probably read more into it than I should have, but it did sound like an endorsement. Considering a few ounces of Flannery costs the entire amount of the case, I made an ass out of you and me. (Well, mostly me.)
I don’t know your preferences or tastes, but I was almost swayed by your rattage, but you haven’t even purchased yet? I think it would be best saying it is what it is. Not worth you buying.
@KNmeh7 @rjquillin
Nah, that’s not how I read it. I almost never would want a whole case of a wine, and almost never(er) of the same wine. It would always be to split a case with locals, given the incentive to buy the case vs smaller lot.
@KNmeh7 Case ordered. 3-way split
renewed-lofty-vodka
@klezman @rjquillin Must be nice to have that kind of relationship with casemates. Here I am stuck buying cases. I guess I am doing it wrong.
@klezman @rjquillin No need to whisper. Take all the offense you want. I am not accusing you of being a shill or having special relationships or anything of the sort.
Hell, look at my posts. Nearly every single offer that I have purchased a case and would like to lessen the cost, I post it on the forums. I BEGGED, with the help of Larry, for a CMH 'mate to help me out with the tercero offering.
I don’t get PMs, texts, calls, or anything from people coordinating splits. Despite having split with many different people, and even starting a thread asking what is the proper ettiquite on costs/sharing/etc.!! Seriously. I’ve tried.
I am simply jealous of the areas where all these people seem to agree on splitting cases and getting singular bottles for the case price.
It is a jealousy thing of that, but I–incorrectly!–read that you were in for it. Which, to those people without an awesome sharing network, assume is a case.
POPSOCKETS! SPA KITS! POLLY POCKETS! AWESOME!
@klezman @KNmeh7 @winedavid49
We need promised tools!
Fortunately, now I/we, are, at the case price. But the $3/btl wouldn’t have stopped me from the 4-pack.
With the help of @cortot and @klezman, we managed a case split, with a bottle or two still available if any are interested.
@KNmeh7 @rjquillin It truly sucks that you don’t have a good crew of wine drinkers up there.
By CMH you mean Columbus, OH, right? Do you know @chipgreen? If not, you should - he’s an excellent guy. Further afield, @bahwm and @ddeuddeg are in Buffalo, if you ever get out in that direction.
You may also want to check in on the NE OH gathering thread: https://casemates.com/forum/topics/cle-ne-oh-casemates
Looks like a nice sized group of people, including some names who’ve been around since the earlier days of wine woot. Let the case-splits roll!
@bahwm @chipgreen @ddeuddeg @klezman @rjquillin I have had the pleasure of meeting most, if not all, of the wonderful people you mentioned. I met them at the Scott Harvey dinner in NEO.
If there were ever a crazy black-tie offer, maybe I would ask them if I could get one next time we meet, but it doesn’t really make sense to “share” with people 2+ hours away, with no foreseeable meet up.
@KNmeh7
FWIW, I make it to the Columbus area a couple times a year. Thanksgiving in Hocking Hills (Logan) at my BIL’s place, the occasional multi-day conference in downtown C-Bus for work and just last month we spent a night at the Doghouse in Canal Winchester.
So, splitting is not out of the question although I have been spoiled with half a dozen or so very reliable NE OH peeps that are usually willing to jump in on anything interesting. So you might have to shout at me and/or twist my arm a little… and then wait awhile for an actual exchange.
Also, I do some occasional swaps with @msten who is in Ashland, a possible halfway meeting point for you and I and another possible 'mate for you as well.
@KNmeh7 I would split with you also (3-4 hrs away) but as Chip says…“only make it down a couple times a year” to visit friends
@KNmeh7 @rjquillin How does “I THINK I’ll get SOME of this” translate to I’m absolutely buying a full case of this for myself?
@kaolis
You really want to beat this dead horse? If you take the entire rattage, it sounds like it turned into a gem that he was getting.
It is the first thing people see when clicking on more comments.
