Lavender, violets, smoke, mint, dark spices, plums and blackberry jam meld together in a rich, pliant wine loaded with depth, texture and pure voluptuousness. A powerful, explosive finish rounds things out in this decidedly plush, extroverted wine.
Reviews:
- Wine Advocate: The 2012 Proprietary Red The Bard, a 500-case blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, is meant to showcase the finest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes they access from such great Napa Valley sites as Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Fortuna and Weitz. Beautiful notes of pungent baking spices, licorice, melted chocolate, espresso, blackberries and cassis soar from the glass of this ostentatious, flamboyant, classic, locked-and-loaded Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Jeb Dunnuck: Starting with the 2012 The Bard, this incredible blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot comes from a number of great sites including To Kalon, Dr. Crane, Fortuna, and Weitz. It’s just now starting to show some maturity and has a wonderfully complex bouquet of blackcurrants, dried spices, chocolate, cedarwood, and smoke tobacco. This carries to a full-bodied, seamless, sensationally textured 2012 with sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a heavenly finish. It actually reminds me slightly of the 2009 Haut Bailly.
Producer Information
Realm Cellars is a journey. Just eight years ago, the winery was nearly bankrupt when owner Scott Becker and winemaker Benoit Touquette teamed up to revive it. Fueled by a clear vision, an entrepreneurial spirit and relentless determination, they transformed Realm into one of the most electrifying domaines in Napa Valley today. Now with its own hillside Estate in the Stags Leap District, 50 acres of vines and access to a number of the finest vineyards in the appellation, Realm makes some of the most sought-after wines in Napa Valley. Making wine at the very highest level is at the core of Realm Cellars. Since 2012, the wines have been awarded more 100-point scores from internationally recognized wine critics than any other producer in Napa Valley. The Realm portfolio includes both Single Vineyard wines and Proprietary Blends – collectively, the wines are equal parts an expression of the land and an articulation of the winemaking craft. The house style of Realm can best be described as a creative tension between richness and precision, density and finesse, purity of fruit and nuance. The next chapter of Realm Cellars promises to be just as bold. The vision for what Realm can be encompasses more than creating fine wines. This passionate team is ready to push ahead in its relentless quest to secure an enduring place among the icons of the wine world. The best is yet to come.
