Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

From a vineyard owned by Dave Phinney, this is the only wine made in US from his own vineyard, 2021 bring the first vintage. Medium Ruby color, purple edges, with aromas of ripe fruits, floral, herb and complex spice. On the palate flavors of raspberry, plum and strawberry with pepper, tea, herbs, cinnamon and oak, soft tannins on well balanced structure. Full body, long finish, ending with spice, ripe fruit and warm woody tones. Very Nice! Hard to find, grab a bottle if you see one! — 2 months ago

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

Aaron Tan

9.3

KP likes to say that he makes pino for fun. However, if this wine is of any indication, KP's pino's are as serious as any of his rieslings. The 11' Burgel would easily give the Burgundies of the vintage a run for their money. In fact, it's apt to say that the wine was very Burgundian, given how most placed it in the region in our blind.

The wine's in a great spot for drinking at the moment. No greeness or lady bug. Bouquet of red and black cherries, sous bois, floral spice, mushroom, soy. The palate's energetic and tangy, fruit's a little more dried out with a more profound spice element, and a touch of creaminess. Silky texture, with tannins and oak fully resolved. There's a sort of balancing VA, which also brings savouriness - I feel this is what makes it quite Burgundian. Up for discussion of course.

It's good to see a pino from when KP still bottled them in riesling bottles - perhaps from when he still thought of them as "fun". This is the oldest pino that I've drank from Keller (would have been the 07' Burgel Felix last year if it wasn't corked. FU cork!) and I think it's safe to say he never did treat his pino's lightly. I mean, it's arguably even crazier now - we did spend four days just sorting the Morstein pino grapes, berry-by-berry, in 2017.

Unpopular opinion: KP's spatburgunder's are not value buys anymore (heck! The 2015 Morstein had a hammer price of 610€ in last year's VDP auction). For me, there's still better wines to be found in Burgundy at the prices that the Keller pino's go for. That said, with the rising prices of the latter, this opinion may soon be invalid. — 5 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

Grapefruit, lime, custard. — 6 months ago

Jared O'Connell

9.4

Drank a bottle of this at the winery’s restaurant in 2018 and a couple days later, in Athens, felt compelled to find this, our favorite wine from the whole trip, and bring home. We had to search several wine stores to find it. Drinking it now 5+ years later. Deep golden straw color like something rumpelstiltskin would spin. Nose: pink lady apple, marzipan, black licorice, hint of smoke, and kind of like an old chest of plastic toys. Palette of very ripe stone fruit, clover honey, vanilla, crème brûlée, hint of mint. Nice acidity still and intense slate minerality. Oak was more pronounced in ‘18, but still there, seems to be more balanced now. Could’ve held this longer but is drinking wonderfully on this pre-Christmas dinner 2023 with Halibut. — 6 months ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

Prior notes apply; fruit is lightly fading, but this is still an elegant and sophisticated lady.

Nose has strawberry, roses, cut tangerine, juiced Clementine and dry earth.
Palate is strawberry-tangerine (light), wet minerals, so much finesse, yet light in the mouth, just stunning.

Our final bottle of the vintage. — 3 years ago

The Meg

9.4

Loved this wine courtesy of the in-laws. had this with our turkey day dinner. yummy — 6 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.0

green raspberry, cranberry. High acid- well made and will be great, but needs time. — 7 months ago

Jan A

9.5

Honeyed burnt citrus with muted apricots. Long finish. Quote from the winery:

The Graacher Domprobst is a “Große Lage”. Even before 1800 it was known that top wines can be produced from this site. The name Domprobst can be traced back to the fact that the interest income from the best vineyards was paid to the “Probst” of Trierer cathedral, who of course only choosed the best sites. The Graacher Domprobst has a slope of up to 70% with an optimal south-west orientation. The topography protects the vineyards from wind and frost and enables a very long ripening period.

The deep, slate soil dominated by clay minerals, together with the microclimatic conditions, enables the creation offinest fruit flavors and minerality. In combination with fine fruit acid, there is an incredible pleasure experience.

We use the grapes of the Domprobst to produce premium wines. In the dry wine sector, we recommend our Großes Gewächs, which must meet the strict criteria of the Bernkasteler Ring with regard to the quality of the grapes. In the noble sweet sector, the Auslese *** captivates with its distinctive fruit aroma and sweetness paired with fine acidity. The older vintages impress with their finesse and maturity, without showing any unpleasant aging marks. — 2 years ago

Paul T HB

9.4

Another summer guzzler for $10.00, winery over $20.00 though. More acidity than the Mathis but not as much flavor. Either way both are winners at this price & release price. Save your money for big time cabernets, drink inexpensive Rose
Winery notes,
Crafted from 100% Pinot noir, the fruit for our Rosé is intentionally selected with an eye towards cooler sites which retain juicy, vibrant acidity. Stainless steel fermentation to retain the bright, fresh fruit character.

"Ethereal aromatics of magnolia, hibiscus, wild strawberry, jasmine and rainwater blend with slightly savory hints of lemon thyme and white pepper on the nose. The seamless palate of apple (think Envy or Pink Lady), slight honey notes and juicy acidity make this a refreshing, but serious Pinot noir rosé."

--WINEMAKER LUISA PONZI — 4 years ago