California
California is one of the most renowned wine regions in the world, known for producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique character of the region.
One of the most famous vineyards in California is the Napa Valley's Robert Mondavi Winery, which produces a range of high-quality red and white wines, including the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, the Fumé Blanc Reserve, and the Chardonnay Reserve. The estate is committed to sustainable farming practices and is known for its focus on traditional winemaking techniques.
In California, there is also a strong focus on producing organic and biodynamic wines, with vineyards such as the Frog's Leap Winery and the Benziger Family Winery using these practices to produce exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region.
Overall, California is a region known for producing exceptional wines, with famous vineyards such as Harlan Estate, Dominus, Opus One, Screaming Eagle, Robert Mondavi and many others. With a focus on sustainable and organic farming practices, and a commitment to traditional winemaking techniques, wines from California are gaining increasing recognition and popularity among wine enthusiasts worldwide.
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California
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,315.60 |
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Vinous (95)Stylistically, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard reminds me a bit of the 2014 in its mid-weight structure, but it has more inner perfume and sweetness in its fruit. Dried flowers, mint, pine, graphite and crushed rocks infuse this nuanced, wonderfully vivid Cabernet with tons of complexity. The 2017 naturally still needs time to come together, but it is super-impressive even in the early going. In 2017, only the early, pre-fire picks were used in the blend, which means the finished wine is different from what was originally conceived. For that reason, the 2017 is going to be a fascinating wine to follow in the years to come. |
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California | 1 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£2,646.14 |
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Wine Advocate (99)Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color, requiring a little coaxing before it spills out of the glass with fantastically showy blackberry preserves, boysenberries and cassis notes, plus hints of black raspberries, clove oil and potpourri, with a touch of tobacco leaf. The decadent, full-bodied palate sports a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins with beautiful freshness. All that generous black fruit melds seamlessly into a very long, mineral-laced finish. |
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California | 1 | 97+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£3,706.40 |
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Wine Advocate (97+)Realm's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard—a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc—features knockout aromas of black cherries, loamy earth and dried spices that suggest cinnamon and cardamom. It's full-bodied, velvety and richly concentrated, with a long finish that's softly tannic, even a touch dusty. While far from being unapproachable, it should be even better in a decade or so. |
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California | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£805.34 |
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James Suckling (97)The aromas of oysters and peaches combine beautifully with the blackberry and blackcurrant character. Black olives, too. Full-bodied, layered and very intense with chocolate, black fruit and an intense, savory finish. Best Bard ever. Try in 2020, but already so pretty. |
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California | 3 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£969.74 |
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Wine Advocate (97)Blended of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2015 The Bard offers up a very deep garnet-purple color and highly perfumed scents of violets, dried Provence herbs, lavender and tapenade over a core of cassis and blackberry preserves. Full-bodied and loaded with perfumed black fruit layers, it has a solid frame of rounded, plush-textured tannins and a provocatively earthy finish. 2,000 cases were made. |
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California | 1 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,156.94 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)Reminding me of a slightly fresher version of the 2013 (which is common for wines from the vintage), the 2016 The Bard checks in as 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Still inky hued, with a gorgeous perfume of blue and black fruits, crushed stone, violets, and graphite, this awesome wine is full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, has perfectly ripe tannins, and a solid spine of acidity that keeps the wine surprisingly fresh and lively. This ultra-classic, concentrated, incredibly impressive Cabernet Sauvignon will keep for 30 years or more. While the 2012 and 2015 are in the more opulent style, this is closer in style to the 2013 and 2018. |
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California | 1 | 96 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£646.78 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)Based mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) and a small amount of Merlot (13%), the 2017 The Bard is another ripe, sexy wine that has more sweetness of fruit than most in the vintage. Black cherries, blackberries, scorched earth, graphite, and some violets notes all dominate the nose, and it's beautifully textured and balanced on the palate. It’s beautiful today yet has 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it. |
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California | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£896.54 |
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Vinous (98)The 2018 The Bard is fabulous and also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Realm. Vertical structure, power and explosive energy infuse the 2018 with tremendous character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather, licorice and lavender are some of the many notes that run through the 2018. This is the first vintage that includes a dollop of Petite Sirah from Bourn. It is also the first vintage in which a portion of the wine was aged in concrete eggs, which seems to add tension and a palpable sense of vibrancy. The Bard is a blend of 40 different lots, everything from Calistoga to Coombsville, a marriage of elements that works so well. Although none of these wines could be referred to as inexpensive, The Bard is a tremendous relative value within the context of high-end Napa Valley. I loved it. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Petite Sirah. |
