Highway 253

Highway 12 Winery

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Nicely balanced, rich body and spicy finish. — 15 days ago

Blankiet Estate

Paradise Hills Vineyard Merlot 2004


This is a wine that need lots of time in the decanter or big ass glass.

Trying to understand this wine from just pouring a glass and drinking it is pointless.

Full bodied (Imagine meatloaf in fight club, may he rest in peace) complex, super tight and vivid yet 18 years young. On the nose I sense tar (freaking new highway asphalt!) probably new and old reused oak. Scent of white spirit in that haze of tar before sweet jammy fruit appears between a rich autumn forrest with leaves that start to decompose in my nostrils. Mineral notes between iron, copper, gravel and a plummers jacket. This is by far a wine that I can’t decide if I like or love I’m intrigued by its mystique and bedazzled by its harsh appearance. These grapes must have grown on vines stuck with its roots deep in some serious steriod soil.
On the palate, long jammy blue fruit, violets, ripe black plum, blackberry, liquorice, tar, rich iron minerality towards licking your own wound. Long lasting finish going to sundried blue fruit, tobacco and jeez this wide palete with its perfectly integrated oak and smooth tannins.

I’m ready to give my verdict after 4-5 hours in the glass, I love this wine so much.
— a year ago

Pax Mahle Wines

Griffin's Lair Sonoma Coast Syrah 2012

Nose has cedar-y blueberry-blackberry jam, crushed raspberry, newly paved highway, light metallic undertones with minor alcohol heat.

Palate has blackberry jam, white pepper, dried blueberry, blueberry sauce and big chalky tannins. Massive structure, no doubt, this wine needs another 10+ minimum. Yet, delicious tonight. 5h decant.
— 4 years ago

Ron, Vanessa and 35 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@David T Not our bottle, but that of our dinner guest. Our last Pax was a 2005, they need some age.
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Love Pax. Agree on the age requirement.
Arden Barnett

Arden Barnett

@Severn Goodwin @David T Huge Pax fan. I tend to agree with @Severn Goodwin on Pax’s single vineyard projects.... definitely need some age on the bottle. With regards to the Sonoma Hillsides wine, I lean towards drinking young with a good 3-4hr decant. With the hillsides wine I would treat it like you would a northern Rhône wine.

Highway 12 Winery

Sonoma County Red Blend 2020

This was good! Didn’t taste like other blends and stayed consistent. Drank in its own after a night of wine shopping. Hints of vanilla and undertones of caramel and raisins. — 5 months ago

Highway 12 Winery

SRB Sonoma County Red Blend 2019

Oddly, this red blend from Sonoma from Costco … was delicious. Rich, fruity, deep fruit … like a fresh cab (?) I’d buy this again. — 2 years ago

Château de Beaucastel

Coudoulet de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend 2016

From magnum. This vineyard is just across the highway from the winery and the chateauneuf du pape appellation, thus cotes du rhone. But made the same way as all of their other reds. Spice, bramble fruit, incense, gravely minerality, medium tannins and nice acid. Should’ve waited, but on vacation, so.. 😁 — 3 years ago

Ira, Romain and 1 other liked this

Highway 12 Winery

SV Sonoma Valley Red Blend 2017

Surrrrr good! 2017. Bought at Costco. Nice nose and smoky! Good with hard dry cheese . — 4 years ago

Peter Paul Wines

Gravenstein Highway Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021

Deep Ruby color with aromas of rustic red fruits, floral notes and baking spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and tart strawberry with pepper, floral notes and cinnamon spice. Full-bodied, fine drying tannins, medium finish ending with fruit, spice and an earthy character. — 9 months ago

Alex, Paul and 3 others liked this

Highway 253

Gewürztraminer 2019

A really great taste and good balance of acidity and taste. — 3 years ago

Arianna Occhipinti

SP68 Terre Siciliane Nero d'Avola Frappato 2019

Better than I recalled - lovely deep dark Sicilian Nero d’avola — when you don’t want to go full cab crab some of this inky juice named after the highway running through their region instead. Support a killer female winemaker at the same time. — 3 years ago

Alex, Paul and 11 others liked this
Ray Vanderhoff

Ray Vanderhoff

Well said! Her wines are always consistently terrific!