Napa Valley, California, USA
I’ve been a fan of Realm for quite a while, but this was the first time I’ve opened their merlot driven wine, Tempest.
95% merlot, 5% Cabernet. Inky dark red/black in the glass. Fresh baked mixed berry pie notes jump from the glass along with espresso, dark chocolate and baking spices. Astoundingly silky and elegant on the palate. While this is certainly a bigger expression than most merlot, it still has classical merlot notes at the core…black cherry with beautifully lifted profile. Rich red, blue and black fruits, cocoa, and graham cracker. The finish has great acidity and fine grained tannins. A very sexy expression of merlot. Fantastic!
I’ve been a fan of Realm for quite a while, but this was the first time I’ve opened their merlot driven wine, Tempest.
95% merlot, 5% Cabernet. Inky dark red/black in the glass. Fresh baked mixed berry pie notes jump from the glass along with espresso, dark chocolate and baking spices. Astoundingly silky and elegant on the palate. While this is certainly a bigger expression than most merlot, it still has classical merlot notes at the core…black cherry with beautifully lifted profile. Rich red, blue and black fruits, cocoa, and graham cracker. The finish has great acidity and fine grained tannins. A very sexy expression of merlot. Fantastic!
inky purple; cassis, plum, baking chocolate, vanilla, menthol; plush, round, dark fruit, very long; full bodied, lovely textured tannins, 14.6% ABV; blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon this year which is heavier on the Merlot than in the past; beautiful with a fatty ribeye, crafted for immediate drinking pleasure, up there with my favorite Cali Merlots Pride and Duckhorn
inky purple; cassis, plum, baking chocolate, vanilla, menthol; plush, round, dark fruit, very long; full bodied, lovely textured tannins, 14.6% ABV; blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon this year which is heavier on the Merlot than in the past; beautiful with a fatty ribeye, crafted for immediate drinking pleasure, up there with my favorite Cali Merlots Pride and Duckhorn
Aug 15th, 2019
First time trying this, and it’s prodigious. Balanced and laser-focused.
All my scores are rolling to the center of the bed at 95.
First time trying this, and it’s prodigious. Balanced and laser-focused.
All my scores are rolling to the center of the bed at 95.
Professional opinion? Yum. Yum. Yum. I could drink this daily. How do you not love Merlot when you can drink wines like this?
Professional opinion? Yum. Yum. Yum. I could drink this daily. How do you not love Merlot when you can drink wines like this?
Oct 6th, 2020Reminds me of the many days I’ve spent at Realm Cellars with @Benoit Touquette This wine is possibly the best value you can get other than The Bard. I could drink this daily as my only wine and be totally happy.
Reminds me of the many days I’ve spent at Realm Cellars with @Benoit Touquette This wine is possibly the best value you can get other than The Bard. I could drink this daily as my only wine and be totally happy.
Aug 15th, 2020
Needed an hour decant to settle down. Silky tannins, ripe red fruit and some spice that finish off with some light tobacco notes. Never had a bad bottle from Realm!
Needed an hour decant to settle down. Silky tannins, ripe red fruit and some spice that finish off with some light tobacco notes. Never had a bad bottle from Realm!
Oct 25th, 2019
Stellar! Had to break this open in advance of next week’s offering.
Stellar! Had to break this open in advance of next week’s offering.
Aug 29th, 2018
