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Open: By Appointment
Appt required? Yes
Last barlinwine.com visit: 2014
Directions:
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Tasting:
When my brother-in-law Bob let me know that Realm was now conducting tastings, I shared his excitement. We’d tried a Realm Cabernet at one of our first “Elite Cab Nights”, and it may have been the best of the bunch. The only question: would they pour everything?
The answer was a resounding yes. The tastings currently take place at Chateau Boswell (also a great cave tasting experience), where Realm makes their wine. We came by in the afternoon and tasted with Juan Mercado, one of the owners. Awaiting us at the outside picnic area were 6 delicious bottles: a Sauvignon Blanc and 5 delicious reds. Juan started us with the white, which was good, but we quickly moved on to reds. First up were the 3 Realm blends, all from 2011: The Tempest, The Falstaff, and The Bard. Each highlighted a different Bordeaux varietal in the blend. The Tempest (mostly Merlot) and The Bard (Cabernet) were both very solid, but I think my favorite was The Falstaff (Cabernet Franc).
We then turned to the two Cabernets he had available: the 2010 Farella Vineyard and the 2010 Dr. Crane Vineyard. The Farella was very good, and the Dr. Crane was great. Realm makes a 3rd Cabernet from the legendary To Kalon vineyard, and the only thing that would have improved the tasting at this point would have been the chance to try that.
I didn’t have to wait long. “Let’s go into the caves and try some To Kalon out of the barrel,” suggested Juan. Say no more!
In the Chateau Boswell caves, we did indeed get to sample the 2012 To Kalon in barrel, and it was delicious. We also tried some pre-release 2011 Farella Cab out of the bottle, and a sample of a new untitled reserve blend that they were working on. Just to put the icing on the cake, Juan found some 2010 To Kalon in bottle that was the best wine of them all.
We headed back outside to the collection of outdoor furniture where we started the tasting, and we found a few gents sitting in our spot. Juan introduced us: “Guys, meet Russell Bevan”. This was my first time encountering Russell, but he's fairly well-known in the Valley and makes his wines at Chateau Boswell as well. He was polishing off a Tecate, but asked if we’d be interested in trying a couple of his wines. Of course! He went back in the cave and came back with a 2012 Pinot Noir and a 2011 Bordeaux blend, the “EE”. We shot the shit with Russell, Juan, and Russell’s friend (along with Josh Peeples, owner of Chateau Boswell) while we sipped on Russell’s delicious fruit bomb of a Pinot and his well-made Bordeaux blend.
While not quite on par with our famous Ghost Horse tasting at Anderson’s Conn Valley, this was one of those unique experiences that we fell into that we’ll remember for a long time. Both Juan and Russell (and Josh, for that matter) were completely down-to-earth and unpretentious, and they’re just the type of folks I’m happy to use my wine budget to support. If you like Napa Cabernet, a tasting at Realm is a must.
When my brother-in-law Bob let me know that Realm was now conducting tastings, I shared his excitement. We’d tried a Realm Cabernet at one of our first “Elite Cab Nights”, and it may have been the best of the bunch. The only question: would they pour everything?
The answer was a resounding yes. The tastings currently take place at Chateau Boswell (also a great cave tasting experience), where Realm makes their wine. We came by in the afternoon and tasted with Juan Mercado, one of the owners. Awaiting us at the outside picnic area were 6 delicious bottles: a Sauvignon Blanc and 5 delicious reds. Juan started us with the white, which was good, but we quickly moved on to reds. First up were the 3 Realm blends, all from 2011: The Tempest, The Falstaff, and The Bard. Each highlighted a different Bordeaux varietal in the blend. The Tempest (mostly Merlot) and The Bard (Cabernet) were both very solid, but I think my favorite was The Falstaff (Cabernet Franc).
We then turned to the two Cabernets he had available: the 2010 Farella Vineyard and the 2010 Dr. Crane Vineyard. The Farella was very good, and the Dr. Crane was great. Realm makes a 3rd Cabernet from the legendary To Kalon vineyard, and the only thing that would have improved the tasting at this point would have been the chance to try that.
I didn’t have to wait long. “Let’s go into the caves and try some To Kalon out of the barrel,” suggested Juan. Say no more!
In the Chateau Boswell caves, we did indeed get to sample the 2012 To Kalon in barrel, and it was delicious. We also tried some pre-release 2011 Farella Cab out of the bottle, and a sample of a new untitled reserve blend that they were working on. Just to put the icing on the cake, Juan found some 2010 To Kalon in bottle that was the best wine of them all.
We headed back outside to the collection of outdoor furniture where we started the tasting, and we found a few gents sitting in our spot. Juan introduced us: “Guys, meet Russell Bevan”. This was my first time encountering Russell, but he's fairly well-known in the Valley and makes his wines at Chateau Boswell as well. He was polishing off a Tecate, but asked if we’d be interested in trying a couple of his wines. Of course! He went back in the cave and came back with a 2012 Pinot Noir and a 2011 Bordeaux blend, the “EE”. We shot the shit with Russell, Juan, and Russell’s friend (along with Josh Peeples, owner of Chateau Boswell) while we sipped on Russell’s delicious fruit bomb of a Pinot and his well-made Bordeaux blend.
While not quite on par with our famous Ghost Horse tasting at Anderson’s Conn Valley, this was one of those unique experiences that we fell into that we’ll remember for a long time. Both Juan and Russell (and Josh, for that matter) were completely down-to-earth and unpretentious, and they’re just the type of folks I’m happy to use my wine budget to support. If you like Napa Cabernet, a tasting at Realm is a must.
Recommended wine: There wasn't a bad wine in the bunch and I'd recommend any of them, but the To Kalon is fantastic -- try it if you can get it.
Ratings (out of 5):
 WINE | 4.75 |  TASTING ROOM | 4.75 |
 ATMOSPHERE | 5.00 |  VALUE | 4.25 |
 OVERALL | 4.69 | ||
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