4/17/2024 - Phidelt418 Likes this wine:

Found this at total wine. Decanted for about an hour, but hit its stride around an hour and a half in. At first, quite tannic up front. Softened up after some air.

1/14/2024 - Phidelt418 wrote:

Tasted like a shot of bourbon with some grape juice. I love Shafer, this bottle tasted flat without any fruit, which if am fine with and prefer. Yet, the only thing I could taste was the alcohol and oak. Maybe the bottle was flawed?

11/14/2023 - Phidelt418 wrote:

I really like this bottle and the price pointz

11/10/2023 - Phidelt418 Likes this wine:

This is a great bottle. I must say, at first it’s really tight. I mean really, really tight. I’m to be honest it didn’t open up until about 3 hours. The nose on this is just out of the world though. At first it’s very muscular and tight. Think pencil shavings and tannins. Then about 2 1/2 hours in, it really shows. It’s a bottle I wish I wouldn’t have waited 3-4 years to open, but a 3-4 decant is all this needs. If you can’t wait to open this, do yourself a favor and don’t rush it; decant and enjoy it!

10/16/2023 - Phidelt418 Likes this wine:

I have to be honest, the 2011 was not my favorite. Yet this, this is awesome. Great wine! The 2011 seemed flat and tired. This big dawg though; wants to eat. Great cab. I’d say it’s in its prime, 2 years max. Can’t wait see what Realm does here in the future.

9/10/2023 - Phidelt418 wrote:

I agree with all of the notes here. It’s tannic and to me needs some time. It’s a very well made bottle, but some are meant to age. I’m not sure if the 2025 recommendation is where I put this, but I would open one then and try then. Unless you like strong grippy tannins of course! Good steak wine, but really surprised me with he merlot and can franc being primary. More like a 100% cab to me.

5/13/2023 - Phidelt418 Likes this wine:

I really enjoyed this. For a Merlot it was very young, I think 2 years would put this square in the drinking window. Up front it’s somewhat fruity, then the tannins hit. Great Wine for the Cali cab crew looking for a merlot. Fruit forward then rolled tannins. I’d buy again and hold.

3/9/2023 - Phidelt418 wrote:

I drank this over a 3-hour period and found it to be flat. To be 100% honest, this tasted like it was tired and at the end of its life. I have one more bottle left and I think my pinot friends will love it. I know Realm will really make this a great site, but this was not a good vintage and you can tell. Pop this one on a hot summer day or with a turkey dinner. Good wine, but it's light like a pinot with a small bite at the end with nearly zero finish. Realm will make this a 20+ year wine, but this is a drink now for me 100%. Can't wait to see what Realm will do with this though.
The legs are fast. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like red currant, raisin, cherry, plum, light toast and sherry.

3/2/2023 - Phidelt418 Likes this wine:

I am a younger new-to-the-wine game consumer. I found this bottle to be excellent really. I couldn’t imagine drinking this young. It’s perfectly balanced with very little heat despite the higher alcohol content. It takes like a 10-year-old Borduex, but with tons of fruit and sass. To me, it’s exactly what a perfect 10-year-old Napa cab should be. I really enjoyed it. To be honest I was expected to be disappointed due to the cost. I was pleasantly surprised and would but it again.

11/10/2022 - Phidelt418 Likes this wine:

Honestly, I don’t really even like Chardonnay. This is great though! Chilled for 2 hours and had with salmon. Glad I bought more!

10/12/2022 - Phidelt418 Likes this wine:

First off, I really enjoy Realm wines. So I’m biased, but who wouldn’t be! Anyhow, this is a great wine. The fruit to me is falling and is to a great point, still some nice tannins, but not overbearing. It’s not big or bold, which to me is wonderful. It’s elegant and balanced. As always, this wine punches above its class. Drink now, but years are left here. Well done Scott and Benoit!

9/11/2022 - Phidelt418 Does not like this wine:

I’m sure this is for some people, just not me. It’s very Austin Hope like and very ripe. The finish is strong, but they is very skittle structure up front with a hot long finish. Cocktail wine to say the least

8/4/2022 - Phidelt418 wrote:

I found this to be closed at first. I wouldn’t consider it big nor bold, more like a heavy red zin. Balanced and restrained, medium finish, with subtle tannis on the front of your tongue. A wine that is fine just on its own, but would pair perfectly with a Charcuterie board. It’s built to last, but I don’t agree with the drinking window. It’s pretty mellow and 3 maybe 4 years or will be past prime. My young palate says pop and give a 2 hour decant. Drink now.

8/4/2022 - Phidelt418 Does not like this wine:

Oak fruit bomb
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like strawberry jam, burnt, toast, oak, molasses and alcohol/hot. It tastes like strawberry, burnt, oak, molasses and alcohol/hot. The body is medium. The wine has flabby texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.

6/26/2022 - Phidelt418 Does not like this wine:

Smoked Oak bomb.

6/9/2022 - Phidelt418 Likes this wine:

I still bit closed. Opened a 375 and found it enjoyable. Tannis are clean and crisp. If you can hold until at least 2026, you’ll be rewarded. Otherwise, decant for 2 hours and enjoy!

4/14/2022 - Phidelt418 wrote:

I drank this waaaay to early. It’s a dry tannic, well balanced piece of art. It just needs some time. If you like super bone dry; open now. I am going to buy another one and save it for 5 years, it’s going to be something majestic for my taste then!