Jan A

9.7

At first I scored this 99 points, flirting with perfection just like the 1999 Dunn Howell Mountain we had in our glass moments before. However after 15-20 minutes in the glass it began to fade and aged characteristics like tea leaves and Maggi began to emerge and the color went much more brown. Still a very good wine. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Realm Cellars – The Bard – Red Blend – 2022
Napa Valley AVA – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Realm Cellars’ flagship proprietary red, The Bard represents the most expansive and dynamic expression of Napa Valley terroir. The 2022 vintage is Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant (approximately 70%), supported by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, with exact proportions varying by year. Sourced from a broad range of elite vineyards spanning Coombsville to Calistoga and both valley floor and hillside sites, this wine is designed to showcase Napa Valley in its full breadth and power.

Aromas & Flavors
Dense and expressive aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry compote, and dark plum lead the profile, followed by graphite, cocoa, crushed stone, and subtle baking spice. As it opens, notes of espresso, cedar, and savory herbs emerge, adding layers of depth and complexity.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, weighty, and concentrated, with a rich core of dark fruit framed by structured yet polished tannins. Despite its power, the wine maintains balance and freshness, carrying seamlessly into a long, impactful finish.

Food Pairings
Prime rib, grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, venison, or aged cheeses such as aged Cheddar, Comté, or Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Verdict
A bold yet refined Napa Valley red that captures Realm’s philosophy of sourcing greatness across sites to build a wine of exceptional depth, richness, and presence. The Bard remains a benchmark proprietary blend that delivers both immediate pleasure and cellar-worthy structure.

Did You Know?
The Bard draws fruit from some of Napa Valley’s most revered vineyards, including Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Bourn, Blair, Houyi, and Larkmead, contributing to its layered complexity and distinctive Napa identity.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is a wine every serious wine lover should have in their cellar. Powerful, delicious, and unapologetically Napa, The Bard delivers depth, impact, and pure enjoyment in every glass. — 6 months ago

David Shaw

9.3

Intense ruby red with brilliant clarity, moderate-to-high pigment extraction. Bramble, raspberry, cedar/baking spice aromas. Raspberry Pez flavor with some seed tannin bitterness and red fruit/black currant finish with real length. Light acidity and body, some puckering of inner sides of back of the mouth cavity. After 30 minutes, menthol, mint and spearmint emerge in the finish along with fine grained tannins and slight skin astringency. — 2 years ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.1

Honestly I was expecting a more approachable Nebbiolo on opening at this point. The nose is shy and the tannins are dominant.That said - this seems to be a complex and multi layered wine with leather and earth dominant over clearly present dark cherry and raspberry notes that are begging to emerge. I suggest a bit more aging to make this outstanding. — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. Reddish tawny color. Closed nose. Later in the evening (after wine had been opened for 9+ hours), notes of black cherry, tobacco leaf, cedar desk, gravel stone emerge. Very rich. Still a baby and evolving. Better tonight than the 82 Mouton. 95+ — 4 years ago

Greg Bencivengo

9.0

Dense aroma full of cranberry and bramble fruit. Honest and well balanced. Tannins resembling brown leaves emerge later. A touch of mouse? — 4 years ago

with Josh

David Koenen

9.3

Best Poujeaux I’ve tasted so far! Sun dried tomatoes, clove, white pepper. All kinds herbs, like thyme and oregano. Licorice. Nice woodsy tones emerge at the end. Ripe but restrained. This is beautiful stuff. — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Gabriel Meffre “Saint-Vincent” Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2024, Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Southern Rhône white blend that leans casual and food-oriented rather than flashy or intensely aromatic, and this cuvée is typically a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and Clairette. The result is a smooth, lightly stony, and subtly textured white that feels very comfortable at the table.

