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Red Blend "Absurd", Realm Cellars, Napa Valley, 2022 (Benoit Touquette)

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Article code: WA 98 Pts

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$899.95

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Overview

The Absurd earned outstanding reviews: WA 98, Jeb Dunnuck 97, James Suckling 97, Decanter 95, Vinous 94. Critics praised its freshness, purity, floral/mineral complexity, polished tannins, and 15–20+ year aging potential.

Details

The Absurd (2022) — Professional Reviews & Ratings

The 2022 vintage of Realm Cellars' flagship proprietary red blend received exceptionally strong critical acclaim, especially considering the challenging 2022 Napa Valley growing season.

Critic	Score	Key Comments
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Jonathan Cristaldi)	98 points	Praised for "brightness and lift" with black cherry, raspberry, violet, stone fruit, and spice notes. Described as intense, vibrant, and richly textured. Drinking window: 2026–2040.
Jeb Dunnuck	97 points	Called it "in the running for the wine of the vintage." Noted dark currants, plum, tobacco, violets, incense, minerality, ripe tannins, and projected graceful evolution over 20 years.
James Suckling	97 points	Highlighted freshness and energy, with polished tannins, raspberry, graphite, cocoa, mineral notes, and strong structural balance.
Decanter	95 points	Described as hedonistic yet structured, featuring saline acidity, dark berry fruit, savory spice, bay laurel, mineral tension, and a long finish.
Vinous	94 points	Characterized as polished and elegant, with silky tannins and ripe red-toned fruit. Considered more approachable young than some prior vintages.

Consensus

The critics broadly agree that the 2022 Absurd combines:

Exceptional concentration despite the vintage challenges.
Greater freshness and vibrancy than many top Napa cult wines.
Distinctive mineral, floral, and graphite-like complexity.
Long aging potential (15–20+ years).
A style that is somewhat more accessible in youth than certain earlier vintages.

Context Within Realm's Portfolio

According to Realm, The Absurd is assembled each year from whatever barrels the winemaking team believes represent the absolute best wine they can produce, with no fixed vineyard or varietal formula. The blend composition is intentionally undisclosed and can vary dramatically from vintage to vintage.

Overall Rating Summary

Average of major critics: approximately 96.2 points

Highest published score: 98 WA
Lowest major published score: 94 Vinous
Market positioning: one of Napa Valley's ultra-premium "cult" wines, typically retailing around $900–$1,000 per bottle on release.

For collectors, the 2022 appears to be regarded as one of the standout successes of a difficult Napa vintage, with several reviewers specifically noting that it outperformed expectations for the year.