2018 Realm Cellars Moonracer

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 94.2 points

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  10/6/2023 - WineTally Likes this wine:

  90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
  from Realm Cellar's Moonracer vineyard on Wappo Hill
  in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley
  with fragmented sandstone and volcanic soils and eastern/southern exposure.
  No production details available.
  14.6% Abv.
  
  Owner: Scott Becker
  Co-Owner/Winemaker: Benoit Touquette
  
  Label art is generated by computer algorithm designed by Sergio Albiac
  with meteorological data from the vineyard as input as printed at
  bottom of label. Hence a unique label for each bottle!
  
  A(ccuray)=2: Deep ruby/purple. Dense robust Napa Cab.
  B(alance)=2: Distinctive components awaiting full integration.
  C(omplexity)=3: Crème de cassis, plum, potpourri, mint, graphite, licorice, cacao.
  D(epth)=2: Textured mouthfeel. Full palate and long finish.
  
  Wine Tally Score [2,2,3,2] = 9/10
  
  Tour de force, yet elegant.
  
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  5/14/2023 - Tonythefish Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Mother's Day wine with dinner. Almost opaque and tons of dark fruit, with cassis and pencil shavings. 40 second finish with great structure and more room to climb

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  10/25/2022 - drwine2001 wrote:

  Friends of Musique et Vin Gala (French Club, San Francisco): Opaque color. Big, rich, hint of herbs, and tremendous depth of black and blue fruit. I don't have much affinity for these wines but could appreciate the balance for the level of concentration.

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  10/20/2022 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points

  This rich and brooding Cabernet needs several hours of air - or several more years of age - in order to show its considerable potential. Dark purple in color and full in body, the wine offers aromas of boysenberry, espresso, and peppercorn. The flavors are similarly dark and stormy, with notes of dark chocolate, fresh embers (of the non-smoke-taint variety), graphite, and black cherry, with a tannic and vibrant, almost pulsating finish. Blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. 14.6% alcohol.
  
  Perhaps this is a grumpy stage for the vintage (can anyone say, "adolescence"?), but the 2018 is nowhere near as polished or agreeable as the 2014, 2015, or 2016 at their 3-4 year mark. My suspicion is that, ultimately, this is because the 2018 is better (more dense, layered, etc.), but it will definitely require more time to blossom. 93-94 at the moment, but ideally wait until 2024 (or later) to open.

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  5/21/2022 - happy712 Likes this wine: 96 Points

  Rating is for potential after many more years in the cellar or over a day long decant. Currently about a 93 with 5 hour decant. The nose is exquisite and deceives you into thinking it’s ready. Taste is muted and does not give away much fruit at all. Complexity is there, with long finish, but the fruit component is not quite developed yet.

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