Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

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. — 3 years ago

Lori Cramer

9.5

Dark cherry and coffee. Amazing aroma! — 5 years ago

I Sax

9.2

North branch inn. Ny — 8 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.0

I was genuinely impressed by this Vermont Frontenac Gris, which drinks like a juicy Riesling and even had some Chenin characteristics—bright orchard fruit, lively acidity, and a surprisingly tasty dose of RS — 6 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.2

Goldeneye is the Anderson Valley branch of Napa’s Duckhorn, and Gowan Creek has routinely been a favorite among their single vineyard Pinots. Brooding and opulent, it matches blackberry, anise tones with more earthen flavors - tilled soil and mushroom caps. Meaty and gratifying. — 8 years ago

with Stacy, Mitchell and 2 others