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Red Blend "The Bard", Realm Cellars, Napa Valley, CA, 2022

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Article code: 98 JD

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$178.95

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Overview

The flagship of Realm’s portfolio, The Bard is the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Proprietary Blend we’ve made since 2003. We consider The Bard to be the most dynamic expression of Napa Valley:

98 Jeb Dunnuck
97 Decanter
97 James Suckling

Details

The Name
The Bard is our Cabernet Sauvignon-blend. As Sir William Shakespeare, aka The Bard, is the “king” of English literature, we thought it appropriate to name this wine, dominated as it is by the “king” of Napa Valley grape varieties – The Bard.

The Label
The label art is taken from a pocketsize edition of Shakespeare’s “King Richard II.” The edition is the “The Chiswick Shakespeare,” a text that first appeared in 1901. The label zeroes in on the opening of Act II, Scene I, on the page that contains the quote …”This blessed plot, this earth, this realm…” That was the quote that inspired us to look to Shakespeare for our proprietary blend names; it appeared on all of Realm’s original labels.

98 Points Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 The Bard checks in as 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. This beauty has a killer bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, chalky minerality, and violets. This carries to a full-bodied, seamless, silky, flawlessly balanced effort revealing fine tannins, a good sense of freshness, and a thrilling finish.

97 Points Decanter

After sampling 86 wines over a two-day marathon tasting with Realm Cellars co-owners Scott Becker and winemaker Benoit Touquette, I had no doubt that one would make my top 10 list of the year. It would be The Bard, which will be available beginning in 2024. It is a very giving wine that promises great rewards for long-term cellaring and is enjoyable three full nights in a row, never losing its zeal if having one great glass each night is your prerogative. Power and muscle frame the core of this towering red, with its red-toned fruits and rich, toasty oak spices nuanced by bay Laurel and pastis. Full-bodied with tremendous decadence of chocolaty tannins that are pliant and billowy, lifted by supple blackberry and black raspberry fruit, a drizzle of cherry coulis, and resolving with refined tobacco, cedar wood spices, and laced with coriander and cumin aromatics. It has a satisfyingly rich finish. Number five of my top 10 wines of 2023. (JC)

97 Points James Suckling

The purity of fruit here is impressive with blackcurrants, bark and black mushrooms. Full-bodied but light-footed and fresh with integrated tannins that melt into the wine. Real transparency and focus. 83% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, 6% cabernet franc, 3% petit verdot and 1% petite sirah. So drinkable but can age as well.