AXR Proprietary Red 2021

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Founded by the FAB4 friends, Kelly Trevethan, Don Van Laeken, Mark Schratz, and Jean Hoefliger, California-based AXR Winery is located in the heart of Napa Valley in St. Helena. The name is inspired by a rootstock developed after the phylloxera epidemic, known as Aramond x Rupestris. The winery produces premium wines with an emphasis on terroir diversity. AXR Proprietary Red is a blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, with additions of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, from grapes sourced from the Oak Knoll, Yountville, and Coombsville vineyards. After harvest and a two-week maceration, the wine is vinified traditionally and aged for one year in French oak (40% new). Considered the winery's flagship wine, Proprietary Red reveals an intense and well-defined aromatic profile, with notes of blueberries and dried herbs, against a background of chocolate and black truffle. On the palate, it is rounded and velvety, concentrated, and supple. It has a medium to full body and smooth tannins, accompanied by a pleasant freshness. The finish is long and persistent with recurring notes of coffee and tobacco. It's a wine that can age for over a decade or be enjoyed now with grilled red meats, light game dishes, and roast lamb.