Community Tasting Note
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RayT Likes this wine: 100 points
December 8, 2023 - Wow! This was ABSURDLY good! Had this with dinner at my friend Dick's house about 4 months ago and I am just catching up with TN. He almost popped the 2019 Absurd but I talked him in to popping the 2016 instead. We decanted this for an hour before dinner. I tried this on pnp and it was delicious but it filled out a touch with air.
This wine is dark purple almost black in color with a beautifully expressive nose and a palate to match. Intense flavors of creme de cassis, blackberry, blueberry, chocolate, and forest floor with a finish that goes on and on. The purity and depth of the fruit is just insane. With the power of this wine I was surprised that it does not come across as overbearing at all. This was also fantastic with the slow cooked beef roast we had. We drank this next to a 2019 Vice Versa To Kalon which is the only other wine I have given a 100 pts too and the Realm was substantially better and the best wine I have ever drank.
I coached baseball for 15 years and specialized in hitting. There are two components to hitting: the mechanics and timing. You can have a picture perfect swing and if your timing is off (to early or to late) you miss the ball. I feel like wine is a bit of the same.
This wine has great mechanics as Realm takes its very best fruit from that year and concocts a magical potion overseen by a stellar line up. This night the timing was just perfect and the wine knocked it out of the park.
This was my first time drinking this wine so a big thank you to my friend Dick for sharing this wonderful wine with us!3 people found this helpful 2,387 views
31 Comments
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Decanting Queen commented:
12/9/23, 6:44 AM - Such a great note Ray. I had my first Absurd a few months ago and could have written the same! I think we opened ‘19 although I have been buying since ‘16 and feeling stupid every time I shell out so much money for a wine I have never tried. Now I can console myself that it is more than just the pretty label!! Thanks for writing this one.
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Decanting Queen commented:
12/9/23, 6:45 AM - By the way, if Mark reads this note he will surely chime in with a bunch of baseball lingo…
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RayT commented:
12/9/23, 12:11 PM - Thanks DQ. I still do not qualify for this and if I had I doubt I would have ponied up the money. After this I will buy a 3 pack when I qualify. When I started buying $200+ bottles there were quite a few I bought on faith and cellartracker. I have since drank most of them but haven't tried my Paul Hobbs Dr Crane or Realm To Kalon.
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Decanting Queen commented:
12/10/23, 6:57 AM - I feel like someone should have me committed every time I pull the trigger on buying these. But I am glad they have lived up to the hype—I really didn’t think it was possible.
I also have yet to try my Dr Crane and to Kalon from Realm. At that price, I don’t want to waste it by drinking too soon so I’ll wait for more good notes. -
RayT commented:
12/10/23, 2:49 PM - I am with you DQ. I don't buy enough expensive wine to sacrifice one in the name of science but thank goodness other CT'ers do.
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Juliansi commented:
12/10/23, 7:44 PM - Decanting Queen - Totally agree, crazy great label!
RayT - Lovely notes on baseball and wine, I agree its about the basic mechanics AND then the... timing! I don't know so much about baseball, but Ohtani... wow.... -
RayT commented:
12/10/23, 11:04 PM - Juliansi I am a big Dodgers fan so couldn't be happier about getting Ohtani although that was one crazy contract.
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Juliansi commented:
12/10/23, 11:14 PM - RayT, seriously crazy... The NBA (Jordan era) and golf (Woods era!) is more my kind of sport. But I am sure Ohtani is... stellar!
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Mark1npt commented:
12/17/23, 7:55 PM - Ray, just found this note from you and the thread from my good friends here....
DQ is right, it was a '19 she opened for us during one of our Paloozas in ATL. I think I gave it a 97 or 98? It is awesome but like others here, I just could never justify the price. -
Mark1npt commented:
12/17/23, 7:58 PM - Ray, while you taught hitting, I was a pitcher for 23 years and taught pitching as well. That's the key....always throw off the hitter's timing!
Such a great metaphor with what we wine drinkers face week in and week out, trying to 'time' bottles for their optimum drinking pleasure. I foul off a few due to my own impetuousness, but rarely whiff completely! Thank God! He must be a baseball fan, too....... -
Decanting Queen commented:
12/18/23, 3:36 AM - Like I said….😉
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Mark1npt commented:
12/18/23, 6:08 AM - The DQ knows me like the back of her hand.......
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RayT commented:
12/18/23, 2:13 PM - Mark you made me laugh pretty hard. Loved the "fouled off a few". Very apropo!
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Mark1npt commented:
12/18/23, 2:22 PM - Laughter is THE best medicine, Ray! We need more of it in this world.......cheers!
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Juliansi commented:
12/18/23, 10:39 PM - Ray, Mark and DQ ... Thanks for the laughter, it is so awesome that even amongst wine geeks... there's humour!!
It is my wish one day that all of us get together for a nice wine sharing session, wonder if it will be in Malaysia ... or USA! All the best, and blessings for Christmas... -
Mark1npt commented:
12/18/23, 10:42 PM - Right back at you, Julian!
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Decanting Queen commented:
12/19/23, 5:49 AM - It is my wish as well, Julian! We will figure it out one way or another…. Happy Holidays!!!
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Juliansi commented:
12/25/23, 7:24 PM - Decanting Queen, RayT and Mark1NPT ... Happy Christmas, and an early HAPPY NEW YEAR in advance too!
All the very best.. Cheers from Malaysia. -
Mark1npt commented:
12/25/23, 7:44 PM - Julian, the same to you, Ray and DQ!
