Realm Cellars
The Tempest Napa Valley Red Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark inky in color with a short purplish rim.
Fruity nose and full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and very fruity.
Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, dried figs, cedar, vanilla, cooked raisins, chocolates, light earth, herbs, spices, dark coffee, peppercorn and licorice.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Fruit forward and extracted. Rich, and in your face kind of wine.
Still young, and needs 7 years in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.
This 8-year-old is nicely balanced and dense, with enough acidity for the fruits. Complex with a nice mouthfeel. Big, bold and beautiful, with a teeth staining color. Not a good choice for a first date.
Wine Advocate 94 points.
The blend varies with each vintage. I've had the 2014 vintage a year ago, and loved it even more.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.
14.6% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$160.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark inky in color with a short purplish rim.
Fruity nose and full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and very fruity.
Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, dried figs, cedar, vanilla, cooked raisins, chocolates, light earth, herbs, spices, dark coffee, peppercorn and licorice.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Fruit forward and extracted. Rich, and in your face kind of wine.
Still young, and needs 7 years in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.
This 8-year-old is nicely balanced and dense, with enough acidity for the fruits. Complex with a nice mouthfeel. Big, bold and beautiful, with a teeth staining color. Not a good choice for a first date.
Wine Advocate 94 points.
The blend varies with each vintage. I've had the 2014 vintage a year ago, and loved it even more.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.
14.6% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$160.
Wow. Surprise of the night. Bright. Balanced. Still in full swing.
Wow. Surprise of the night. Bright. Balanced. Still in full swing.
Dec 23rd, 2023
I’ve been a fan of Realm for quite a while, but this was the first time I’ve opened their merlot driven wine, Tempest.
95% merlot, 5% Cabernet. Inky dark red/black in the glass. Fresh baked mixed berry pie notes jump from the glass along with espresso, dark chocolate and baking spices. Astoundingly silky and elegant on the palate. While this is certainly a bigger expression than most merlot, it still has classical merlot notes at the core…black cherry with beautifully lifted profile. Rich red, blue and black fruits, cocoa, and graham cracker. The finish has great acidity and fine grained tannins. A very sexy expression of merlot. Fantastic!
I’ve been a fan of Realm for quite a while, but this was the first time I’ve opened their merlot driven wine, Tempest.
95% merlot, 5% Cabernet. Inky dark red/black in the glass. Fresh baked mixed berry pie notes jump from the glass along with espresso, dark chocolate and baking spices. Astoundingly silky and elegant on the palate. While this is certainly a bigger expression than most merlot, it still has classical merlot notes at the core…black cherry with beautifully lifted profile. Rich red, blue and black fruits, cocoa, and graham cracker. The finish has great acidity and fine grained tannins. A very sexy expression of merlot. Fantastic!
Not my favorite Realm, not my favorite vintage, but still damn good.
Not my favorite Realm, not my favorite vintage, but still damn good.
Apr 29th, 2021Hard to rate. It’s very good, it’s Realm, but it’s 2017.
Hard to rate. It’s very good, it’s Realm, but it’s 2017.
Feb 24th, 2021
Always loved this blend. The Merlot really rounds out the wine. In a good place. Santé!
Always loved this blend. The Merlot really rounds out the wine. In a good place. Santé!
Dec 25th, 2020My second to last bottle of 2014 Tempest. That’s depressing. I think I’ll open another.
My second to last bottle of 2014 Tempest. That’s depressing. I think I’ll open another.
Jun 21st, 2020
opaque ruby violet; black cherry, milk chocolate, plum, vanilla bean, violets, menthol; soft, juicy, generous fruit; full bodied, medium+ acidity, soft tannins, 14.6% ABV; blend of 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from multiple sites, homage to Bordeaux’s right bank; $100
opaque ruby violet; black cherry, milk chocolate, plum, vanilla bean, violets, menthol; soft, juicy, generous fruit; full bodied, medium+ acidity, soft tannins, 14.6% ABV; blend of 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from multiple sites, homage to Bordeaux’s right bank; $100
Feb 2nd, 2020