Community Tasting Note

• Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 99 points

  November 27, 2023 - Like the 21 Crane, I gave this 15 hours of slow ox and it still needed more. Suffice it to say it's hard to over do the oxygen on these 2021 wines. They are really built for the long haul. And just like the Crane, once this opened up, it was incredible. It took even a bit longer to come into its own, and I think it probably more age worthy than the Crane, but when it hits, it's stunning.
  
  Nose has TK classic white flowers, creme de cassis and blackberries. It was a little reticent and muted to begin, but slowly emerged with more time in the glass. This is a HUGE wine, with endless depth of mostly dark fruit that shows the most spectacular purity when it peaks out from behind the stiff tannin wall. More earthy elements than the Crane, this gets gritty and grainy in the middle, and just pumps out flavor and intensity while chugging toward a monster finish. At the end of the night, it started giving off cotton candy notes and other really incredible flavors. Going to be a fun ride with these. Another nearly perfect effort.

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12 Comments

• Decanting Queen commented:

  11/28/23, 4:16 AM - Thanks for the early look at these! Makes me
  more excited for ‘21 Realm despite the concerning review I just read about the Bard.
  Sounds like these won’t be early drinkers like the ‘19s?

• Cristal2000 commented:

  11/28/23, 7:20 AM - Yeah, 2021 is not like 2019 in my experience. Way more tannic and closed off. I think you have to treat them like 2018 or even 2010/2013. Both Realm TK and Crane were amazing once they hit their stride, but it took a lot of O2. The vintage itself looks strong.

• RayT commented:

  11/28/23, 2:36 PM - Thanks for the tasting note Cristal. Hopefully, I still qualify for this with the reduced production in 2021.

• RayT commented:

  11/28/23, 2:46 PM - DQ if we are thinking about the same TN I took it with a grain of salt although I try hard not to dismiss others tasting experience but it said turn to vinegar in 4 hours and then gave it a 94. Didn't quite know what to make of that. To early for me to pop one personally in the name of science.

• Decanting Queen commented:

  11/28/23, 2:48 PM - Hi Ray, that is indeed the note. I found it surprising that a ‘21 would lack structure. Maybe an off bottle. Or as you say, I should take it with a grain of salt!!

• Cristal2000 commented:

  11/28/23, 2:52 PM - I had a 2021 Bard right out of the chute but didn't take notes. It certainly isn't going to be vinegar in 4 hours. I wasn't overly impressed, and it's really trailing these awesome SVDs (not surprising, given the 8000 cases or whatever they make of it), but it was tight and not ready for a PnP. Everyone has their own experiences, but no way it's gonna be dead with 4 hours of O2 unless it is an off bottle.

• RayT commented:

  11/28/23, 2:56 PM - Hi DQ! Also I thought it a bit strange that if it fell apart in 4 hours but the answer is give it more time. Oh well, you never know sometimes with wine. I have not drank a lot of 2021's (maybe 5-6) but half drank quite well and the others definitely needed more time in bottle. I am going to let my 2021's sit for 6 months and then try some of my lesser bottles. Can't wait for the 18's to start drinking well as I have already hit my '19's pretty hard and bought NO 2020's.

• RayT commented:

  11/28/23, 2:57 PM - Thanks Cristal for some enlightenment!

• Decanting Queen commented:

  11/28/23, 2:59 PM - Thanks Cristal, that's encouraging.
  
  Ray--totally same here. Some of the 18's are just starting to be drinkable imo. I didn't enjoy them early on.

• MN Wine Junkie commented:

  11/29/23, 4:13 AM - I love that you guys (and gals) drink some of these wines early because it does give me a sense of where they are going. Like most, I bought 18s, 19s, skipped 20s (for the most part) and bought some 21s (although not as many due to lack of cellar space.....actually, should have bought none, but I lack self discipline!)...I went to town on 18s, but have refrained from opening them as I think they will be magical in a few more years (likely, the longer the better)....but that is my palate and opinion. I have no Realm, but only because we have to pick our poison, and I chose other other producers! :)
  
  I still like reading notes though, because I feel like many of these wines capture the vintage, so it does give me a compass! Thanks for the note Cristal and the comments from all of you! Cheers!

• RayT commented:

  11/29/23, 10:00 PM - MN Wine Junkie after careful scientific research I have determined that all of us on Cellartracker lack self control!

• MN Wine Junkie commented:

  11/30/23, 12:38 AM - LOL Ray....I suspect you're right!

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