Community Tasting Note
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msuwine wrote: 92 points
October 25, 2019 - This is a review in three parts - an analogy, a comparison, and (last but not least!) an actual tasting note...
- The analogy. This is the second 2017 that reminds me of an eager but mediocre student with his hand up, sitting at the front of the classroom. He has the right attitude, work ethic, name, and background... he would get it right if he could... he would ace that test if effort was all that was required... but he just can't, no matter how hard he tries.
- The comparison. I tasted this 2017 next to the 2014 Bard, and - for whatever the reason (e.g., vintage, bottle age, varietal blend, vineyard sources) - three big differences appeared:
(1) The fruit profile of the 2014 was more full and nuanced. The 2017 was as bright and perky as you would expect for a young wine, but it was far more red-fruit driven - and far more thin - than the 2014 (which I also loved young, in part because its rich fruit was bursting with potential). The 2017 is juicy, but its fruit profile resembles a duet more than a symphony: they're trying, but the results aren't overwhelming.
(2) The 2017 lacked the chocolatey notes that Benoit provides like few others. This is something I look for, and find, and love in most Benoit wines (e.g., Fait-Main, Kata, Hartwell, even Jack Quinn, Matt Morris, and Levensohn); it's some kind of modern mid-palate, a creamy interlude separating the opening from the finish. While the 2014 had notes of cocoa powder and mocha, the 2017 zips through the mouth like someone in a hurry. The mid-palate is a little like skim milk - light, yes, but also kind of thin.
(3) The 2017 had far more acid and far less tannin. The former gave a refreshing lift to the wine - the “nerviness” that the winery notes describe - but that kind of “energy” doesn’t tell the whole story. Instead, the relative lack of structure (e.g., tannin, fullness, undertone) is a real question for me. Like something that has been polished down to the nub, this wine, in the early going, seems to be missing something real. It is lifted and almost silky, but it's tart and a little shallow, too.
- The note. So would you like this tasting note to include some notes about the actual taste of the wine? Yeah, me, too - here goes:
Light purple in color and medium in body, the wine offers muted aromas of sour cherry, cranberry, and anise. Tastes of blueberry, pencil lead, peppercorn, and leather, with a brief and lifted finish. Blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. 14.6% alcohol. Followed over three hours, with consistent notes. Better on second day, though still not a complete wine.
My suspicion is that this vintage has lowered the ceiling for this wine, but it’s possible this is just experiencing an awkward youth (like the 2015). My plan is to wait a few years before opening another bottle. That said, I’m not sure if this will ever become a compelling wine, and I’m fairly certain it isn’t one now. 91-92 at the moment.10 people found this helpful 6,721 views
8 Comments
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Decanting Queen commented:
10/26/19, 5:05 AM - Thank you for that long and thoughtful note, even if it isn’t what I want to hear. Every time I see a note pop up on one of my ‘17s I have a flash of hope that maybe they won’t be so bad. I made too many purchases of this vintage (not just Realm) and have been in denial that the vintage effect wouldn’t be so bad. Still hoping it is better than ‘11 of which there are very few wines I enjoy.
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#1Winelover commented:
10/26/19, 5:21 AM - I did warn you. I hope you did not load up on 17s in general, and The Bard specifically. Great note, loved the analogies!
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msuwine commented:
10/28/19, 11:32 PM - Thanks for the comments. Yes - despite the good advice of #1WineLover and others - I dipped my toe a little too far into the 2017 vintage, but I'm working on correcting that mistake. As I've tried to figure out why (a dangerous question whenever you're wondering why you buy wine!), I've come up with two reasons.
First, I didn't like the 2016 vintage as much as others did. At least in the early going, it just seemed too juicy and unformed. In my own (acquisitive) mind, I figured that the 2017 might correct all this by being more bright and formed. Yeah - at least in the early going - it hasn't worked out that way - more acidic, yes, but not more formed. Shocker alert: the iconoclast doesn't usually win in the end.
Second, I decided to trust the producer over the vintage. This is obviously a mantra among reviewers, but it served me wrong in 2017, at least as far as I can tell. I decided to purchase those that I generally trusted (e.g., Realm, Fait-Main, Memento Mori, Bevan). As good as these wineries are, though, I worry they were "overwhelmed by events." I do think 2017 is more likable than 2011 - more fruit, more energy - but I worry it's just not that good, especially in the long run.
But hopefully I'm wrong! Thanks again for the comments. -
Decanting Queen commented:
10/29/19, 3:20 AM - Hey MSU I totally get your logic and I did the same. Like you, 2016 was very good but not as great as the hype for my palate, which may have played role in my buying now that you mention it. And for ‘17’s I also trusted the producer. And stayed loyal to my usual wineries. So I didn’t go crazy and buy anything new, but I have a number of 2017’s that are getting mediocre reviews. However, glad to hear it is better than ‘11 because I avoid those at all costs! I’m still optimistic there may be some pleasant surprises in this batch of ‘17s
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#1Winelover commented:
10/29/19, 3:36 AM - I too am buying some of the '17s from my favorites but I am scaling way down on the quantities. Some, I have just skipped, especially the higher priced juice. Regarding the '16s, I agree but I just think they are so big, they will need more time in bottle - hopefully.
So far, the best '17 that I have had was Mike Smith's Myriad Dr. Crane which was far better on day 2. On day 1, it had too much heat. On day 2, it was really great. -
Decanting Queen commented:
10/29/19, 3:41 AM - #1. That’s great to hear because I have of few of those ‘17 Dr Crane on the way. Hoping the other higher end Myriad’s hold up as well...
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RayT commented:
11/7/19, 1:43 PM - Great tasting note. Even before the smoke taint issue with 2017's it was the year the drought broke and not a little. The drought is what produced so many good years in a row and in 2017 it was downpour after downpour. Even before tasting I avoided the 2017's for this reason. I only ordered 2 bottles of the Bard just because Realm is my favorite winery. I literally cannot drink a 2011 and hope the 2017's are not at that level of badness. I for sure avoided all expensive bottles in 2017 and am focusing on snapping up 2016's. Going to Napa tomorrow so will have a much better idea of the problems with the 2017's although I booked as many non-2017's tastings as I could. I am drinking Carter and Bevan 2017's which are two of my favorite producers so we shall see. Again a great informative note!
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#1Winelover commented:
11/8/19, 3:01 AM - I just got in my '17 Realm shipment and I don't know what to do!