A ripe Merlot-based blend that tastes past its prime. Dark red in color, full in body, nose of plum and dark chocolate. Tastes of sweet cherry, raisins, dried strawberries, and cedar, with a brief finish carrying very little acidity (or tannin for that matter). 15.5% alcohol. Blend of 68% Merlot, 16% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Cabernet Franc.
Although Realm is one of my favorite producers, this wine tastes a little too ripe and a little too old. In my experience, this is not a unique fate for a Merlot-based blends out of CA that are past the decade mark. For what it's worth, I've had similarly disappointing experiences with other benchmark Merlot-based blends, such as Blankiet's Rive Droite and Carter's Hossfeld Coliseum.
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Prior bottle must have been an anomaly. This one was much better, similar to first one we had, just maybe starting to lose a little bit of its boldness. Suggest drinking these within the next year or so.
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Dull, muted fruit. An off aftertaste. Bad bottle? Gone downhill since the excellent bottle we had six months ago? Hesitant to assign a score without knowing.
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1/2/2021 - tcarter Likes this wine: 92 Points
Past its prime at this point, but still a very nice bottle.
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10/3/2016 - msuwine wrote: 90 Points
A ripe Merlot-based blend that tastes past its prime. Dark red in color, full in body, nose of plum and dark chocolate. Tastes of sweet cherry, raisins, dried strawberries, and cedar, with a brief finish carrying very little acidity (or tannin for that matter). 15.5% alcohol. Blend of 68% Merlot, 16% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Cabernet Franc.
Although Realm is one of my favorite producers, this wine tastes a little too ripe and a little too old. In my experience, this is not a unique fate for a Merlot-based blends out of CA that are past the decade mark. For what it's worth, I've had similarly disappointing experiences with other benchmark Merlot-based blends, such as Blankiet's Rive Droite and Carter's Hossfeld Coliseum.
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12/7/2015 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark fruits, seemed a little tight but opened up with decanting
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10/20/2015 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Prior bottle must have been an anomaly. This one was much better, similar to first one we had, just maybe starting to lose a little bit of its boldness. Suggest drinking these within the next year or so.
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6/2/2015 - Coachron13 wrote:
Dull, muted fruit. An off aftertaste. Bad bottle? Gone downhill since the excellent bottle we had six months ago? Hesitant to assign a score without knowing.
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