WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
AXR Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 deep, dark shiny charcoal color with touches of royal red. On the nose, an explosion of fruit and flowers like violet, rose and lavender with black currant, chocolate and touches of thyme, sage, blackberry and dried cherry. On the palate the wine is dense but fresh entrance evolving on a sweet blackberry pie mid-palate with iodine and licorice, lingering on blood orange and dark chocolate.
TASTING NOTES:
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.
- Decanter, 95 pts.
Very pretty aromas of currants and a hint of graphite follow through to a medium body with fine, firm tannins and a crunchy finish. Lovely texture, length and depth. Delicious. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling, 93 pts.
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.
- Jeb Dunnuck, 92 pts.
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.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 pts.
