AXA Millésimes managing director Christian Seely (pictured), said: “We have been looking to make an acquisition in Napa Valley for some time.
“As wine producers in Pauillac, Pomerol and Sauternes in Bordeaux, in Tokaj in Hungary, in the Douro Valley in Portugal and in Nuits-Saint-Georges and Romanée-Saint-Vivant in Burgundy, we are used to making wines in some of the greatest vineyards in the world.
“Château Pichon Baron in particular produces one of the noblest expressions of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape in Bordeaux, and it seemed logical to us, when thinking of a new acquisition, to look for a vineyard in Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon has found another home, and incontestably another great expression, a place where it is possible, as in the Médoc but in quite a different style, to make some of the great Cabernet Sauvignon based wines of the world.
“With this in mind we have been searching for a vineyard property in Napa Valley capable of making wines with the dimension of greatness that we are looking for, and we were thrilled to come across the wines and the vineyards of Outpost Wines a few months ago,” said Seely.
The Dotzler family with their winemaker Thomas Brown are perceived as having succeeded in making truly great wines at Outpost Wines: identifying the potential of the vineyard terroir when they began the project, and then by the 20 years of work and dedication that have brought these wines to the level they have reached today.
“I am delighted that they have agreed to sell the property to AXA Millésimes,” said Seely, “and that Outpost Wines can now join the family of exceptional vineyards that we own and manage. I am also very pleased that Frank and Kathy Dotzler are giving us every help with the transition and that Frank has agreed to stay on with us in a fully operational capacity after the acquisition, and that Thomas Brown will also continue to work with us as our winemaker. We look forward to working together with them to take this exceptional property to new heights in the future.”
Frank Dotzler said: “With the purchase of True Vineyard in 1998, Kathy and I embarked on a wonderful journey to try and make wines on the level of the great wines we had experienced from around the world. Together with our exceptional staff, we have made great strides in achieving that goal.”
“In the hopes of taking our wines to even greater heights, Kathy and I have decided to add Outpost Wines to the exquisite line up at AXA Millésimes. This extraordinary wine portfolio, which includes some of the great wines of the world, is focused on an unbound commitment to excellence which will assure the best possible care of our wines and the land,” said Dotzler