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California | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£650.54 |
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Vinous (98)The 2018 The Bard is fabulous and also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Realm. Vertical structure, power and explosive energy infuse the 2018 with tremendous character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather, licorice and lavender are some of the many notes that run through the 2018. This is the first vintage that includes a dollop of Petite Sirah from Bourn. It is also the first vintage in which a portion of the wine was aged in concrete eggs, which seems to add tension and a palpable sense of vibrancy. The Bard is a blend of 40 different lots, everything from Calistoga to Coombsville, a marriage of elements that works so well. Although none of these wines could be referred to as inexpensive, The Bard is a tremendous relative value within the context of high-end Napa Valley. I loved it. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Petite Sirah. |
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California | 1 | 99 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£720.14 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)The 2019 The Bard checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, and it’s another dense, rich, powerful wine from this team that readers are going to absolutely love. Coming from throughout the valley (it’s always a great representation of the vintage), it offers up a brilliant nose of crème de cassis, ripe plums, graphite, scorched earth, and chocolate. About as seamless as they come on the palate, it’s full-bodied and has a thrilling texture, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s one of those wines where I feel like I’m overusing adjectives, but it’s warranted. |
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California | 2 | 97 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£1,015.34 |
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The Wine Independent (97)A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Petite Sirah, the fruit for the 2021 The Bard comes from sites across the valley, including some estate fruit and some sourced fruit. Deep garnet-purple colored, it shoots from the glass with vibrant notions of crushed black currants, red currant jelly, black raspberries, and pencil shavings, giving way to notes of lilacs, dark chocolate, and a waft of spearmint. The full-bodied palate is firm with ripe, fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone framing the tightly wound red, black, and blue fruit flavors, finishing with great length and a real skip in its step. |
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California | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,668.67 |
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Vinous (95)A dark, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Absurd is a terrific example of the Realm style at its best. Surprisingly open for such a young wine, the 2013 offers gorgeous textural richness and voluptuousness. Sweet dark cherry, blackberry, mocha, spices and crushed rocks are laced into the powerful yet seamless finish. The Absurd is remarkably nuanced for a wine with this much intensity. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,260.42 |
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Wine Advocate (100)A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, is the 2014 The Absurd, basically a choice of their finest barrels, or as winemaker and owner Benoit Touquette says, “The crème de la crème.” This is another perfect wine equaling their incredible 2013. Yet the 2014 is slightly more forward and showy, as many 2013s are just beginning to shut down. There are 250 cases of this majestic wine that has an opaque purple color, extraordinary nose of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry, creosote, charcoal, toast and spice. The wine has unbelievable fruit on the attack, midpalate and finish, compelling purity, texture and a finish of close to a full minute. It is (as advertised by the winery) a “showcase of the best of Napa Valley with the freedom of expression that results from no rules.” Drink now-2035. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£4,382.47 |
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Wine Advocate (100)A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, is the 2014 The Absurd, basically a choice of their finest barrels, or as winemaker and owner Benoit Touquette says, “The crème de la crème.” This is another perfect wine equaling their incredible 2013. Yet the 2014 is slightly more forward and showy, as many 2013s are just beginning to shut down. There are 250 cases of this majestic wine that has an opaque purple color, extraordinary nose of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry, creosote, charcoal, toast and spice. The wine has unbelievable fruit on the attack, midpalate and finish, compelling purity, texture and a finish of close to a full minute. It is (as advertised by the winery) a “showcase of the best of Napa Valley with the freedom of expression that results from no rules.” Drink now-2035. |
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California | 3 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£962.54 |
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Vinous (96)The 2019 The Tempest, Realm's Merlot based red, is not surprisingly, quite accessible. Super-ripe blackberry, cherry jam, sweet spice, licorice and new oak all flesh out as this succulent, hugely inviting wine shows off its considerable charm. The 2019 is a looker, that's for sure. The blend is Merlot from Realm Estate, Farella and Orchard, with Cabernet Sauvignon from Houyi. |
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California | 1 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,079.60 |
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Wine Advocate (94)A Merlot-dominant blend, Realm's 2021 The Tempest is 67% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec, sourced predominantly from Farella in Coombsville. Lovely aromas of cherries are joined by hints of mocha, cedar and vanilla on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is juicy and red fruited, supple, with some earthy undercurrents and the barest hint of warmth on the finish. |
