Steve Mitchell

9.3

2013 was purchased in a vertical with a 2014 and 2015.
Paired well with a prime rib eye, smashed potato and salad. — 6 months ago

Sam

9.0

2011 Vintage. Black pepper and anise on the nose. Medium mouth feel with toasted nuts and anise on the tongue. Blackberry on the finish. I enjoyed the glass by itself. Would be better with prime rib. — a year ago

Ryan Kravitz

10

Deep Deep Purple hue, some notes of cranberry very good used on Christmas Prime Rib and was savored for drinks awhile too would go back to — a year ago

Mark Eastom

9.1

2019, from magnum. Wild fruit, spice, cherry, slate, rhubarb, nice acid. Did the job with prime rib on thanksgiving. — 3 years ago

Leo Gentile

9.5

Deep purple with a hint of brick. Cassis and leather and meat in the nose. Pencil graphite cassis violet and a little tar. Rich jammy black fruit. Delicious. Serving with Prime grade rib roast. Sorry to have only one bottle — 4 years ago

Michael Fiur

10

Fabulous smooth Brunello from peter Caristo with prime rib done to perfection with haricot vert and roasted potatoes and pear tort — 4 years ago

Adam Beasley

9.0

Way too young. Still pretty tough after a 5-6 he decant. There’s is a lot of structure here and the dark roasted fruit plays well with the other aromas / flavors like charcoal, pencil lead, and soil. Not my go-to style of wine, but decent with prime rib. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Dark reddish tawny. Herbal nose. Heavy tobacco leaf, black cherries, cedar, smoke, plums, and cut Cuban cigar. Angular in the mouth. Needed five hours to find its groove. Big and powerful wine, paired perfectly with smoked prime rib. — 6 years 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

Henry Fuseler

9.2

2/2024. Nice bold cad full of flavor. Good fruit. Paired well with the prime rib at Hall’s Chophouse. — 2 years ago

Adam Kincaid

8.9

Always a solid Sonoma cab. Some anise and dark fruit, dark chocolate and anise. Slight bit of dill and vanilla. Drinks young, this could go for a bit longer. Good strong tannins but smooth enough to balance my prime rib. — 3 years ago

with Jillian

Gladys Xiques

9.3

Aged and ripened purple fruit. Paired with prime rib. — 4 years ago

David S. Lopez

9.1

This wine poured a dark blood to brick red. It had flavors of cedar, dried fruit, earth, and may be a little bit of graphite. It was very smooth and balanced. It had quite light tannins but some nice acidity. I do not have a lot of experience with Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but this was a very good example. It was nice to try an old world GSM blend, and compare it to American versions. It was certainly less fruity and more earthy. It went perfectly with the prime rib we cooked for Christmas Eve dinner. Many thanks to good friend Mike P. For this gift. — 5 years ago

with Mike

Bill Mowry

9.4

Big blueberry up front with smooth tannins and subtle structure make this a beautiful wine. Paired it with prime rib and it was fantastic. — 6 years ago

with Amelia

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Caymus Vineyards – Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Caymus Special Selection is the flagship Cabernet, crafted only in exceptional years. The 2018 vintage stands tall among recent releases, showing why Chuck Wagner’s vision continues to shape Napa’s most recognized “luxury Cab.” 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from prime valley-floor vineyards, it strikes the perfect balance between Caymus’ signature ripe, fruit-forward style and an added layer of structure from a long, balanced growing season.

Aromas & Flavors
A powerful bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark cherries, layered with cocoa nibs, espresso, and baking spices. Subtle hints of licorice, cedar, and vanilla lift the complexity, while a core of lush fruit drives the palate. The oak integration is seamless, giving a supple sweetness without overwhelming the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Rich, opulent, and velvety—yet with surprising finesse. The tannins are silky and well-structured, giving length without heaviness. The finish lingers on black fruit and mocha, balanced by just enough acidity to keep it vibrant.

Winemaking Notes
Meticulous fruit selection, long maceration for concentration, and extended aging in new French oak (18+ months). The Wagner hallmark: generous fruit expression wrapped in polished oak for immediate pleasure but with aging potential.

Food Pairing
An indulgent pairing with ribeye, prime rib, or braised short ribs. For a decadent twist, try it with dark chocolate truffles or roasted lamb with rosemary.

Verdict
One of the most impressive Caymus Special Selection vintages in recent memory—showing both lush Napa Valley opulence and refined elegance. A wine that thrills now but promises to shine for years.

Personal Pick Highlight
This 2018 stands as my favorite Caymus of the modern decade—a true benchmark that captures everything people love about Napa Cabernet at its richest and most expressive. Cheers!
— 10 months ago

Bob Rodgers

9.5

A mature 23 yr old with a cedar and cigar box nose. Silky smooth mouthfeel with well integrated tannins and a lingering warm finish. Perfect with our Valentines Day prime rib and chocolate dessert. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black cherries, plums, currants, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Very dry on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherries, peppercorn, earth, pencil lead, dark chocolates, herbs and light vegetables.

Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 10 year old Merlot from Napa Valley is delicious. Nicely balanced, fruit forward and rich.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I had this vintage before, and this time I gave it a long decant (4 hours) to bring the tannins out. What a difference. Really enjoyed it.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with Prime Rib, mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$35. — 3 years ago

Ericsson

9.2

Pomerol: my favorite Bordeaux Appellation, by far. Solid! With so much life and time left in the bottle… Heck, I could pair this with prime rib eye and and it would cut the fat seamlessly. Yeah, this is outstanding, and will only get better and better, peaking in about four or five more years. Amazing prolonged intense tannic finish. Cheers. — 4 years ago

Bill Mowry

9.4

Thyme, cherries and cocoa. Paired wonderfully with prime rib. — 6 years ago

with Amelia

David Walser

9.4

Roegels BBQ does smoked prime rib on Sunday’s for take away. Got a 1” thick piece and shared while enjoying this wine. Delicious! — 6 years ago