2018 Realm Cellars, Houyi Vineyard, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml)

$249
Rating:JS97/RP96+/AG96 i Wine Critics: RP = Robert Parker
AG = Antonio Galloni
BH = BurgHound
JD = Jeb Dunnuck
LP = Lisa Perrotti-Brown
VM = Vinous Media
WS = Wine Spectator
JS = James Suckling
DR = Decanter
NYR = Not Yet Rated

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JS97 "Ripe blackberry, plum, cedar, clove and chocolate on the nose with some caramel and pencil lead, too. It’s full-bodied and rich with firm, chewy tannins. Intense black-fruit and chocolate layers. So smooth and beautiful. Needs a few years. Drink from 2023." JS Dec 2020

RP96+ "In 2018, we had a lot of time to pick. We had a lot of time to make the wines," winemaker Benoit Touquette informed me. "Not to get greedy with Mother Nature was the challenge. We didn’t have the huge crops that some people had. We could pick at our leisure. If you did the right viticulture, it was an easy vintage." Indeed, the Realm 2018s have an effortless, carefree purity about them, with all the bright, energetic, crunchy fruit that is a characteristic of this cooler vintage. This is not to say that that these wines do not possess that decadent personality fans have come to love. On the contrary, there is a lot of impactful intensity with these 2018s. Yet they seem to bear a cheery skip in their step, which is going to make you fall in love with this winery all over again." LPB for TWA Oct 2020

AG96 "The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard is dark, voluptuous and enveloping. Inky blackberry fruit, chocolate, spice, licorice and espresso build in a sumptuous, potent Napa Valley Cabernet loaded with class. Winemaker Benoit Touquette coaxed an unreal amount of finesse in the tannins from this hillside site next to Brand and Colgin. This is an especially opulent, jammy style, and it all works so well. Time in the glass brings out striking energy and a whole range of floral accents that add brightness. There is an effortless grace that will make the 2018 very easy to drink with minimal cellaring." AG for VM Jan 2021

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