Realm
Realm Cellars
The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
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. — 3 days ago
Realm Cellars
Houyi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022
Realm Cellars – Houyi Vineyard – Red – 2022
Houyi Vineyard – Pritchard Hill AVA – Napa Valley – California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A powerful, site-driven mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Realm Cellars’ estate Houyi Vineyard on Pritchard Hill. The 2022 vintage is composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, grown at nearly 1,300 feet elevation on dense volcanic rock soils. This is a quintessential Pritchard Hill expression, combining concentration, structure, and unmistakable mountain intensity.
Aromas & Flavors
Deep and brooding aromatics of blackcurrant, cassis, and dark plum lead the profile, followed by graphite, crushed stone, leather, and cigar box. As the wine opens, notes of espresso, black olive, and savory herbs emerge, reinforcing its serious, mountain-grown character.
Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and commanding, with firm, structured tannins and a dense core of dark fruit. The palate is muscular yet controlled, supported by vibrant acidity and mineral grip. Long, persistent finish marked by graphite, earth, and savory complexity.
Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, grilled prime beef, braised short ribs, venison, lamb shank, or aged hard cheeses such as aged Cheddar or Comté.
Verdict
A textbook Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon showcasing power, depth, and authority. Houyi Vineyard delivers a bold yet disciplined expression that reflects Realm’s mastery of mountain terroir and precision blending.
Did You Know?
Houyi Vineyard is Realm Cellars’ estate site on Pritchard Hill, a highly revered Napa Valley enclave known for its volcanic soils, elevation, and some of the most age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons in the world.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
An impressive Napa Valley mountain Cabernet that delivers intensity without losing focus. Deep, powerful, and unapologetically structured, with graphite and leather driving the experience from start to finish. Serious Pritchard Hill Cabernet. — 3 days ago
Realm Cellars
Farella Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Realm Cellars – Farella Vineyard – Red– 2021
Coombsville AVA – Napa Valley – California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A site-driven, estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Realm Cellars’ Farella Vineyard in the cool-climate Coombsville AVA. The 2021 vintage is composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from a high-elevation block within the vineyard known as the “rockpile,” named for its dense concentration of stone and gravel soils. This unique position in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains delivers natural freshness, complexity, and refined structure.
Aromas & Flavors
Layered aromas of red and black cherry, cassis, and ripe plum unfold alongside graphite, crushed stone, subtle floral tones, and hints of cedar. As the wine opens, nuanced notes of spice, earth, and mineral depth continue to build, revealing impressive complexity.
Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with a remarkably polished and silky texture. The tannins are refined and seamless, offering structure without weight. Fresh acidity from the cool Coombsville site carries the wine effortlessly through a long, graceful finish.
Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb, grilled filet mignon, roasted duck breast, mushroom-forward dishes, or aged hard cheeses.
Verdict
A beautifully composed Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that emphasizes elegance over brute force. Complex, multi-layered, and progressively expressive, this is a refined interpretation of mountain-influenced Coombsville Cabernet.
Did You Know?
Coombsville is one of Napa Valley’s coolest AVAs, influenced by morning fog and volcanic soils from the Vaca Mountain range, often producing Cabernets with heightened aromatic complexity and natural acidity.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
I was genuinely surprised by how smooth and delicate this wine is for a site of such intensity. Multi-layered, graceful, and beautifully balanced, it’s an exceptional Cabernet that showcases finesse as much as depth. — 3 days ago
Freddy R. Troya
Realm Cellars – Fidelio – Sauvignon Blanc – 2022
Farella Vineyard – Coombsville AVA – Napa Valley – California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A site-driven Sauvignon Blanc sourced from Farella, Realm Cellars’ cool-climate estate vineyard in Coombsville. The 2022 vintage marks the beginning of Fidelio as a fully realized expression of Realm’s white-wine vision. Fermented and aged using three distinct vessels, neutral oak demi-muids, concrete eggs, and terracotta amphoras, each contributing texture, purity, and layered complexity. A wine built on refinement, precision, and thoughtful vineyard innovation.
Aromas & Flavors
Vivid green lemon zest, lime blossom, and fresh citrus oils lead the aromatics, followed by white peach, subtle herbal tones, crushed stone, and saline minerality. As it opens, hints of fennel, wet chalk, and delicate floral notes emerge, revealing remarkable depth for Sauvignon Blanc.
Mouthfeel
Textural and composed, with a broad yet energetic palate. The concrete and amphora components add tension and grip, while neutral oak lends quiet roundness without overt wood influence. Bright acidity carries the wine seamlessly through the mid-palate into a long, focused, mineral-driven finish.
Food Pairings
Grilled branzino, halibut with citrus beurre blanc, roasted chicken with herbs, shellfish, goat cheese, or vegetable-forward dishes featuring fennel, asparagus, or fresh herbs.
Verdict
A serious, intellectual Sauvignon Blanc that blurs the line between white and red wine drinkers. Fidelio captures Realm’s ethos of richness and freshness coexisting in perfect balance. A benchmark Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc with depth, intent, and longevity.
Did You Know?
To refine fruit exposure, Realm introduced cross arms in the vineyard to create dappled light around the fruit zone, an uncommon but deliberate technique that enhances phenolic maturity while preserving freshness in this cool Coombsville site.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is a white wine for red wine lovers. A 100% Sauvignon Blanc that took me to the next level of Napa Sauvignon Blanc. I had to pause, my brain went into overdrive. Ridiculously delicious, layered, and precise, with electric green lemon zest energy and impeccable balance. Serious stuff. — 4 days ago