Ken Venezio

9.0

Vanilla and lemon peel dominate this Chardonnay. Nice drinkable crispy white from Santa Ynez. It's a Dave Phinney wine true to form. — 14 days ago

Jeffrey Trezek

9.0

Enjoyable, good sipper. Not as bright, drier style than OLG. — 7 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

Grapefruit, lime, custard. — 3 years 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 — 5 years ago

with Ron

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.7

Real juice👍🏼
Sleeping Lady vineyard is a great barely known vineyard. Get some if you can find some.
Seems I’m the only one rating this bottle from this vineyard🤷🏼‍♂️

This vineyard is at the western edge of the Yountville AVA was once a fast-moving river that deposited jagged rocks and sand from miles away and created a thick layer of gravel beneath the topsoil. Our block of vines are located where this layer is closest to the surface. This superior drainage produces small berries with greater concentration and a juicy blue-fruit, floral finesse.

Vineyard Details
Appellation Yountville
Soil Types Keefers gravelly, sandy clay loam of alluvial origin
Varietals Cabernet Sauvignon
Clones 7
Average Vine Age 18 years — 6 years ago

Christy Fitzgerald

9.0

Wow! Yum! Loved this wine. Really hit the spot! The bottle on the back says “Respect the style, Respect the grower, Repect the vibes, And above all RESPECT THE ANGELS! Very nice! On the nose vanilla and cherry. On the palate , smooth texture, medium body, cherry, oak tannins, a dash of cigar and. Long sultry lingering finish! For the price point a must buy. We found this trough our Angel wine club membership. We will buy again. — 8 years ago

with Neal

Severn G

8.9

It's officially Spring in New England, as witnessed by the 4-6" of snow still covering our property. 🤨
This means it's chimnea time again 🔥 and I've collected some snow into a sizeable mound to act as our outdoor chill station for hopefully the next 6 weeks or so 🤞.
Today's theme is wines we can drink slightly colder and still have some appreciating quality.

Toasty brioche spread with a dollop of warm sugared butter, yum. We could drink this all afternoon. It was a comp bottle from our local 5 🌟 AAA restaurant after they gave my wife's coat to another lady, following an extensive wine dinner. It was of minor consolation on a chilly and snowy December night. We did get the coat back the following afternoon, and it was accompanied by this bottle. We're only a short drive from the restaurant, so the bottle was palatable then, and now. — 8 years ago

Joe Fischer

8.9

Ruby with big red aromas of cherry, raspberry, plum. On the bud, it very smooth with a medium finish. Very nice with our Lady Zaza pizza at Pizzeria Lola in Minneapolis! — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Hans Schiller – Liebfraumilch 2023
Rheinhessen – Germany 🇩🇪

Overview
Blend: A classic Liebfraumilch, a typical blend of Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, and Riesling as more dominant base, which offers a bit more structure and lift. An easy sipper from Rheinhessen, Germany’s largest wine region.

Aromas & Flavors
Light, easy-drinking, and approachable. Gentle notes of orchard fruits like apple and pear mix with a touch of citrus and white peach. A hint of floral perfume gives it charm. The sweetness is soft, balanced by mild acidity, making it smooth and pleasant from start to finish.

Mouthfeel
Off-dry, round, and refreshing on the palate with a silky texture. Low alcohol keeps it very approachable, with a delicate finish.

Food Pairing
Best with light fare: spicy Asian dishes, mild cheeses, fresh fruit plates, or simply as an aperitif for casual sipping.

Verdict
A classic everyday German white—easy, sweet-leaning, and meant for uncomplicated enjoyment. Not about depth, but about pure drinkability and charm. Cheers!

Did you know?
“Liebfraumilch” translates to “Beloved Lady’s Milk,” a historic reference to the Virgin Mary and the vineyard around the Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Worms, Germany. Once one of Germany’s most famous exports, it’s still widely enjoyed for its soft style. — 9 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. — 4 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

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 — 6 years ago

The Meg

9.4

Loved this wine courtesy of the in-laws. had this with our turkey day dinner. yummy — 8 years ago

David Payne

9.1

Now one of our favorite Shiraz choices. Wonderful notes and round mouthfeel and light finish — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Celebrating a 10 year anniversary only happens once. Tonight is all about trying to recreate as much of our wedding day as possible. I cooked two pasta dishes the restaurant in Cortona made for us family style. While good, there’s no substitution for truly well done Italian cooking from the old world. What the restaurant did for our reception was truly amazing and done with wonderful Italian hospitality. Those of you that know my wine habits, I’m the guy who brings Bordeaux to an Italian wedding reception and that’s what I did. After all, It was our/my wedding. I brought an 1986 Haut Bages Liberal magnum with me from the U.S.. So in remembrance of our wedding reception, we are enjoying another magnum on our 10th anniversary tonight. I was concerned about finding another magnum in good drinking condition. However, this bottle 10 years further removed is better than the one we enjoyed at our wedding. In magnum and larger formats, I think it has another 5-10 years left of good drinking ahead...properly stored of course. On the nose; dark cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, cherries, dry cranberries, a touch of pyrazine, black rich earth, stones, old tobacco leaf, cedar, saddle-wood, baking spices and dark fresh floral bouquet. The body is somewhere between medium to full. The tannins are nicely resolved. Fruits are ripe, fresh and juicy 31 years down the road. Blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, cherries, dry cranberries & pomegranate extract. Black licorice, a touch of pyrazine, black rich earth, wet stones, dry top soil, old tobacco leaf, light expresso roast, softly understated asian spice, mint, cedar, saddle-wood, baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon, light clove & a hint of nutmeg), violets and dark fresh floral bouquet. The acidity is round and like a waterfall over the palate. The finish is rich, ripe, balanced, well textured, elegant and lasts well over a minute. The quality of this magnum wildly exceeded our expectations. One would think this bottle was stored at a Chateau it’s entire life prior to my purchase. The alcohol comes in at 12.5%; which is one of the reasons I love the good years of 80’s Bordeaux and prior. Too bad alcohol levels are negatively impacted higher now and going forward due to climate change. Additionally in some cases, because of producer marketing decisions largely based on consumers who crave higher alcohol levels! Sofia, I am lucky to have found you to walk through life together. I love you now and forever. What a 10th celebration tonight and a celebration of our life together. All under a nearly full moon. Oooow, I ❤️ you! Photos from our 5th anniversary trip back to Cortona; the building we were married inside & out and one of the vistas surrounding (Cathedral) this beautiful hilltop town. — 9 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

8.9

2023 vintage. PNP. Light-medium body. Candied and pretty but I need a string to bring this helium balloon down to earth a tad before it hits the power lines. 2.2.26. — 5 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Milk chocolate cereal milk, black raspberry. Intense. Big body. Big acid. — a year 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. — 3 years ago

Severn G

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. — 5 years ago

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. — 7 years ago

Michael D

9.1

Well balanced lovely. A modest winery with no ritzy fan fair. Just producers of fine wines. My 2nd foray into the Fairview brand. Greeted by a couple of very friendly poochies 🐶🐕 and you walk into a very small show area. Very welcoming and friendly. Makes me want to support our local industry for sure. The BEAR is a full bodied Bordeaux style blend of Cab suave, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot. Referred to as the "Bear Meritage" A great I known and winery to many. Paired well with home style burgers with aged cheddar and seasoned fries.. man was it good. The wine just cut the food with finesse and a high level of satisfaction. My just loved and she is picky. A lovely lady with Italian heritage who first drank wine when she was 5...lol.. knows a thing or 2 about wine so when we uncorked this baby, nothing but smiles. Cheers Fairview!!!! — 8 years ago