Nathan Renfro

9.3

It’s a solid and emblematic Napa cab. Love what Realm is doing and their other wines really showcase their strengths. Nice red and black fruit, well balanced, nice finish. — a month ago

Martinez

8.9

Riesling from the Schieferberg lieu-dit, a hill known for its schist soils (Schieferberg means the schist mountain). Flinty, mineral notes on the nose. Quite dry, green apple — 2 years ago

David L

9.3

Araujo Altagracia ,VHR, Realm Bard, Palmaz. Favia La Magdalena. These are a few of my wife’s favorite 2011’s . Okay... secondary market bargains. — 5 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.3

Big wine. Very ripe red and black fruit, but of minerality. Very expressive. Very easy drinking. Tannins have softened nicely but still give a grippy mouthfeel which leads to a long finish. — 2 months ago

Paul T HB

9.7

Opened this time.
Not the fruit forward bottle I have come to expect 👍🏼👌🏼, definitely has a long life ahead
One off bottling for 2019

It is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot.

The Bard Blair Edition represents the first time Realm has taken what is traditionally a component of The Bard and bottled it as a Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s fitting to branch out this way with Blair Vineyard, the Calistoga site that’s been a source of Cabernet Sauvignon for us since 2010. In 2012 and 2013, the vintages that turned Realm’s fortunes around, Blair was the backbone of The Bard. As time has gone on and The Bard has grown in production, Blair has become a lesser percentage of the wine, but no less important. Sitting in the southeast corner of the Calistoga AVA with Larkmead Vineyard to the immediate west and Three Palms Vineyard to the north, Blair is a rocky, alluvial site formed by runoff from the eastern hillsides over millions of years. Vines here struggle in the well-drained soils, and the Calistoga heat, which we have learned to manage carefully, results in a rich fruit profile.
Another reason we bottled Blair on its own is to honor Realm’s long partnership with its owners, Greg and Patricia (Pat) Johnson. The property has been in their family since the 1950s, originally owned by Greg’s Aunt Cecilia. Greg, a veteran who spent 21 years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, helped his aunt oversee Blair Vineyard in the late 1980s and 1990s, and when she died in 1996, she left the vineyard to Greg and Pat.
For several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s Blair Vineyard was bottled on its own. Greg and Pat’s son, Chris, a Fresno State University enology graduate, replanted the vineyard to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and used some of the fruit for his own small project, Blair Estate. Sadly, Chris died in 2009, and the Johnsons reverted to selling the fruit from Blair. With The Bard Blair Edition, we are excited to honor Chris’ memory and our long relationship with the Johnson family. — 2 years ago

Mike

9.5

Also know as “The Bard” #damntasty luscious blackberry and tobacco tones. Perfect for Saturday afternoon. #SKOL — 6 years ago

Norman Gennaro

9.6

I’m a Tempest fan but others preferred The Bard. Young but fantastic. Could have spent more time opening but too many people for that. Magnum. — 8 months ago

Brian S

9.4

This is a really tasty SB. Well done Realm juicy fruit, tropicals, medium plus acidity. — 9 months ago

Peter Collins

9.3

Not as good as the Bard but really good. Deep, fruit-forward and great finish. — 5 years ago

Bonnie Wilson

9.2

Lovely nutty not too sweet dessert wine. Pretty colour. Drank at Bard gala 2019 — 6 years ago