2022 Realm Cellars, The Bard, Napa Valley, Case of 6 btls

JD95 "One of the valley's great, great values, the 2022 The Bard is based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Franc, and the rest a mix of varieties. It has a killer nose of bright red and blue fruits intermixed with spring flowers, graphite, baking spices, and incense. This carries to a beautifully balanced, full-bodied red that has a lively, elegant mouthfeel and fine tannins. It competes with wines at 2-3 times its going rate, especially in a vintage like 2022." JD Jan 2025

LP95 "The 2022 The Bard is composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Petite Sirah, and 1% Charbono. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little swirling to bring out a fruity core of crème de cassis and baked plums, leading to hints of cedar, vanilla pod, licorice, and dark chocolate with a touch of sassafras. The full-bodied palate is velvety textured with bags of juicy black fruits and well-knit freshness, finishing on a lingering licorice note. This was bottled in mid-July 2024." LPB for TWI Sep 2024

DR95 "A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Petite Sirah, and 1% Charbono, sourced from top vineyard sites, including Bourn for Petite Sirah, Tofanelli for Charbono, and selections from Upper Range, Moon Racer, Blair (Calistoga), and Farella. This wine delivers Realm's rich, dark fruit signature, with excellent density and concentration, building on the full-bodied palate. Suave, well-integrated tannins frame notes of tobacco and liquid graphite, driving a long, mineral-laced finish. Crunchy dark berry fruit and wild sweet herbs add complexity, promising further refinement with age — a cellar-worthy wine in this vintage." JC for DR Feb 2025