Aromas & Flavors
Soft white peach, pear, yellow apple, and delicate white floral tones open gently in the glass. Subtle hints of wet stone, citrus peel, and light herbal nuances emerge underneath, keeping the wine grounded and balanced rather than overtly fruity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a smooth and approachable texture. There is a gentle tension toward the back palate that adds freshness without becoming sharp. The finish remains subtle, soft, and savory-leaning.

Food Pairings
This is where the wine truly shines. Excellent with roasted chicken, creamy seafood dishes, cod in white wine sauce, grilled vegetables, herb-driven Mediterranean cuisine, or mild cheeses.

Verdict
A very honest and traditional Rhône white that prioritizes versatility and food compatibility over complexity. Not necessarily a “sit and analyze” sipping wine, but a dependable bottle that works beautifully at the dinner table.

Did You Know?
White Côtes-du-Rhône wines represent only a small percentage of total Rhône production, which is why many consumers associate the region almost entirely with reds despite the area producing some excellent traditional white blends.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like one of those understated French whites that quietly performs best with food. Casual, stony, smooth, and very easy to enjoy alongside a proper meal rather than on its own. Cheers! — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Opus One 2011
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most iconic estates, co-founded by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The 2011 vintage was a challenging, cool year in Napa, producing wines of lower alcohol, more restraint, and higher acidity compared to the opulent, sun-soaked vintages before and after. Blend typically centers on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

Aromas & Flavors
Opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and dried cherry layered with graphite, violets, tobacco leaf, and hints of cedar and espresso. As it evolves in the glass, notes of leather, savory herbs, and cocoa powder emerge.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied compared to more powerful Opus vintages, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and balanced, showing more finesse and structure than richness. The finish lingers with red and black fruits, spice, and a touch of earth.

Winemaking Notes
Aged in French oak for 18 months. The cooler season resulted in smaller yields, but a style closer to classic Bordeaux restraint rather than plush Napa ripeness.

Food Pairing
Beautiful with herb-crusted lamb, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté.

Verdict
A vintage that divided critics due to its lighter profile, but for those who enjoy elegance and classical structure, the 2011 Opus One is a refreshing outlier. Drink now, though it still has a few years of graceful life ahead. Cheers!
— 10 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Another favourite Australian Red but this 2014 vintage not showing as well as it normally does. I put it down to the vintage. Aromatically it is spicy but subdued; digging deeper there is earth and clove with herbs. With time, meaty aromas emerge. Perhaps more time will reveal more and provide more depth on the palate. — 2 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Last bottle of vintage. Excellent clarity but only light to moderate pigment extraction, consistent with the varietal. Cherry and grape candy flavors, aroma of phenol and a finish of barrel smoke. Slightly rough skin tannins on initial pour, but not too intense. Seedy bitter finish after ten minutes but should resolve later. After an hour, blueberry and blackberry flavors emerge with a cocoa-like texture on the finish. An expressive version of this varietal. — 4 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.1

Took a minute to warm up, but once it did the nose burst open with notes of leychee, jasmine and sweet floral notes. The flavor was off-dry, with a creamy floral sweetness that cascaded over the palate, with a slightly mineral/slightly spicy mid-palate, and ends with a dry minerality and taste of wet river stones on the finish. First Boxler but definitely won’t be the last. PS: as it continued to warm, I became aware of how fresh tasting the wine was. I’m still waiting on the food to finish, but I’m excited to see how it will emerge. — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

Deep dark purple with a wide, lilac rim. Powerful nose with pronounced plum. There’s a unmistakable charred wood quality happening here that I’m really digging. Stewed mushrooms and dried herbs with roast beef. Give it more air and time and good things happen. Ripe red cherries start to emerge alongside black and blue fruits. Those dirty earth aromas are positively stellar here, really nice.

