Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
A compilation of Cabernet Sauvignon from all corners of the Napa Valley, this wine is fermented in 50% stainless steel and 50% barrel, then aged for 23 months in 80% new French oak. Ripe black cherry, plums, dusty minerals, dried violets, and cassis fill the senses, while this medium to full-bodied Napa Cab is layered with powerful tannins that have a crispness, grip, and tension. In the warm 2022 vintage, this structure suggests great ageing potential. Beyond its cellaring promise, the wine also offers immediate pleasure with its dark fruit and brown-spiced character.
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James Suckling
Attractive red currants and blackberries with hints of flowers and cherries on the nose and palate. It’s medium-bodied with a round, juicy palate and freshness. So drinkable and attractive now. Drink now or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon from AXR steps up in quality, showing pure cassis and red and black fruits intermixed with spice notes. Medium to full-bodied, classy, and balanced, it offers a seamless, elegant style and will drink nicely for 7-8 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Like the 2021, AXR's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced primarily from the southern end of Napa Valley. Discrete notes of pencil shavings accent cherries and raspberries on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is juicy and fresh, not that deep or intense but framed nicely by silky tannins that persist on the finish. It's a reasonable value in the context of Napa Valley Cabernet.
The history of the AXR estate is compounded in layers; rooted in historic tales of fierce Native American hunting grounds, wild west pioneers and the first woman vintner of California in 1886. It has changed hands over the course of 134 years to become a brewery, restaurant, inn, winery and saloon. Tales of love, lust, heartbreak, murders and great fortune create an imaginative backdrop to the present-day vision of AXR. Named after the AxR rootstalk (Aramond x Rupestris) that was so prominent in building the modern California wine industry, AXR Winery pays homage to the so-called "roots" of the industry. By utilizing modern and innovative techniques in the cellar, AXR extract the uniqueness of Napa Valley’s soils into wines enjoyable now, or many years from now. They start with hand-picked grapes, naturally fermented in small handcrafted lots, add in the expertise and palette of renowned consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger, and you have a recipe for stunning wines that promote even better conversations, more laughs, and an invitation for others to join the group!
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.