Realm - Farella Napa Valley 2019 (750ml)
Price: $350.00
Sale Price: $275.00
| Producer | Realm |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Napa Valley |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Sku | 5140 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Advocate: 98+ Points
Realm took over the management of Farella vineyard in 2018. Since then winemaker Benoit Touquette explained their focus has been to open out the canopy creating better exposure for the fruit aiming to achieve riper tannins. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and a powerful expressive nose of baked plums juicy blackberries and blackcurrant pastilles plus touches of black olives lavender and cinnamon stick with a waft of fragrant earth. The full-bodied palate is seriously dense and muscular featuring a rock-solid foundation of super ripe grainy tannins and bold freshness finishing with epic length and energy. A spectacular showing for Farella! ?2019 was a great vintage following 2018? said Realm?s winemaker Benoit Touquette. ?A bit like 2012 and 2013. 2019 is more fleshy and expressive at this stage than 2018. It has the flesh and the body of 2013 with nice ripe phenolics. I love the acidity and texture matched by the aromatics. Also 2019 was a consistent crop?straightforward to work with. We racked a lot less this year to keep that energy and freshness? he explained ?Tempest and Bard are our gateway to new consumers? proprietor Scott Becker added. ?The Bard accounts for nearly half of our entire production volume. With The Tempest we really want to promote Merlot. You really need the Merlot mindset to be focused on how to make great Merlot.? 2019 is clearly a vintage that plays to Realm?s vineyard and visionary strengths. This is a strong lineup of new releases with a lineup of wines that are sure to excite loyal fans and will likely turn a few new heads along the way. 2020 is however another story. 2020 was the year of not just one but two significant fire episodes rendering most Napa Valley grapes potentially smoke tainted. After considerable monitoring and careful consideration Realm took the difficult decision not to bottle any 2020 wines for public release except a rosé?La Fe?produced from an early harvest of Merlot coming from Farella vineyard in Coombsville.
Vinous: 97 Points
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard is tremendous. Winemaker Benoit Touquette has captured all of the savory and mineral nuances that are such a signature of this Coombsville site balanced with ripe radiant expression of fruit. Red plum rose petal cinnamon and blood orange are all laced together in a Cabernet of real distinction. This is the first vintage that incorporates a touch (8%) of Merlot which helps soften some of the youthful angularity Farella Cabernets often show.
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