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RayT commented:
12/27/23, 3:55 PM - Juliansi thank you! Hope you all had a great Christmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year filled with great wine!
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Juliansi commented:
12/28/23, 5:25 PM - RayT, Mark1NPT and Decanting Queen ... what a run-up through December, over 1st to 27th Dec, managed to enjoy 30 Bordeauxs. GULP!
30 Bordeauxs over "Bordecembre" 2023!
24 LB, 6 RB...
Pauillac (6), Saint Ju (7), S Est (5),
Pessac (3), Margaux (2), Haut-Medoc (1),
Fronsac (1), St Em (5), and.. Pomerol (None!).
Latest additions...
Gruaud Larose 2004
Montrose 1995
Cheval Blanc 2013
Camensac 1989
Lynch Bages 2005
To join this bunch...
La Mission Haut Brion 2005
Cheval Blanc 2001
Gruaud Larose 1988
Rauzan-Segla 1988
Las Cases 1988
Smith Haut-Lafitte 2017
Duhart-Milon 2015
Tronquoy Lalande Blanc 2018
Pichon Lalande 1995
Margaux 2000
Ducru-Beaucaillou 2001
Phelan Segur 2014
Troplong Mondot 2006
Valandraud 2016
Clerc Milon 2001
Brainaire-Ducru 2009
Troplong Mondot 1999
Cos D'Estournel 1994
Las Cases 1983
Leoville Poyferre 2003
Capbern 2014
Haut-Bergey 2010
Reserve Comtesse de Lalande 2016
Carlmagnus 2020
Croizet-Bages 2002
Happy New Year, gang! -
Mark1npt commented:
12/28/23, 7:25 PM - Julian, that's a helluva month!.....maybe a lifetime for some!
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RayT commented:
12/29/23, 3:23 PM - Juliansi I don't know a lot about French wine but I do know that is a lot of wine! Cheers!
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Decanting Queen commented:
12/30/23, 6:10 AM - Ray—it is a lot of the best wine!!!
Julian—very very nice!! -
Mark1npt commented:
1/1/24, 5:55 PM - Ray, the '19 that DQ served us was an easy 97 for me. I can't imagine what the '16 must have been like.....
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Juliansi commented:
1/1/24, 9:36 PM - Happy New Year RayT, Decanting Queen and Mark1NPT...
I finished my Bordecembre with more Bordeauxs, totaling 43 in all.
34 Left Bank, 9 Right...
Pauillac (8), Saint Ju (12), Saint Est (5), Pessac (4), Margaux (4), Haut-Medoc (1) ... and ...
Fronsac (1), Saint Em (7), and.. Pomerol (1).
Here's the final list for December...
La Mission Haut Brion 2005
Cheval Blanc 2001
Gruaud Larose 1988
Rauzan-Segla 1988
Las Cases 1988
Smith Haut-Lafitte 2017
Duhart-Milon 2015
Tronquoy Lalande Blanc 2018
Pichon Lalande 1995
Margaux 2000
Ducru-Beaucaillou 2001
Phelan Segur 2014
Troplong Mondot 2006
Valandraud 2016
Clerc Milon 2001
Brainaire-Ducru 2009
Troplong Mondot 1999
Cos D'Estournel 1994
Las Cases 1983
Leoville Poyferre 2003
Capbern 2014
Haut-Bergey 2010
Reserve Comtesse de Lalande 2016
Carlmagnus 2020
Croizet-Bages 2002
Gruaud Larose 2004
Montrose 1995
Cheval Blanc 2013
Camensac 1989
Lynch Bages 2005
Saint-Pierre 2014
Croix de Beaucaillou 2012
Lascombes 2010
Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2012
Leoville Poyferre 2006
Duhart-Milon 1984
Lascombes 1983
Virginie de Valandraud 2018
La Fleur d'Armens 2016
Gruaud Larose 2004 (Yes, had this twice!)
Trotanoy Pomerol 1993
Pontet-Canet 1985
Ducru-Beaucaillou 1985 -
Decanting Queen commented:
1/2/24, 4:09 AM - Julian those are some wines of a lifetime!!!!! Nice way to close out 2023. I’ll check out your reviews. Happy New Year!!!!
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Mark1npt commented:
1/2/24, 6:32 AM - Great list there, Julian!
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Juliansi commented:
1/29/24, 8:04 PM - Mark1NPT and Decanting Queen.. Hope you both are well.
My Summer in Napa trip details are coming along nicely now.. here's where I am up to in terms of bookings!
JULY:
8, 9 and 10th - Booked up for private tastings in Napa (My wife and me have time for dinner of course if you are both available!)
11th - Still figuring out where to go for private tastings which may be complimentary, in Sonoma? Perhaps K Browne, P Hobbs, Kistler or Ridge Lytton Springs? Any recommendations or personal contacts?
And, we will be staying over in San Fran city-centre on July 2/3/12/13th as well. Hope to meet up.
You still have my number on Whatsapp right? -
Mark1npt commented:
1/29/24, 8:30 PM - Julian, I'm afraid my trip to Napa has been put off til September, sorry! It will be an extended trip over 4-6 weeks as we are making wine off my friend's property on Howell Mtn for the first time. I just can't swing another one in July, unfortunately.
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Juliansi commented:
1/29/24, 9:08 PM - Alas Mark1NPT.. I shall have to come back over in September then!
Kidding.. we shall see you next time, and between then and now.. please come visit Malaysia!