Wine reviews
Powerfully built, dense and chewy, yet with a measure of finesse and refinement that gives the blackberry, licorice and cedary flavors a pleasant lift, offering dried herb, mocha and loamy earth accents. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2028. 400 cases made. –JL
A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, Realm’s perfect 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard exhibits a La Mission Haut-Brion-like bouquet of blueberries, scorched earth, burning embers and spring flowers, a dense, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a staggeringly long, multidimensional, 60-second finish. It can be drunk with enormous pleasure now, but promises to evolve for at least a quarter of a century. For historical buffs, the Dr. Crane Vineyard is named after a real doctor, who first planted the vineyard in 1858. In the 1920s, this small area was once considered the home of migrant Chinese workers. – RP