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![2005 Realm Cellars, The Absurd, Gardener Label, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) [Rare First Vintage]](http://grandcruliquidassets.com/cdn/shop/files/USRREAABSU-0750-2005-F0L0C0_800x.jpg?v=1739765055)
2005 Realm Cellars, The Absurd, Gardener Label, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) [Rare First Vintage]
Price On Request
94VM
Critic key
VM = Vinous Media
- Rating
- VM94
- Producer
- Realm
- Vintage
- 2005
- Region
- California
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Country
- United States
- Format
- Bottle
- Volume
- 750mL
- ABV
- 14.6
- Type
- Still
- Color
- Red
We guarantee the authenticity of the wines we sell and are dedicated to ensuring that the wines you receive from us are sourced responsibly and held to the highest standards.
In-stock wines typically ship within one business day, with same-day shipping available for orders placed before 3 PM PST Monday-Friday after shipping confirmation. Adult signature is required upon delivery, and every shipment is packed with care using premium wine shipping materials.
Product Description
Rare First Vintage - Numbered bottles, The Gardener, The Magician or The Birdwatcher
VM94 "40% each cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot, with 20% merlot) Full medium ruby. Cassis, minerals and flowers on the nose. Thick and suave on entry, then intense and vibrant in the middle palate, with nicely delineated flavors of black fruits, violet and bitter chocolate complicated by spice and pepper. This, too, is carrying a boatload of tannins, but the slow-building back end suggests that there's more than enough supporting material here. Ultimately the longest of this impressive set of young '05s." ST for VM May 2007
"The 2005 The Absurd (41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Petit Verdot, and 24% Merlot) is the most intense, extracted wine of the group. However, it needs time in the bottle, no doubt because of the elevated percentage of Petit Verdot. An inky/purple color is followed by incense, camphor, melted licorice, smoke, and blueberry as well as blackberry fruit characteristics. Dense, full-bodied, powerful, and long, this wine appears set for an enjoyable, long life." RP Dec 2008
Antonio Galloni writes, "The gregarious and charming Mercado was able to secure high quality fruit through his connections and timing. Mike Hirby was brought in to make the wines. Like pretty much all start-up projects, Realm was a virtual winery that rented space at various facilities, bouncing from place to place and bootstrapping it along the way. That approach can work, but it is very hard financially, as there is no room for error. Those first years were extremely challenging. A warehouse fire destroyed the entire 2003 vintage in bottle, after it had been sold and committed. Nevertheless, to their immense credit, Mercado and Laidley persevered." Published March 24, 2022
VM94 "40% each cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot, with 20% merlot) Full medium ruby. Cassis, minerals and flowers on the nose. Thick and suave on entry, then intense and vibrant in the middle palate, with nicely delineated flavors of black fruits, violet and bitter chocolate complicated by spice and pepper. This, too, is carrying a boatload of tannins, but the slow-building back end suggests that there's more than enough supporting material here. Ultimately the longest of this impressive set of young '05s." ST for VM May 2007
"The 2005 The Absurd (41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Petit Verdot, and 24% Merlot) is the most intense, extracted wine of the group. However, it needs time in the bottle, no doubt because of the elevated percentage of Petit Verdot. An inky/purple color is followed by incense, camphor, melted licorice, smoke, and blueberry as well as blackberry fruit characteristics. Dense, full-bodied, powerful, and long, this wine appears set for an enjoyable, long life." RP Dec 2008
Antonio Galloni writes, "The gregarious and charming Mercado was able to secure high quality fruit through his connections and timing. Mike Hirby was brought in to make the wines. Like pretty much all start-up projects, Realm was a virtual winery that rented space at various facilities, bouncing from place to place and bootstrapping it along the way. That approach can work, but it is very hard financially, as there is no room for error. Those first years were extremely challenging. A warehouse fire destroyed the entire 2003 vintage in bottle, after it had been sold and committed. Nevertheless, to their immense credit, Mercado and Laidley persevered." Published March 24, 2022