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California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£818.27 |
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California | 1 | 96 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£154.13 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2016 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard is another head-turner and offers complex red fruits, white flowers, pepper, and floral notes as well as incredible balance and purity on the palate. About as seamless as they come, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a layered texture, and a great finish. As with most of these 2016s, it has some accessibility today, yet it’s going to age gracefully on its balance and overall harmony. |
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California | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£904.40 |
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Vinous (95+)The 2018 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard opens with striking, floral-infused aromatics that give the wine presence and structure. Savory and finely cut, with superb delineation, and tons of depth, the Alpine is positively stellar today. Layers of fruit enshroud the tannins, making them barely perceptible. The 2018 is a stunning Pinot from Alpine, a site originally planted with 17 heritage clones. |
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California | 1 | 96+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£575.52 |
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Wine Advocate (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard trades places with its Horseshoe neighbor in this vintage, beginning with a reticent, dark-fruited nose of fresh herbs, black tea, black pepper and allspice that steadily gains momentum. It is superbly elegant and restrained on the palate, with a pleasing undercurrent of sumptuous dark fruits and finessed but persistent tannins. The length and persistence of the finish are spectacular and, in this vintage, is what narrowly edges out the Horseshoe bottling. I find it endlessly fascinating to compare the two as they are consistently neck-in-neck and impressive shapeshifters in the glass. |
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California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£625.09 |
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California | 2 | 93 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£545.38 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (93)Starting with the Chardonnays, the 2016 Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard comes from Anderson Valley and offers a medium-bodied, fresh, elegant, almost feminine profile as well as classy citrus zest, crushed rocks, and white flowers. With beautiful purity of fruit and a great texture, it’s already delicious yet should keep for 7-8 years. |
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California | 1 | 96+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£540.72 |
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Vinous (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is a powerful, searing wine. I am not sure I have tasted a Bearwallow with this much sheer intensity. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, cloves and licorice imbue this somber, backward Pinot with quite a bit of complexity. Readers should be in no rush here. The 2019 is an exceptional Bearwallow. |
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California | 10 | 96 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£512.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)A gorgeous perfume emerges from the 2021 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard, which was all destemmed with no new wood and offers very pretty notes of raspberry coulis, sappy earth, and crushed flowers. Supple, approachable, and rounded on the palate, it has a silky texture with great freshness, a plush texture, and a weightless feel. Medium-bodied and very pretty, it’s drinking well now and will also improve with time in cellar. Drink 2025-2037. |
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California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£615.20 |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,909.00 |
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Vinous (95)Stylistically, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard reminds me a bit of the 2014 in its mid-weight structure, but it has more inner perfume and sweetness in its fruit. Dried flowers, mint, pine, graphite and crushed rocks infuse this nuanced, wonderfully vivid Cabernet with tons of complexity. The 2017 naturally still needs time to come together, but it is super-impressive even in the early going. In 2017, only the early, pre-fire picks were used in the blend, which means the finished wine is different from what was originally conceived. For that reason, the 2017 is going to be a fascinating wine to follow in the years to come. |
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California | 1 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
£2,185.00 |
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Wine Advocate (99)Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color, requiring a little coaxing before it spills out of the glass with fantastically showy blackberry preserves, boysenberries and cassis notes, plus hints of black raspberries, clove oil and potpourri, with a touch of tobacco leaf. The decadent, full-bodied palate sports a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins with beautiful freshness. All that generous black fruit melds seamlessly into a very long, mineral-laced finish. |
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California | 1 | 97+ (WA) |
In Bond
£3,068.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97+)Realm's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard—a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc—features knockout aromas of black cherries, loamy earth and dried spices that suggest cinnamon and cardamom. It's full-bodied, velvety and richly concentrated, with a long finish that's softly tannic, even a touch dusty. While far from being unapproachable, it should be even better in a decade or so. |
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California | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£651.00 |
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James Suckling (97)The aromas of oysters and peaches combine beautifully with the blackberry and blackcurrant character. Black olives, too. Full-bodied, layered and very intense with chocolate, black fruit and an intense, savory finish. Best Bard ever. Try in 2020, but already so pretty. |
