Realm Cellars The Bard Proprietary Blend, Napa Valley, USA 2022

“The Bard” Proprietary Blend is the flagship expression of one of Napa Valley’s most sought-after cult producers, delivering the power, polish, and layered complexity that have made Realm a benchmark for modern luxury Cabernet-based blends. Built around 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with supporting Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, and Charbono, it opens with intense aromas of crème de cassis, black cherry, dried blueberry, dark chocolate, graphite, and exotic spice. The palate is dense and beautifully structured, with concentrated dark fruit wrapped in velvety tannins and lifted by impressive freshness and precision. Seamless oak integration adds depth without overshadowing the wine’s purity, while the long, polished finish reveals notes of cocoa, black pepper, and mineral tension. Bold yet impeccably balanced, this is a sophisticated Napa red with immediate appeal and the structure to evolve gracefully for years.

"One of the valley's great, great values, the 2022 The Bard is based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Franc, and the rest a mix of varieties. It has a killer nose of bright red and blue fruits intermixed with spring flowers, graphite, baking spices, and incense. This carries to a beautifully balanced, full-bodied red that has a lively, elegant mouthfeel and fine tannins. It competes with wines at 2-3 times its going rate, especially in a vintage like 2022." Jeb Dunnuck 95