2004 Pax Sonoma Hillsides

(a roughly 50/50 blend of syrah and grenache; 15.4% alcohol) Aromas of blackberry, black raspberry and roasted meat. Sweet, grapey and simple, with strong acidity giving it a slightly tart edge. Compared to most of the wines that follow, these tannins, which Mahle says come more from the grenache than from the syrah, are only moderately ripe, giving the wine a somewhat aggressive character.