Winery Notes: The flagship of Realm’s portfolio, The Bard is the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Proprietary Blend we’ve made since 2003.  We consider The Bard to be the most dynamic expression of Napa Valley: a blend of grapes from Coombsville to Calistoga, from the east to the west sides, from the hillsides to the valley floor. Dense, weighty, and concentrated, The Bard always punches above its weight, and with multiple dimensions coming together in harmony, there is more than meets the eye in this complex wine. This is the wine that we like to see on wine lists and at fine wine shops. Outstanding vineyards such as Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Bourn, Blair, Houyi, Larkmead, Moonracer Estate, Farella Estate, Orchard and Bettinelli Upper Range have all found a place in the wine. While the composition of The Bard varies from year to year, Cabernet Sauvignon typically comprises over 70% of the blend, joined by lesser percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. From time to time, we honor growers with a special edition of The Bard, such as The Bard Blair Special Edition, which is bottled as a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon highlighting one facet of our flagship wine. This edition is sourced from Blair Vineyard, which sits between Three Palms and Larkmead Vineyards in Calistoga.

Cedar, mixed red and black cherries, cassis and violet notes appear on the nose of Realm's 2022 The Bard. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% each Charbono and Petite Sirah, it's full-bodied, rich and chocolaty, maybe just a touch warm but reasonably balanced given the challenges of the vintage. Long and slightly coarsely textured on the finish, it looks to be a wine to consume over the next decade. - 93 points, Wine Advocate (Joe Czerwinski)