Northern Rhône Syrahs are something special. Meaty with well integrated tannins. Full bodied and very classic in nature and style. Plenty of sediment in the bottle but still full of finesse. Smooth tannins and a very laid back, enjoyable nature. Bacon fat and pepper initially on the palate. Dried earth and blueberries with smoke and mushrooms. A touch of green olives and lusty herbs. Medium finish with more spice. Drinking spectacularly at the moment but can still hold up in the cellar for a few more years. Truly nice. — 5 years ago

David Samples

10

Beyond beautiful! Immediately soft upon opening—had planned to decant for 4-6 hours but decided against. Open and had small taste with Maggie Harrison around noon. Decided to re-cork it and decanted at 4PM.
At noon I got (very unexpected) cranberry notes on the nose and the palate was considerably more gentle than expected.

After two hour decant: Soft (cat tongue), integrated tannins, pomegranate, black cherry begins to emerge. Herbs, smoky/meaty notes emerge


Tasted: 5.20.26
Attendees: Mark Cerimele, Maggie Harrison, Steve Pfancuff, Lorne McClelland, Andy McCray, Denise Casino, Randy Nelson — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Vieux Château Palon – 2021
Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOC – Right Bank, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinctive Right Bank Bordeaux, this cuvée flips the classic Merlot-dominant Saint-Émilion script. Instead, it is crafted from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, making it unusually bold, structured, and aromatically lifted for the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and cassis dominate, with graphite, cedar, and tobacco leaf from the Cabernets. Subtle violet and peppery notes emerge from the Franc.

Mouthfeel
Firm tannins, medium-plus body, and a long, savory finish. More muscular and linear than many Montagne-Saint-Émilions, leaning toward Left Bank style but with Right Bank elegance.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops with rosemary, cassoulet, duck confit, aged Comté or Tomme de Savoie cheeses.

Verdict
An atypical but fascinating Montagne-Saint-Émilion that highlights Cabernet structure over Merlot plushness. For those who love Pauillac or Saint-Julien, this bottle is a bridge into the Right Bank world. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Montagne-Saint-Émilion is one of the four “satellite” appellations of Saint-Émilion, known for offering excellent value Bordeaux reds. Few estates here lean so heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes Palon stand out stylistically. — 8 months ago

Ming L

9.4

An elegant bouquet of dried violets, blackcurrant, and tobacco, with hints of cedar and earth. The palate is rich yet polished, with some fresh cherry notes still lingering around. The tannins have softened into a velvety texture. Subtle spice and leather emerge on the long, harmonious finish.
Don’t get to drink well aged Super Tuscan often. This is a beautiful expression of Cab Franc led blends at its peak. — a year ago

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9.1

The 2019 Corton Grand Cru has a rather conservative and earthy bouquet, but is well-defined with slightly darker fruit than its peers. Faint touches of fresh tobacco emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit and a fine thread of acidity, but is a little stocky, as you might expect of a Corton. There’s a slight abruptness on the finish, but time should shave its corners. Give it another couple of years. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 3 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.3

This is excellent! It's nice to be able to buy a well-cellared wine. Cedar, spice, clove, and cherry tobacco nose. Medium weight, perfect medium acidity, medium plus alcohol. Spearmint starts to emerge at the end. Cherry dominates the finish which is long and well balanced with soft fully resolved tannins. The wine is ready now. Drink up and enjoy.

93 points — 4 years ago

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9.8

The 2019 Haut-Brion is seriously impressive. A dark, virile wine, the 2019 impresses with its vertical energy and statuesque elegance. It's a Haut-Brion that will only reveal itself over many years. Today, the density and resonance are super-impressive and also hugely promising. Classic savory and mineral notes start to emerge over time. I can't wait to see how this ages. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2022)
— 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby color with purple edges, aged for about 20 months on oak. The port wine displays a complex nose with ripe fruits and sweet spice. On the palate ripe sweet juicy blackberry and cherry flavors emerge, velvety and smooth. Tannins are present and tight and chewy, well balanced. Long finish ending with ripe juicy fruit, spice and  slight earthy character, not as big as ‘16 but, Very Nice! Can drink now but will develop over next decade! — 5 years ago