MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.4

One of my favorites from Premiere Napa Valley 2020 #pnv20 #pnv2020 #napa only 5 cases produced. “A blend of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from two of the best AXR Napa Valley blocks
50% from Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville and 50% from Denali Vineyard in the hills of St. Helena
100% barrel fermented from our finest barrels utilizing native yeast; unfined and unfiltered
Reflection of Jean Hoefliger’s pursuit to create a wine to push the envelope of Cabernet Sauvignon

AXR is a winery that pays homage to the past at their historic estate in St. Helena. AXR, named after the rootstock which succumbed to phylloxera, left the California wine industry a blank canvas. This was a crossing of the past and future of the wine industry as we know it. AXR has given winemaker Jean Hoefliger this same blank canvas. Jean is driven to push the envelope, challenging not only winemaking but life in general. With an insatiable appetite for art, philosophy and good discussion, Jean thrives when his creativity and passion is left unbound by conventional thinking.


Wine Facts

Wine is unfiltered
Single vineyard wine
Sustainably produced — 3 years ago

with Ron

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The Ritchie is one of the more pleasurable Napa/Sonoma Chardonnay’s I’ve had. The fruit is very good and made by Winemaker-Jean Hoefliger...who has a French background & goes easy on the new oak.

The body is thick and round with nice viscosity. Green apple, lemon, lime candy, overripe pineapple, just a touch of buttered popcorn, caramel, soft wood notes and backbone, butterscotch, delicate chalkiness, limestone & volcanics with yellow lilies, spring flowers and mixed greens. Full round acidity. Beautifully polished, elegant & s well balanced finish that persists nicely.

Photos of; the entrance to AXR’s main tasting room at the rear of the property, their guest house that in the days of prohibition was a Brothel, a sitting area under the Redwoods that overlooks their Estate vines & the AXR house that fronts the property. — 4 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.2

Very nice wine. I wish it had a little more length as it tends to dry out before it gets there but I like it. — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

We finished with the AXR Red Blend.

The body is full, round, lush & gorgeous. The fruits are lightly floral, ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, dark cherries with raspberries pulling up the rear. Dark spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, mocha powder, anise to black licorice, dark, rich soils, stones, dry crushed rocks, tobacco notes, light granite, soft leather, saddle-wood with fresh florals that are; dark, red & purple. The acidity is close to perfect. The long, well balanced, sexy, elegant, lush finish shows excellent polish & persists for days.

Photos of, the entrance to their main tasting room in the rear of the property, the main house as you drive up to their Estate, redwoods around the property, their guest house that was a Brothel during Prohibition & their tasting patio. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The fruits are clearly Beckstoffer to Kalon but, they showed a little dull the day we tasted.

On the nose; ripe, lightly perfumed floral, dark currants & fruits of; blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, black raspberries & creamy raspberries. Cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, light, dark spice, forest floor with fresh, dark florals.

The entry glides over the palate with juicy fruits of; blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, strawberries, black raspberries & creamy raspberries. Cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, caramel, light, dark spice, forest floor, dry clay, soft leather, saddle-wood boarding to cedar & fresh & dry tobacco. It’s fairly closed and perhaps would have shown better with more time in the individual decanters. Wire to wire it’s good...not necessarily stunning yet, shows promise. Florals that are fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple. The acidity is beautiful. The finish is round, rich, lush, well structure, balanced & elegant.

Photos of, the entrance to their main tasting room in the rear of the property, the main house as you drive up to their Estate, the greeting table they have you sign Covid waivers & their side tasting salon area. — 4 years ago

Tom Inners

9.5

This is such a dynamic site. 1600ft above the valley floor, Wente clone on AXR-1 rootstock planted in 1982. This has white Burgundy nods written all over it in opening it tonight on 6/20/2019. Cheers John & Kai!

This is delish and the remaining bottles that capture this vineyard’s site expression still out there in the wild are worth celebrating. — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The Denali showed better than the earlier red wines we tasted. This is where we crossed over into the realm of outstanding during our single vineyard tasting at AXR.

The 2018 has great freshness & mouthfeel. Beautiful, floral, round, ripe, lush, juicy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, bark cherries, some blueberries & haunting raspberries over the top. Dry, grainy tannins that show their baby teeth, caramel, cinnamon, light nutmeg, clove & vanilla, some black licorice, tree sap, black tarriness, dry crushed rocks, limestone, soft volcano, saline, stones, light graphite, beautiful florals that are; dark, purple, red & blue framed in violets. Excellent acidity. The lush, well balanced, elegant, sexy finish sings on the palate for minutes.

Photos of, the entrance to their main tasting room in the rear of the property, the main house as you drive up to their Estate, their woods off the tasting patio and their Estate vines. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

@Delectable This is their Rosé from Cabernet. Please add.

When you arrive at AXR, they greet you with their Rosé. It’s pressed from 100% Cabernet.

The extraction is right at my preferred limit. The color here is slightly darker. The palate is round, rich with good viscosity. The fruit flavors are a little darker; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, watermelon, orange citrus, really excellent mid minerality, red & pink & rose pedals, refreshing acidity and a smartly polished finish.

We enjoyed this 2019 quite a bit.

Photos of; their tasting room at the back of the property, the table they greet you & have you sign a Covid wavier, bottom to top view of their beautiful redwood trees and the wooded areas behind the tasting room building. — 4 years ago

Peter Marks

Master of Wine, Educator Constellation Brands

9.1

One of the standout wines at today's Mount Veeder Appellation tasting. Certainly one of the best Cab Francs. From older vines still rooted on AxR but holding up beautifully. Available at winery only. — 9 years ago