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California | 3 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£788.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)Blended of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2015 The Bard offers up a very deep garnet-purple color and highly perfumed scents of violets, dried Provence herbs, lavender and tapenade over a core of cassis and blackberry preserves. Full-bodied and loaded with perfumed black fruit layers, it has a solid frame of rounded, plush-textured tannins and a provocatively earthy finish. 2,000 cases were made. |
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California | 1 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
£944.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)Reminding me of a slightly fresher version of the 2013 (which is common for wines from the vintage), the 2016 The Bard checks in as 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Still inky hued, with a gorgeous perfume of blue and black fruits, crushed stone, violets, and graphite, this awesome wine is full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, has perfectly ripe tannins, and a solid spine of acidity that keeps the wine surprisingly fresh and lively. This ultra-classic, concentrated, incredibly impressive Cabernet Sauvignon will keep for 30 years or more. While the 2012 and 2015 are in the more opulent style, this is closer in style to the 2013 and 2018. |
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California | 1 | 96 (JD) |
In Bond
£519.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)Based mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) and a small amount of Merlot (13%), the 2017 The Bard is another ripe, sexy wine that has more sweetness of fruit than most in the vintage. Black cherries, blackberries, scorched earth, graphite, and some violets notes all dominate the nose, and it's beautifully textured and balanced on the palate. It’s beautiful today yet has 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it. |
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California | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£727.00 |
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Vinous (98)The 2018 The Bard is fabulous and also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Realm. Vertical structure, power and explosive energy infuse the 2018 with tremendous character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather, licorice and lavender are some of the many notes that run through the 2018. This is the first vintage that includes a dollop of Petite Sirah from Bourn. It is also the first vintage in which a portion of the wine was aged in concrete eggs, which seems to add tension and a palpable sense of vibrancy. The Bard is a blend of 40 different lots, everything from Calistoga to Coombsville, a marriage of elements that works so well. Although none of these wines could be referred to as inexpensive, The Bard is a tremendous relative value within the context of high-end Napa Valley. I loved it. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Petite Sirah. |
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California | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£522.00 |
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Vinous (98)The 2018 The Bard is fabulous and also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Realm. Vertical structure, power and explosive energy infuse the 2018 with tremendous character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather, licorice and lavender are some of the many notes that run through the 2018. This is the first vintage that includes a dollop of Petite Sirah from Bourn. It is also the first vintage in which a portion of the wine was aged in concrete eggs, which seems to add tension and a palpable sense of vibrancy. The Bard is a blend of 40 different lots, everything from Calistoga to Coombsville, a marriage of elements that works so well. Although none of these wines could be referred to as inexpensive, The Bard is a tremendous relative value within the context of high-end Napa Valley. I loved it. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Petite Sirah. |
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California | 1 | 99 (JD) |
In Bond
£580.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)The 2019 The Bard checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, and it’s another dense, rich, powerful wine from this team that readers are going to absolutely love. Coming from throughout the valley (it’s always a great representation of the vintage), it offers up a brilliant nose of crème de cassis, ripe plums, graphite, scorched earth, and chocolate. About as seamless as they come on the palate, it’s full-bodied and has a thrilling texture, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s one of those wines where I feel like I’m overusing adjectives, but it’s warranted. |
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California | 2 | 97 (WI) |
In Bond
£826.00 |
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The Wine Independent (97)A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Petite Sirah, the fruit for the 2021 The Bard comes from sites across the valley, including some estate fruit and some sourced fruit. Deep garnet-purple colored, it shoots from the glass with vibrant notions of crushed black currants, red currant jelly, black raspberries, and pencil shavings, giving way to notes of lilacs, dark chocolate, and a waft of spearmint. The full-bodied palate is firm with ripe, fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone framing the tightly wound red, black, and blue fruit flavors, finishing with great length and a real skip in its step. |
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California | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£2,217.00 |
