Ron Siegel

9.3

Like most 05’s they are starting to drink well. This was open showing mostly black fruit, currant, cassis, cedar-menthol note with leather & tobacco — 6 days 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. — 16 days ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

v18. Really good! Freshly emptied red wine barrel-“crushed grapes and vanilla. Deep, rich, blackberry, blueberry and currant fruit. Long, smooth chocolate and clove finish. — 3 hours ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.2

Impressive showing...maybe needs 1-2 years for a more rounded enjoyment but this was already very pleasant. — 3 days ago

Tom Garland

9.6

+2 hour decant(lots of sediment). Served with beautifully seared A5 Wagyu. A majestic deep dark garnet color. On the nose: subdued notes of dark/blue fruits, pencil shavings, menthol, wet forest floor, cedar. Taste: silky, pure, intense savory wine with blackberry/dark cherry, currants, graphite, mineral, dark chocolate espresso and a lingering long dry finish. YUM! Still has time to go and glad to have more bottles. — 8 days ago

with Brenda

Robert Torretti

9.3

1990 Chateau Lynch Bages in Nebuchadnezzar. At a Lynch Bages dinner for the Commanderie de Bordeaux NY Chapter. Paired over the course of three courses vs the 1995, 1996 and 2000. The 1998 was also served earlier in the evening. So youthful, given the large format. Still got to experience different stages of evolution of the wine as it was poured throughout the night. Well balanced and beat out the other wines that night, with rhe 1996 showing more pepper and spice but also green bell pepper from the Cab Franc. The 2000 also showed strongly, but could not outshine the 1990. — 13 days ago

"Odedi"

9.4

#AgedWineTuesday

Ruby in color with a reddish rim. Not showing it's age.

Pretty nose with black currants, black plums, blackberries, licorice, cedar, herbs, tobacco leaf, chocolates, dark coffee, pencil lead, light earth and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with black currants, blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, toast, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, earth, light alcohol, peppercorn, green tea and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Showing a great nose right out of the bottle.

Rich and extracted, yet elegant. Very complex and spicy. Smooth, yet powerful. Does not feel like it's 18 year old at all.

This Cabernet Sauvignon from the great 2007 vintage in Napa Valley is showing beautifully now. Fully matured, but has enough energy to last it much longer. Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 7 years.

I love these aged Napa Bordeaux blends. Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. Aged for 18 months in (79% new) French oak barrels.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$175. — 10 days ago

Ericsson

9.7

Yes—exactly that kind of wine: timeless, composed, and quietly authoritative.

It smells so good on first pour. Damp pine forest floor and clean mountain air register immediately. Everything else unravels from there; but that initial pop-and-pour sniff is pure magic.

On the palate, blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and dried herbs unfold with control, carried by freshness and finely etched tannins in a medium body.

So classic, so intellectual, and deeply mesmerizing. Drink now or age. — 7 days ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Last had 4 years ago and was excited to check in - this didn’t disappoint. That perfect ridge mix of old world sensibility and composition with new world fruit and character. 13.8%. Finish is long with nice acid. Great pairing with steaks. Nice wine.

Happy New Year! — a day ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Deep ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, oak, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, eucalyptus, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, chocolates, oak, licorice, light cola, vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Malbec based blend from the house of Cheval Blanc is starting to drink very nicely now. Feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux.

Soft, smooth and elegant. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.

Needed 90 minutes in the decanter to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Wine Advocate 97 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 15 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110. — 5 days ago