@KNmeh7 Casemates admin put that up there in the header, not @rjquillin. It’s called marketing…
No way I see his comments as finding a gem, just a wine interesting enough and off the beaten path enough to pique his curiosity. And further discussion with other mates seemed to shed a bit more light on how this was made and perhaps a guess at where it is now and longevity. I was pretty sure I was in, and I’m a case buyer by choice, seldom split, but rattage and discussion and a little homework convinced me to take a pass.
And another rat or two would have been nice
@KNmeh7
My preferences?
If I could ~just~ drink old cabs and burgs, well, I wouldn’t, but I sure would enjoy them. I do like older, more classically styled wine. I don’t at all care for the higher AbV and extraction that is so common of late. If it’s a well structured cab, 10~15 years after vintage is a good starting point. I’ve got Pedroncelli (and other) cabs (some purchased here) from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s that are doing just fine.
Those Ardente offers here were outstanding.
At a tour supper in '13, Ty Caton poured a 2001 Merlot that was terrific. He had a case left, I got half. Well structured, low AbV, unlike many of his more current offers.
Wellington Syrah? Absolutely, but others as well.
Chard, IH, unoaked and estate, quite different from one another, both have their place.
Pinot; forest floor, mushrooms are great, but some bright cherry will do as well.
Recent vintages? Yes, they absolutely have their place as well. I don’t drink all the wine I buy, and others visiting wouldn’t touch some bottles I open.
I need cellar savers and crowd pleasers too…
I like to try different things, and this offer really rang that bell.
Is it a stellar bottle I’ll keep for another 10 years?
Highly unlikely. As I said before, at first I didn’t know what to think of it. It was that different and had varietals I was unfamiliar with. Not my thing, but interesting. After reading the posted notes from the Vintner I got interested. This is something different I can learn from. This won’t be a bottle for everybody, and not one, I think, for long term holding. Not only in the grapes but how it was produced.
Absolutely not, as in untrue.
But do I want a case? Nope, no personal interest in that many.
Do I want a few bottles to follow along with for a few years? Absolutely.
With two other 'mates chiming in we all benefit.
I appreciate these ‘offbeat’ offers @winedavid49 sometimes provides. There have been some real gems, and a few misses. It’s a shame we didn’t have Vintner participation with this one; we all would have benefited. Thanks to Larry for his comments, and I wish Clark wasn’t so busy and could have given us his perspective as well.
We visited winery and liked their wines nothing fabulous, compared to others and price in area. When Wind Gap changed owners we received an email offer. Bought a case mixed Pinot Noir, liked it ok. The case of Syrah, 8 of the 12 got dumped. We tried 4 times per all friends undrinkable. Could’ve been a one off just wanted to share.
@ChiWineOne Thanks for the feedback. What do you mean by ‘undrinkable’? I’m always interested to get a bit more ‘objective’ info as to why a wine may be not good to someone. Cheers
@tercerowines very bad taste, seemed as if every bottle opened was corked. This was across a good size of individuals sampling. From discerning palates to not so discerning, all concluded the same. We recycle so I sampled each bottle before dumping all the same. Our lose $.
@ChiWineOne if every bottle is corked, you should have returned them. It’s one thing if you don’t like the taste of a wine. If it is truly corked, though, you should be able to get your money back.
@tercerowines Wind Gap was sold. Previous incarnation no one to contact, I tried.
@ChiWineOne I know that they were sold but there’s gotta be SOMEONE responsible, no?!?!?