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Vinous (95)A dark, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Absurd is a terrific example of the Realm style at its best. Surprisingly open for such a young wine, the 2013 offers gorgeous textural richness and voluptuousness. Sweet dark cherry, blackberry, mocha, spices and crushed rocks are laced into the powerful yet seamless finish. The Absurd is remarkably nuanced for a wine with this much intensity. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,047.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, is the 2014 The Absurd, basically a choice of their finest barrels, or as winemaker and owner Benoit Touquette says, “The crème de la crème.” This is another perfect wine equaling their incredible 2013. Yet the 2014 is slightly more forward and showy, as many 2013s are just beginning to shut down. There are 250 cases of this majestic wine that has an opaque purple color, extraordinary nose of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry, creosote, charcoal, toast and spice. The wine has unbelievable fruit on the attack, midpalate and finish, compelling purity, texture and a finish of close to a full minute. It is (as advertised by the winery) a “showcase of the best of Napa Valley with the freedom of expression that results from no rules.” Drink now-2035. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£3,642.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, is the 2014 The Absurd, basically a choice of their finest barrels, or as winemaker and owner Benoit Touquette says, “The crème de la crème.” This is another perfect wine equaling their incredible 2013. Yet the 2014 is slightly more forward and showy, as many 2013s are just beginning to shut down. There are 250 cases of this majestic wine that has an opaque purple color, extraordinary nose of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry, creosote, charcoal, toast and spice. The wine has unbelievable fruit on the attack, midpalate and finish, compelling purity, texture and a finish of close to a full minute. It is (as advertised by the winery) a “showcase of the best of Napa Valley with the freedom of expression that results from no rules.” Drink now-2035. |
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California | 3 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£782.00 |
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Vinous (96)The 2019 The Tempest, Realm's Merlot based red, is not surprisingly, quite accessible. Super-ripe blackberry, cherry jam, sweet spice, licorice and new oak all flesh out as this succulent, hugely inviting wine shows off its considerable charm. The 2019 is a looker, that's for sure. The blend is Merlot from Realm Estate, Farella and Orchard, with Cabernet Sauvignon from Houyi. |
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California | 1 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£879.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94)A Merlot-dominant blend, Realm's 2021 The Tempest is 67% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec, sourced predominantly from Farella in Coombsville. Lovely aromas of cherries are joined by hints of mocha, cedar and vanilla on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is juicy and red fruited, supple, with some earthy undercurrents and the barest hint of warmth on the finish. |
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California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£675.00 |
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California | 1 | 96 (JD) |
In Bond
£125.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2016 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard is another head-turner and offers complex red fruits, white flowers, pepper, and floral notes as well as incredible balance and purity on the palate. About as seamless as they come, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a layered texture, and a great finish. As with most of these 2016s, it has some accessibility today, yet it’s going to age gracefully on its balance and overall harmony. |
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California | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
In Bond
£733.00 |
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Vinous (95+)The 2018 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard opens with striking, floral-infused aromatics that give the wine presence and structure. Savory and finely cut, with superb delineation, and tons of depth, the Alpine is positively stellar today. Layers of fruit enshroud the tannins, making them barely perceptible. The 2018 is a stunning Pinot from Alpine, a site originally planted with 17 heritage clones. |
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California | 1 | 96+ (WA) |
In Bond
£461.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard trades places with its Horseshoe neighbor in this vintage, beginning with a reticent, dark-fruited nose of fresh herbs, black tea, black pepper and allspice that steadily gains momentum. It is superbly elegant and restrained on the palate, with a pleasing undercurrent of sumptuous dark fruits and finessed but persistent tannins. The length and persistence of the finish are spectacular and, in this vintage, is what narrowly edges out the Horseshoe bottling. I find it endlessly fascinating to compare the two as they are consistently neck-in-neck and impressive shapeshifters in the glass. |
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California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£503.00 |
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California | 2 | 93 (JD) |
In Bond
£443.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (93)Starting with the Chardonnays, the 2016 Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard comes from Anderson Valley and offers a medium-bodied, fresh, elegant, almost feminine profile as well as classy citrus zest, crushed rocks, and white flowers. With beautiful purity of fruit and a great texture, it’s already delicious yet should keep for 7-8 years. |
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California | 1 | 96+ (VN) |
In Bond
£432.00 |
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Vinous (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is a powerful, searing wine. I am not sure I have tasted a Bearwallow with this much sheer intensity. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, cloves and licorice imbue this somber, backward Pinot with quite a bit of complexity. Readers should be in no rush here. The 2019 is an exceptional Bearwallow. |
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California | 10 | 96 (JD) |
In Bond
£406.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)A gorgeous perfume emerges from the 2021 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard, which was all destemmed with no new wood and offers very pretty notes of raspberry coulis, sappy earth, and crushed flowers. Supple, approachable, and rounded on the palate, it has a silky texture with great freshness, a plush texture, and a weightless feel. Medium-bodied and very pretty, it’s drinking well now and will also improve with time in cellar. Drink 2025-2037. |
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California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£492.00 |
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