2016 Realm The Bard California Red

2016 Realm The Bard

98 RP

From the critics:

98 JD

97 JS

95 VM

94 DEC

94 WE

Featured Review

Reminding me of a slightly fresher version of the 2013 (which is common for wines from the vintage), the 2016 The Bard checks in as 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Still inky hued, with a gorgeous perfume of blue and black fruits, crushed stone, violets, and graphite, this awesome wine is full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, has perfectly ripe tannins, and a solid spine of acidity that keeps the wine surprisingly fresh and lively. This ultra-classic, concentrated, incredibly impressive Cabernet Sauvignon will keep for 30 years or more. While the 2012 and 2015 are in the more opulent style, this is closer in style to the 2013 and 2018. Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck | 98 RP

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from 21 different lots from 11 different vineyards, the 2016 The Bard is very deep purple-black in color and sashays out of the glass with strikingly beautiful violets, warm cassis, star anise and chocolate mint notes with hints of wood smoke, tobacco and kirsch, with blackberry compote at the core. Full, muscular and built like a brick house with layer upon layer of black, blue and red fruits, it finishes very long and savory.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RP

This is really glorious with blackberries and licorice. Lavender, too. Full body, round and soft tannins and a gorgeous center palate of ripe fruit and a fresh, linear finish. Drink or hold.

James Suckling | 97 JS

The 2016 The Bard is a big step up from preceding vintages. Dark and brooding, with tremendous intensity, the 2016 is a magical wine. Black cherry, plum, graphite, spice and licorice infuse the 2016 with striking dimensions of complexity, but more than anything else, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total pleasure.

Vinous Media | 95 VM

(Realm Cellars, The Bard, Napa Valley, California, USA, Red) The 2016 iteration of this Cabernet-based 'proprietary blend' is focussed and energetic. It has a higher-toned profile than the other two vintages tasted, carrying notes of black cherries, tar, sap and orange pulp throughout. Due to its youth it has a grainier tannin structure, which adds a nice layer of grit to the otherwise seamless finish. This is the first vintage made at Realm’s new winery, and around 2,500 cases were produced. (Drink between 2022-2035)

Decanter | 94 DEC

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.