The Realm
Realm Cellars
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Cabernet Franc 2015
2016 Release next week parker 💯 again
Château Benoit
Arbalest Red Bordeaux Blend 2015
Curiosity got the best of me. Steve Mnuchin and Jared Kushner bro’d out over a bottle of this 2015 Arbalest on Sunday. Apparently it’s newsworthy when a wealthy politician brings a ‘cheap’ ($22) bottle of wine to a bro out. I wonder what price gets the ‘politician drinks expensive bottle’ story (see Paul Ryan at Bistro Bis in 2011). No matter, it’s brilliant product placement — I’m surprised Trump didn’t tweet about it... “Did everyone see Poor Stevie’s wine? So Sad. My 2015 Meritage is So Much Better.”
The wine is made by Benoit Touquette. Here’s his background courtesy of critic Jeb Dunnuck, “Born in Lyon France and gaining his education from the University of Bordeaux, Benoit worked at numerous French wineries before getting a job (with the help of his friend and mentor Michel Rolland) in Napa Valley with Andy Erickson. He consulted for the likes of Screaming Eagle, Ovid and Arietta. Today, Benoit is the winemaker for Realm Cellars, Hartwell, and Kata, as well as numerous other labels, including his own project Fait-Main.” Who wouldn’t want to try a $22 bottle of wine from a winemaker with that kind of resume??
Dunnuck also scored the wine 91 points, calling it “Full-bodied, ripe and rounded, with a sexy, opulent style, lots of mid-palate depth, and a great finish, it's well worth your time and money and is a smoking deal at 20 bucks.”
The blend is 82% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. It needed about an hour to fully open up... one of my fellow tasters called it soapy... which I think was because of its noticeable herbaceousness. Focused black cherry, pipe tobacco, clove. Juicy, but dry, with lots of grip. I’m not doing backflips over it, but you could do much worse at $22. 90+ — 7 years ago
Husic Vineyards
Dos Palmas Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Garnet red with the faintest brown rim. Cocoa, cassis and cedar on the nose. The wine explodes with black cherries and raspberries on the palate. Silky tannins and a long finish. This flagship Cabernet from Husic is outstanding and made by Mike Hirby (Winter, Relic, Sarocka and who also made Realm up until 2011). — 8 years ago
The silky tannins certainly makes sense as I believe this (and the vintages up until 2010) was made by Celia Welch.
Di Costanzo
Farella Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Himmm. Had high hopes for this being Farella fruit (think Realm)... Came of soft and somewhat thin??? Not sure if this isn't showing yet or what but left me scratching my head. — 9 years ago
Realm Cellars
Napa Valley White Blend
The team at Realm knocked it out of the park with this one. Crisp. Refreshing and perfect with sushi #ibid — 10 years ago
Paul Lato
"The Prospect" Sierra Madre Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
The 2016 Pinot Noir The Prospect Sierra Madre Vineyard is stunningly beautiful. Deeply-pitched aromatics and beautifully sculpted fruit elevate the Sierra Madre into the realm of the truly exceptional. Rose petal, mint and red/purplish berry fruit all come alive. The 2016 Prospect simply has it all. What a wine! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 2018) — 6 years ago
The Standish Wine Company
Single Vineyard Shiraz 2003
I can’t pour enough praise on Dan and his talents. I don’t give many wines near perfect scores, but this merits one. The nose is a beautifully balanced mix of floral fruits, earth and spice. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, lilacs, violets and lavender. The balance is incredible...one of the most balanced wines I’ve had. The structure, tension and length are so close to perfect. It’s in the OMG realm. The tannins are nicely resolved but still have teeth. It’s gorgeously lush and rich. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, hues of blue fruits haunt the palate, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, black licorice, touch herbaceous, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, black & white pepper, dry crushed rocks, stones, lilacs, violets and lavender. The finish is heaven all the way around. To borrow Bordeaux terminology, this is First Growth Shiraz. If you don’t seek out Dan’s wines on the secondary market, you are missing something special. Not at all meant to be enjoyed young. This wine is in a very good spot and has another 10 years of life going forward. — 8 years ago
Dirty & Rowdy
Familiar California Mourvedre 2015
Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits
Very aromatic and intense with orange peel, raspberries and some rocky minerality too. Big, full bodied but high acidity. As a person who gets excited about Old Vine Zin, this is different but exists in that same realm. Really cool wine! — 9 years ago
Realm Cellars
Napa Valley White Wine 2014
Beyond perfect for hot humid summer early evening — 10 years ago
Xtant Wines
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007
Raisinated w some massively concentrated jammy fruit at the core. Almost seems to be a touch of RS--at 15.8% not outside realm of possibility. After opening up for an hour, started to get a little sexy. Tannins are nice & soft. Decant for a while methinks. — 10 years ago
Hartwell Vineyards
Miste Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Number 3 tonight of 3. Started with the 2004 Alter Ego from Palmer, followed by the 2012 Realm Farella, and now this wine. The Palmer was good, the Hartwell better, but the Realm was best. This Hartwell at 10 years old has a tremendous amount of life in it. Enjoyed with a brownie made by Liam and supervised by MC. How can cab and brownies be bad. Hey Becca thanks for the shoutout on Delectable, and follow me push. I assume I'm your first wine friend too. — 10 years ago
Pievalta (Barone Pizzini)
Classico Superiore Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2015
Nice. A little oxidation but still within the realm of yum. — 8 years ago
Hartwell Vineyards
Sunshine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1996
So I believe this Sunshine Vineyard is from the Wappo Hill portion of the Hartwell Estate......sorry now this portion belongs to the Realm Cellars estate. (Moonracer) Highly recommend checking out if you find it @Carl Fischer @Shay Aldriedge @Ron R @Martin G Rivard @David L @Isaac Pirolo @Roman Sukley @Paul T
Medium to deep garnet red with bricking on the edges. Stinky and savory on the nose straight from the get go. Opened up over the next half hour or so with stoney notes, a touch smoky and soft red cherries. Well integrated and smooth, moderate tannins (6/10). Beautiful aged characteristics on the palate with notes of dusty black cherries, a touch of chalk and dust, mushrooms, truffles, and also gains some aged red cherries. Medium plus body with a super long finish. This bottle has aged very well. Drink now if you like power in your Cabernet but this will keep for few more years. Drink till 2020. — 8 years ago
Hinterland
Ancestral Gamay Noir 2015
This is an incredible sparkling wine. I'm naive in this realm, but it is the best sparkling wine I've ever had. — 9 years ago
Realm Cellars
The Absurd Birdwatcher Label Red Bordeaux Blend
Primitivo Quiles
Gran Reserva Fondillon Monastrell
I don't have a ton of experience with this style of wine, but I'm so glad it exists. The rancio/fresh fruit qualities are almost perfectly balanced. I'd gladly pick it over 90% of tawny Ports in the same price realm. — 10 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
This is drinking beautifully. More stunning than the Moonracer. Poured from magnum.
The is beautifully ripe, ruby and lush. Blackberries all day, black raspberries, plum, some purple fruits. Expresso roast, sweet tarriness, soft leather, dry crushed rocks, caramel, both chocolates, baking spices for days, medium, dark spice, red & dark florals. Amazing acidity, balance and persistent, polished finish.
@Shay A Wow! — 6 years ago