Realm Cellars: “This blessed plot, this earth, this realm…”
The Bard
After purchasing the wine produced by Realm Cellars for over 15 years, it was a pleasure to taste at their newest property in Calistoga, CA. It is the home of one of their wines, the Bard. The Bard is a Cabernet blend that is rich and well structured. After many iterations of Realm Cellars, it has expanded to include three locations: The Stags Leap district, Pritchard Hill, and now Calistoga. Success does breed success.
One of the greatest additions to this winery is the winemaker, Benoit Touquette. He was offered the position of winemaker in 2009. He had also been offered the position at Screaming Eagle and turned it down. He stated his preference to build something rather than join something led to his decision. And to that, it is agreed – well done!
The tasting we enjoyed was at the newest location in the north end of the valley on Tubbs Lane in Calistoga. It is a gorgeous setting to say the least. While the initial entrance is noteworthy, once through the door to the tasting area – it is awesome. Mount St. Helena and the Palisades are visible in all their splendor and set the stage for the tasting. There is a wonderful outdoor space, and the view is also enjoyed from inside the glass walls of the tasting room. The glorious outdoors is available to enjoy and savor along with the wine.
On this day, we were greeted with a unique Rosé that set the stage and our palates for the wines to come. We tasted through three 2022s and enjoyed the experience of contrasting the Bard ’22 with the ’19, depicting what is possible with age. All the red blends that we enjoyed were well rated by Vinous. My personal favorite was the 2019 Bard. It was luscious from the expressive aromas to the velvety palate which was soft and plush. It left me wanting more and looking forward to opening a bottle with dinner.
The opportunity to purchase these wines is best through the website. There, the option is to sign up for their biannual offerings. It is well worth it. As stated above, I have enjoyed the wines for over 15 years. You will find wonderful wines to enjoy.
Enjoy!!