Tasting Notes
Crushed red cherries, spiced plums and exotic dark spices including clove and cardamom highlight this deeply aromatic wine. The palate follows the aromas with fresh tart cherries, plums and cinnamon laced fruit. Soft tannins give the wine structure and length while the NegroAmaro fruit stands out for its distinctive bite. This is a dead ringer for a rustic southern Italian Red. A perfect compliment to a classic red sauce pasta or roasted fatty meats.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
Fox Hill Vineyard is a special place. Located just outside of Hopland in Mendocino County, this vineyard is an oasis of unique and distinct Italian grape varieties. Our 2013 Fox Hill Vineyard Red Wine utilizes just three of those Italian grape varieties. The NegroAmaro, Nero d’ Avola & Dolcetto were all harvested and fermented separately as well as a single tank fermented as a blend of all three. These three grape varieties all grow in different parts of Italy, so a blend of all three is a
uniquely California experience. The earthy and rustic NegroAmaro blends perfectly with “the little sweet one” Dolcetto, while the plumy and peppery Nero d’ Avola fleshes the blend out completely.
“Pax Mahle is best known for his award-winning, 90+ rated wines from Sonoma under his own Pax label. He has also made the Agartha and Wind Gap labels. Formerly a sommelier and a wine buyer at Dean & DeLuca, he started making wine in 2002. His specialty is Syrah and Pinot Noir. This medium bodied and refreshing red blend should be served lightly chilled. It was bottled unfiltered.” Greg Martellotto, One Vine Wines
Specifications
100% Whole-Cluster
50% Carbonic Fermentation
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $420/MSRP
About The Winery
Winery: Wind Gap Wines
Founded: 2006
Wind Gap Wines was founded in 2006. Grapes are sourced from vineyards throughout California, most of which are planted along or are 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 wine grapes. The name, Wind Gap, celebrates this force of nature that shapes the wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, December 12th - Monday, December 16th
I’ve quite enjoyed all the Wind Gap wines I’ve had, except one Chardonnay that was merely “fine”. The interesting blend and Mendocino origin make me want in.
Anybody in socal for splitting?
Let’s get the Santa Cruz Pinot next time!
@klezman I can help you out if needed.
@CorTot Waiting on the rats…
@CorTot @klezman either of you two interested?
@klezman @rjquillin i can take 2-4 if that helps.
@CorTot @rjquillin I’ll take 2 or 3
These Wind Gap wines have been showing up all over. The Syrahs and Pinots I have had were well made but certainly very lean. I suspect that is a hallmark of Pax Mahle.
Very unique blend however. Would love to see some rats.
@rlmanzo This is a few years old, but a little info on Pax’s style:
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/the-evolution-of-pax-mahle-and-his-wines-50068
also hoping for a little rattage
@kaolis @rlmanzo Really nice WS article and Pax’s wines sound very intriguing. Maybe @winedavid49 could scratch us up 6 or 12 bottle case of Pax’s current wines. Something that would break everyone’s SIWBM’s!!
@kaolis @rlmanzo @Winedavid49 Just visited Pax’s website. Seems like most of his wines are allocated or sold out, with only 2 syrahs available. I doubt if we’ll every see his PAX wines here. If it happened, it would be an ULTRA FRIDAY offer!
I’ve been enjoying mixed reds lately so I’m tempted, but I’d really like for someone (somerat) to provide feedback. Very few purchases as of this comment.
If you like lighter, more acid driven red wines, you will probably be happy with this one. My guess is that this is a relatively high acid red that will be a perfect accompaniment to pizza, pasta or burgers . . . and the price seems right.
@tercerowines as a ‘quick take’ I can confirm the higher acid, also a lighter style.
@rjquillin have you had this wine before? Sounds tasty . . .
@tercerowines I’m a (tardy) rat.
@rjquillin probably a buyer as long as this is still showing life which I suspect it is. I’ve enjoyed Pax’s wines all along, still hanging on to some older Keltie/Griffin’s Lair/Lauterbach/Kristine etc. Of course those are different animal from this wine
@rjquillin
Is the rat still alive??
@tercerowines Before pairing with dinner tonight, I would have thought not. This is not a forceful bottle and I think could be easily overwhelmed, despite the acid/tannins.
@tercerowines No, I had not had this before.
The specs on this wine are too interesting to ignore. I’m in for a case!!!
IA split?