Wine reviews
The finest fruit purchased by Realm Cellars goes into the Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon cuvee. The deep ruby/purple-hued 2010 boasts plenty of blue and black fruits along with hints of incense and violets, full body and beautiful purity, texture and length. The tannins, oak, acidity and alcohol are all well-integrated in this beauty. It should provide enjoyment over the next 10-15 years. - RP
This immense, tightly wound and concentrated red delivers layers of dark berry, mocha, espresso, currant, loamy earth and cedary oak, all bundled and wrapped by chewy tannins. Best from 2014 through 2024. 275 cases made. – JL
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard blossoms from the glass, covering every inch of the palate with endless layers of fruit. Violets, cloves, incense and licorice all jump from this deep, totally expressive Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2010 is vivid and wonderfully alive in the glass. This is a great showing from Realm. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030. (Not yet released) Realm continues their remarkable ascent into the top tier of Napa Valley producers. Juan Mercado and Benoit Touquette, along with consultant Michel Rolland, have done a fabulous job with these wines. Realm has recently moved into a space at Chateau Boswell, which should give them the space and technical resources to keep improving on what is already a remarkable level of quality. The 2010s are terrific, while the 2011s are highly promising. Readers should note that all of the 2011s I tasted are 100% Cabernet Sauvignons at this stage, but the final blends could end up including a small amount of Petit Verdot. I also had a chance to revisit the 2009 Farella, To Kalon and Dr. Crane, all of which are more than living up the my lofty praise from last year. The Realm wines are big, full-bodied and totally luscious, but also remarkably balanced. - AG
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is a marvelously complete wine. It bursts from the glass with striking aromatic complexity and tons of finesse in a textured, full-bodied style that is immensely appealing. Floral notes give the wine an attractive lift on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. Realm is one of the most exciting young wineries in Napa Valley. Wendell Laidley and Juan Mercado founded Realm in 2002. Since then, they have put together an impressive collection of vineyard sources. Benoit Touquette, a protege of Michel Rolland, is now the winemaker. Rolland collaborated on the blends beginning in 2009. This is a gorgeous set of wines that deserves considerable attention.