2015 Realm Cellars The Tempest, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

This is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the truly great Merlots out there. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose has cherries, black cherries, baking spice, chocolate, and smoke. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is flat out delicious. Cherries, chocolate, slight cassis and spice. Deep and complex. Long finish. This is drinking great now but should have another fifteen to twenty years. Great on its own, this will work well with Ham or Chicken.

Grade:

A+

Score:

Vintage:

2015

Current Price:

$165.00USD

2013 Realm Cellars The Tempest, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$125.00USD

OK, I have a confession to make. I love Merlot. There, I said it. But, it has to be good. Sometimes, because Merlot is so accessible young or so delicious, it gets short shrift when compared to Cabernet. And don't get me started on the Sideways effect. And yes, there is a lot of crap out there from all over the globe. But, there is a lot of really great Merlot as well. And, this is one. Actually, it is 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. Purple in color. The nose shows black cherries, dark chocolate, cassis, leather, slight menthol and a bit of earth. On the palate, the textu

2014 Realm Cellars The Tempest, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2014

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$145.00USD

This is a blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. It is a delicious wine that while still young is drinking well. Purple in color. The nose has black cherries, cassis, cigar box, plums and baking spice. On the palate, this is full bodied. Lots of black cherry and cassis with forest floor. Thick tannins. Long finish. Obviously young, this will continue to improve for another seven to ten years and then be good for at least ten to fifteen after that. It drinks well on its own and will work with roasts or casseroles.

2015 Realm Cellars The Bard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$145.00USD

A question that comes up on occasion is whether a $125 bottle can be considered a value. In this case, I say yes. A Napa Cab of this quality often costs 4 times the price and rarely less. The Bard is consistent from vintage to vintage and a truly great wine. This is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and the remaining grapes are Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Inky purple in color.

2016 Realm Cellars The Bard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$140.00USD

What an amazing wine. This is one of the more "affordable" Cabernet's from Realm. It is still very expensive, but this is some of the best that Napa has to offer. It is about 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Purple in color, opaque and shining bright. The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, cedar, spice and char. Just a gorgeous texture. Lush and velvety but with enough cut to not be cumbersome. Plenty of cassis and blueberry fruit with underlying tobacco and chart. Long finish. This is still young but just delicious. With time, this will show more complexity although

2016 Realm Cellars The Bard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$200.00USD

This is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright. The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, cedar, spice and char. Lush, velvety texture but lots of vibrancy. On the palate, cassis and blueberry fruit with underlying tobacco and char. Long finish. This is still developing and will be for a decade. That said it is delicious now and will continue to drink well for another fifteen to twenty years. It drinks very well on its own and will work with bigger, fattier foods such as prime rib or a roasted veggie pizza.

2015 Realm Cellars The Tempest, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

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